Retinal Exam

[Tony]

Originally posted by 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!


Your not dreaming. There is and it is called Optomap (http://www.optomap.com/) For the last three years I have been avoiding the eye dr. because of dilating the pupils and everything else they do. All of it makes me want to fall to the ground! With the optomap there is no need to have your pupils dilated.

I went to the eye dr. last week only because of a very special person that went out of her way for me. She had to do a lot of persuading and she found an eye dr. that has the optomap.

[Belinda]

Wow Tony I will have to ask about this when I go in Oct. I am glad you finally went to the eye doc. and survived......Who is this special person??????? Care to share!!!!! Just kidding.

[Tony]

This part of the exam was pretty easy. Some of the other stuff was not as fun. Like checking the pressure in the eyes.

I'm not sharing her with no one!!

[BeadieJay]

Originally posted by Tony
Like checking the pressure in the eyes.


Hi Tony

Is that where they blow a puff of air into your eyes? I hate that part :(

My optician was talking about a camera that can be used for diabetics, to check their eyes. He doesn't have one yet, but I'm hoping he'll get it soon, that way I won't have to go to the hospital for any eye checks.

[mg_2204]

Sue, ask your doc about that cam. The surgery I go to has it two days during the year. Then it goes to another surgery... and so on. Your doctor will be able to inform you when the cam will be at your surgery and you can have your eyes checked and photographed while you're having a diabetic check at the same time. Much better than to run at the hospital!

Marie
:)

[BeadieJay]

I didn't know about that, thanks Marie :)

I'll add it to my growing list of questions for Dr Gorgeous ;)

Sue

[Belinda]

Oh Wow Tony, I forgot about the pressure check! I didn't realize they did that to everyone.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Belinda
Oh Wow Tony, I forgot about the pressure check! I didn't realize they did that to everyone. I'm sure you did. The Dr. was good about it though. She was able to do that test with out me passing out.

[gettingby]

Hey Tony. I'm glad that you went ot the eye dr. I hate it too but I go every year. He said that after 20 years of the big "D", I'm not showing any signs of eye damage.
Cin:)

[Lorna]

Thanks for that Tony! I hate the appointments as well. i don't know which is worse, the dialated exam or fear of the results!

[am1977]

I haven't had one of these exams yet and can't say I am looking forward to having one. I think b/c one of my fears is going blind from this disease. I know that if I control my sugars, I'll be far less likely to have that happen to me, but sometimes it happens anyway. I know I will have to do this eventually, but hopefully it wont be as scary as I imagine it to be.

[rzrbks]

{{In the manner of a former well-informed AND SOMEWHAT OPINIONATED member}}


YOU WILL GO TO THE EYE DR., AND YOU WILL ENJOY-----------I HAVE SPOKEN


actually, the yearly visit to the eye Dr. IS Very important--that is if you really want to keep your eyesight

[KLD]

I couldn't agree more with Rzrbks. I've been worried by those of you who say you don't have your eyes checked regularly. My husband, who had been diagnosed with type 2 for about 12 years and was on medicatons, but no insulin, was blind for the last two years of his life as a result of diabetic retinopathy. So don't put off your checkups - the risk is too high and you have too much to lose.

Karen

[Lorna]

am1977- the actual test is not that scary- it is more annoying not being able to see for 4 hours afterwards! I agree with you that getting the results is terrifying though. However, if it is badnews, the sooner you know, the sooner you can get treatment and hence the more chance you have of keeping your sight.

[zookeeper671]

Does a diabetic eye exam differ from the average eye exam (dilation, air-puffing, etc.)? I haven't seen an optometrist since being diagnosed 10 months ago.

The last time I went for an exam was approx. 5 years ago. They proceeded to dilate my pupils, do the exam, then send me off into the display room to pick out new frames, blurry vision and all. lol

Angie

[Lorna]

That sounds like a diabetic eye exam. Why did you have once of those before you were diabetic? (Am I being completely thick and misunderstanding stuff?)

[zookeeper671]

Lorna, you're not being thick at all. lol That's always been the standard eye exam for me when I've gone for a check-up. I used to get a check-up about once every 4 or 5 years, but I'm thinking now I should go in about once a year? Or is that not such a concern since I've only been dx'ed for 10 months?

I have an astigmatism which requires corrective lenses or contacts, thus the check-ups.

Angie

[Lorna]

If you are type 2 you should start going every year now. If you are type1 you need to go every year after you have had the condition for 4 years.

[HeatherP]

I go every year, Angie, and I think that's the standard. So go again about 12 months after the last exam you had. You can get eye disease w/o diabetes; it's just that we're more prone to them. Doesn't make much difference as to when you were diagnosed.

Like you, I also need corrective lenses - can't see two feet past my own nose without them, lol!

My health ins pays for the "health" part of the exam, but the rx portion is strictly out of pocket.

[zookeeper671]

Ok. Thank you both! I'm long overdue for an exam, so as soon as I've settled in a bit more from this move (and found a regular, medical doc), I'll get a check-up. :)

Besides... I'd like to get some contacts and possibly a pair of glasses that don't look so retro. I have these little John Lennon glasses that look ridiculous, but I thought were "soo kewl" at the time. Geeze... lol.

Angie

[Beansprout]

Nah, exam is the same as regular dilation, puff of air. those drops stung my eyes, though! just for a few seconds. Just throw on a pair of dark sunglasses, and have someone else drive you to the doctor!! Then go take a nice nap for the rest of the day. that's what i like to do. :)
Has anyone here shown signs of retinopathy? My opthalmologist said last year that I had "slight retinopathy" but they weren't worried about it, because it was "so slight", but nonetheless I cried for weeks, because I'm so afraid of going blind. Being able to see is my life, I'm a photographer, and an Art History graduate. They said nothing might happen for 20 years or something, but still...any thoughts to ease the mind here? :( So scared and weepy.
-Liz

[Lorna]

Same situation here beansprout- the guy siad it was so slight it was almost non-existant, but nonetheless still pretty worrying. I think the best thing to do is keep an eye on it- ie make sure you attend the appointments to get it checked and control your bgs as much as possible.