Dramatic eyesight improvement, weird or normal?

[davef]

I recently diagnosed as Type II and one of the things that sent me to the Doctor was I had noticed what I thought was a fairly sudden (over 3 weeks) deterioration in my sight. I wear glasses (mild prescription) and had an eye test in July for contact lenses. Anyhow I went to the Optician and after checking me she was worried that it appeared my prescription had changed very dramatically in such a short time and urged me to see my GP to check for Diabetes, which was when I found out about the Diabetes.

My doctor and a colleague who is Type I both said not to worry or do anything about changing my glasses as when I got my BG under control my eyesight would return to its previous level.

This was a huge relief as my main hobby is photography and I was having problems using some of my cameras which require manual focusing.

Thankfully over the last 7-10 days, my sight has improved dramatically. Then two nights ago I'm sitting watching TV (after my walk) and notice that things are a little blurry, after a few expletives I took off my glasses to clean them and suddenly noticed that I didn't need my glasses.

I can now see better without my glasses than I could with my glasses, in fact I'd say my sight is better that it has been in years.

Has anyone experienced this, is it a temporary improvement or am I just weird?

David

[xMenace]

Perhaps you've had elevated BGs for a number of years. What was your A1C at diagnosis? Have you had complete labs and had your eyes checked out with a dialated exam?

[Kubilee]

I had the same problem with my eyes. What sent me to the Dr was a bad kidney infection that I couldn't seem to shake for two weeks, but while I was there I had told him I was having trouble with my eyes, everything had just out of nowhere started getting really blurry about 2-3 weeks before and to the point I thought I was going to pass out or something, they were so blurry.

He told me that day I had diabetes and put me on meds and within a month I had them down, BUT. what shocked me the most was how much my eyes had improved. I went after 5 weeks to the Eye Dr and he told me I had to have glasses, but that thankfully I had gotten to this just in time because there were not yet any signs of permenant damage.

I was amazed at how much my vision had improved in such a short time, and now I use that as a meter to my BS getting higher than usual. My eyes will start to get blurry again, almost immediately when it spikes on me now.

[princesslinda]

Dave, so glad your eyesight is improving! I've read other experiences here on the forum similar to yours...unfortunately for me, I've worn glasses since I was 14, still wearing them. However, I do remember feeling like my focus was "off" just before diagnosis...in fact the year before I was diagnosed, I went to the ophthalmologist for an exam, only to be told my eyes were fine and it was just a part of getting older....now I know better.

It is important for us diabetics to have an annual exam by an ophthalmologist, hopefully to catch any problems quickly.

[grace girl]

I'd worn glasses/contacts for years before my dx, but one of the problems I was having at dx was vision problems. As my bs began to get under control it actually got worse for a few weeks (I had to wear reading glasses with my contacts) and then it started getting better. Once I got my bs under control my eyesight became better than it had been before dx.
So, to answer your question, I don't think it's all that unusual.

[davef]

Well it's 2.5 weeks later, my eyesight is still great, probably best it has been in over 20 years!

With my BS coming under control I'm hoping things stay this way, suppose everything has to have a silver lining.

[caswellhb]

This happened to me too. My eyesight improved dramatically as my bg improved. Great isn't it? With something like Diabetes there has to be some sort of compensation and I am glad it is my eyesight.
Enjoy and make the most of it.

Heather.

[davef]

It's great and boy am I glad that when I got RayBan's last year that I didn't get prescription ones (I got contacts to use the sunglasses).

[Evermont]

I'm very happy for you Dave! Eyesight is so important to all of us, but it would be especially bad if it inhibited your photography. This is but one of many hints you'll get that you want to stay on top of your diabetes.

My eye sight has always been pretty good, the exception being that I got a prescription for "computer glasses" a few years ago due to eye fatigue. My glasses help with that. I did notice things getting harder and harder to read especially small print in low light and mostly after a long day on the computer. I was thinking about getting my eyes rechecked.

Since Dx a few months ago I've had a lot of improvement in general with BG so I'm not real worried about my eyes. My vision may have improved a little - hard to say. I added full eye care to my cafeteria style benefits and I'm making an appointment for the eye doc as soon as it kicks in at new years.

Anyway - keep up the good work and many priceless rewards will surely follow.

[Jan B]

Dave,

You did find a "silver lining"! I'm very nearsighted, but see fine with contacts or glasses. I notice the biggest difference with my glasses if my bg is elevated. My contacts are mono-vision (one is less strength that I need, so I don't need reading glasses also); I think that's why the glasses seem worse.

I so love taking pictures too, but I wouldn't call myself a photographer. Go get em Dave!

[tanyatype1]

Hi Dave! I had the exact same thing happen and the doc thought it was strange too. I'm a type one and the D came on very quickly. (so I'm told) I had a mild prescription, and I really only wore my glasses when I was driving ~ about 10 years or so. After D, and starting insulin, my eyesight turned bionic! :) Couldn't believe how wicked my eyesight was! I never wear my glasses now because it feels like my eyes are straining ~ cool trade off for getting D! Don't know how long it'll last but it's been 2 1/2 years now. Cheers!

