when should a diabetic get a eye exam???

[johnnylol]

like a lot of the people who posted on this board..i also before i knew i had diabetes..had blurry vision..now that i keep my blood sugar's in check..the blurry vision has gone away..but still i feel like my eye's are not as strong as they should be....

[Belinda]

Okay, here is the deal (I am sure Tony would agree...). I go to an opthamologist once a year and a retinologist (because I had problem..which are very stable now) once a year. The opthamologist told me that for his diabetic patients he like to see them and dilate their eyes at least twice a year. So I use to go to him twice(didn't mind he is kind of nice to look at) and the retinologist once. But since the retinologist dialates my eyes too the opthamologist says now I only have to see him once. They send each other nice memos about my eyes.

So I guess the answer to your question depending on your doctor could be twice a year or at least ONCE (RIGHT TONY?) a year.

[Tony]

I would agree with Belinda.
So If I was you, I would go once a year. How ever! I'm not you and I wouldn't go once a year. I try not to go. And let me tell ya I'm doing a good job of that.

[Harold]

I'm late this year. :(

[mg_2204]

... Sight is far too precious to mess around with it. I have a check up once a year, and have the pressure in my eyes tested too. As part of the services my health care team provides, they also check my vision twice a year... although that exam is not as thorough.

Over here in UK, we have a special program... They take pictures of your eyes (well the back of your eyes I should say) every year. Once they have a few pics, they can compare all the pics... and detect any deterioration. Sometimes before you even see any difference.

Basically, once you've been diagnosed with diabetes Johnny, you must be careful about every aspect of your health. It's well worth it too!

Marie
:)

[lgvincent]

I used to go twice a year but with the onset of the retinoschisis I get to go four times a year now. What the heck for? They can't do anything anyway. I guess maybe it's to look for tears in the retina.

[Lorna]

I went once every year from 5 years after I was diagnosed- I have now been advised that 2ce a year would be better. Does anyone know the name of the camera thing that they can use to look at the necessary parts of your eye without the drops?

[mg_2204]

Lorna, I was told you NEED to have the drops in your eyes in order to have pics of your eyes done. There is no other way. Pressure in your eyes can be tested without those drops though.

Marie
:)

[Alaska]

I go once a year to both. After never going and all of a sudden having 12 laser surgeries in 5 years I should have gone a lot sooner then I did. Thank god everything has stabilzed now

[Lorna]

I thought there was some sort of new equipment they could use to see the back of you eye without the drops, but the results were dubious- might have dreamed it up though!

Alaska- how are you after the surgeries? Do you still have good vision?

[Alaska]

My periphrial <spelling check on aisle 3 please> is shot, One of the reasons I had to quit racing, couldn't see who was next to me without looking directly at them. My vision though is pretty good. I wear glasses though but my Dr said thats just cuz I'm an old dude :P
I haven't had any surgery at all now since 97

[mike9876]

I got my first eye appointment. It said Tuesday 19th July. Monday was the 19th so I phoned the hospital to see if there was a mistake. I got this letter march this year. There was no mistake it was Tuesday 19 July 2005. I was gobsmacked over a year wait. Thats the good old British natioanal health service. By the time it comes around will forget to go and have to wait another 15 months. I was told they had a big waiting list.

[KLD]

Isn't that appalling, Mike? I was referred to an endocronologist last November and had to wait for the appointment until the end of May this year, and that was bad enough. But 15 months is quite ridiculous. The endo I saw was absolutely the most thorough doctor I've ever gone to - he spent an hour and 20 minutes with me - so at least it was worth the wait - hope you're as lucky with your doctor at the hospital.

Karen

[Lorna]

Although that's pretty hellish Mike, if you have just been diagnosed you will probably be OK. If, however, you are worried about it beofre that some opticians are accreditied for diabetic eye screenings. You should be able to book that at about 2 weeks notice. Another thing you can do is continually phone the hospital to ask if there are any concellation appointments before that. I do know how frustrating this must be though!

[Dobson]

my eye doctor (cant remember what they are called atm :S) is diabetic also, which is really helpful.

[BeadieJay]

Originally posted by Dobson
my eye doctor (cant remember what they are called atm :S) is diabetic also, which is really helpful.

that's good, at least he'll know for sure what to look for ;)



MIKE - I've just seen your post, I can't believe you've got such a long wait to see the eye specialist. When I was diagnosed I was simply told to make an appointment to see the optician (who I was able to see the very next day).

Is there a specific reason that you've been referred to the hospital? Like Lorna said, if you're at all worried, go see an optician. Be sure to tell them that you're diabetic, and you'll get a free check-up.

I've got to wait 3 months from diagnosis to see the dietitian and podiatrist...I thought that was a long time, but 15 months is ridiculous.

[LauRa Lu]

I've been diabetic since january. I booked an appointment with an ophthalmologist last week and i was seen yesterday. I wanted to get mine checked because I could hardly see at all when i was diagnosed and was worried It had caused damage. My eye's are fine, but I feel happier knowing that for sure.


:)

[Lorna]

Dobson, that's really good that your doctor is diabetic- from the point of view of actually understanding how upsetting it is to have the tests done.

[johnnylol]

my appointment with a eye doctor is for oct 6..seem's a long time from now..but i can wait..not really having blurry vision anymore...