[davef]

I reckon I must be going on a bit about how good my eyesight has become, because my wife is now saying "By Christmas you'll have x-ray vision, it will be double layers of clothes for all the women" to which I replied "If I get x-ray vision there's no way I'm telling the women!" :D

[Designa]

Hi Dave and all,

My son was diagnosed this week with Type 1 Diabetes. He is 17. What clued me in was the constant thirst/peeing/ and subsequent weight loss. What we did NOT connect with anything, however, was his sudden change in vision (well prior to using insulin, as they were not sure if he was type 2 at first). He thought he was using his sister's contacts by mistake, but when he went to a new pair of lenses that were positively his, he realized he no longer needed the lenses to see PERFECTLY. It was so bizarre. I figured it was a temporary change due to high BGL - from 250 to 300... but even when it's closer to normal he still sees fine.... without his lenses. In fact his regular prescription is blurry -- without anything is fine.

His doc said 'it's unusual, but Diabetes can cause changes either way - for better or worse'. He's - as of today - on the Lantus pen, not down from mid 200 BGL yet, but your posts give me hope that there is a silver lining that lasts for him and many others, after the BG gets down where it should be.

I wondered if it could have been the Metformin (glucophase) that he was on for about 4 days... but I think the vision improvement was before that. Hard to say, as it was so strange for him to realize he "didn't need his lenses anymore".. honestly I didn't believe him at first!

Will keep you posted as to how it maintains. Best to all of you -- this might be a positive find: Perhaps high blood glucose levels change the shape of the eye permanently for the BETTER for some diabetics. We shall see.

[davef]

Just an update. After about 3 weeks of "perfect" vision and no need for glasses, my sight seems to be returning to its "normal" level and I'm back using my glasses for driving. My BGL have continued to come down :) from 21mmol/L at DX to hovering around 6mmol/L, in fact yesterday I had my first full day of keeping BG below 6mmol/L, started day with 5.3mmol/L at 8am and finished with 5.9mmol/L at 11pm.

I suppose I'm a little disappointed the perfect vision didn't remain but it's still better that pre-DX.

[susanna]

Hi Dave,

I'm sad to see your vision has gone back to normal. I was just diagnosed last week with type 1 and within 2 days of being on insulin my eyesight is now perfect after 14yrs of wearing glasses (mostly while drving, but recently I was wearing them all the time). I can't believe how well I can see now, I hope mine stays this way, it's so nice not having to wear glasses. At least its a upside to getting diagnosed.

[davef]

I could probably get by without the glasses and really only use them for driving and watching TV. I happy that the sight is at least no worse than it used to be. Weired though that when BG improved that it got perfect and then when the BG improved further that the sight went back to wearing glasses!

[markr]

I have been following your thread, and I am glad to see (pardon the pun) that you are doing better. I wanted to add the following based on my experiences: as a Type 1 with eye problems, I am very sensitive to any changes that have to do with my eyes, and I go for a checkup at least twice a year. I have had numerous laser treatments as well as a vitrectomy, but for the past 3 years, my situation had stabilized. About 4 months ago, I started to have blurred vision in my right eye (there is a big difference between my eyes, with my right eye almost legally blind), so I went to my eye doctor and he said there was no deterioration. As it turned out, I had a virus in my thyroid (subacute thyroiditis) that was causing problems relating with the complications I have with my diabetes. I went back to my eye doctor last week, and everything has returned to normal (normal for me).

[rgray318]

I have registered here just to comment on this thread. Maybe its a good thing as I was just diagnosed with diabetes as well. I think I have had diabetic symptoms for years and years but it didn't get really bad until a few weeks ago when all of a sudden my vision went extremely blurry to the point that I thought I was going blind in a matter of hours. I was driving thru NM looking for a motel and couldn't even see the exit ramp, and when I got off the freeway I had to stop in the middle of the road and walk over to the sidewalk to see what motel I was at and where the driveway was... Yes that bad.

So the next day I went to my doctor to complain about how sick I felt and asked him why my eyes were going bad. He did a BG test on the spot and it was 659. He made me go to the ER and they got it down. Weeks later I am on 1000mg of metformin and my evening number is 175 and morning number is 200-250. Today I am starting on Januvia as well. Also on 5mg Amlodipine for high blood pressure.

I am 42 now and ever since about 14 I have had to have glasses to see clearly. My current vision is about 20/75 or so it was only one year ago. Today I went to the eye doctor to complain about my eagle vision as I think my eyesight is probably 20/20 or better, lol, but unfortunately he was busy with another patient... I can see fine print on street signs 100 yards away now. At the doctors I could read ALL the lines on the alphabet board, including the smallest one. Unfortunately, this MUCH improved sight seems to be accompanied by a sensitivity to light and a headache that feels like its in the eye socket area. I'm sure I haven't been diabetic since 14 so this is really strange why lowering the BG would cause this.

What is causing my eyes to work so well after 28 years of needing glasses and is it possibly permanent? Please explain if someone can.

Thanks

[mortis505]

rgray318, Its a possibility that your eyesight is getting better due to reduced sugar in your eyes. Many have reported better vision after getting their glucose numbers down. You mentioned you are 42, are you overweight? Have you started watching your diet? Try and avoid foods that are high in carbs as they convert to sugar in the body. Pasta, rice, breads and potatoes can be high in carbs. Aim for the whole grain breads. white food (with the exception of potatoes) are usually the best bet, along with veggies. Diet sodas, and sugar free drinks can be found that dont taste bad.

As far as your headaches, increased sensitivity is related to better vision. Do what I do, wear sunglasses. :)

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[davef]

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[ErnyBernMac]

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