Gray Spots

[notme]

I went to the retina specialist today. He has been watching my left eye because of some spots of what he called background retinopathy. Today when he checked my eyes, sadly, my right eye which showed nothing at my last visit showed spots that were above and to the right (but close) to the macula. Because of their location and size, he said he felt it was best to laser them. He did the laser treatment today.

Now I am seeing gray spots in my vision. It has been about six hours since the treatment and they aren't going away. Is this going to be permanent?

I have always dreaded this day. I pray that my eyes do not continue to go downhill. My doctor says they look amazingly good to him for someone who has had diabetes 22 years. Somehow, I don't feel very lucky.

So...... anyone else seen gray spots after laser? Did it go away? Or is this my new diabetes reminder?

[BlueSky]

I can't answer your question, Nancy, as I have not had Laser. But I know that sinking feeling when retinopathy is diagnosed. I am fortunate in that it has cleared up. And I hope that your situation improves.

[Jules49]

I have had laser surgery twice and will again Friday. Never had any spots. I too hope the eyes spot go away.

[RandallFlagg]

I google'd and found this site:

laser for diabetic retinopathy (http://medweb.bham.ac.uk/easdec/laserdiabetic_retinopathy.html)

This is pasted from that page. I hope its what your seeing and that it will fade with time. Wishing you the best.:)

After the laser some people notice spots in their side vision if they look at anything with a white background. This fades (you are 'seeing' the tiny burns). Other people notice flashes of light at night.

[Caravaggio]

My father had a laser procedure on his eyes years ago, before he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. He saw black (later gray) spots after the procedure but they eventually faded away. I hope yours fade away soon.

[DaveUK]

I read somewhere that over time the brain automatically compensates for things like this, so best not to let it depress you.

All the best, Dave

[notme]

Thanks everyone. It seems that the gray spots are more like "blind" spots on this site. The gray background is what I use. Guess I will have to change that. And the gray color matches the background. When I look at words, a few of the letters disappear.

I won't let it depress me. I just pray I don't have to have any more laser done. My bleeders are near the macula and not in my peripheral vision. I think that is why I notice them more.

Thanks for the support and advice. I will wait and hope that the spots go away with time.

[Mich]

Nuts! I'm so sorry, Nancy that you had to have laser treatment. It does affect my vision a bit permanently, but only peripherally and my brain seems to have compensated.

When I first got home, my eyes felt "worked over" a bit, but not painful. A cool wet cloth applied now and then helped with that.

I also had a lot of "light show" action going on when I closed my eyes, but it too calmed down in a week or two. It got a little bit better each day.

Lasers are amazingly bright--I guess it just takes a little for our eyes to get over it all.

Feel better soon,

Mich

[gettingby]

Nancy, I am sorry that you had to go through this. My optho has noticed some "mild retinopathy" (that's how he put it) but he sees no cause for concern now.

I do hope the spots go away soon.

(((hugs)))

[Jules49]

Nancy, did you have the dye test before your surgery. Had that earlier this month and think it much show the doctor more than he can know with just looking into the dilated eye.
I refuse the pain mediacation and could feel a small something but not painful. My eye was fine with no problems afterwards.
Have to go back in April for a follow up.

[Overcomer]

I had laser surgery on myright eye Tuesday and I am going to have the left eye done next Tuesday. What is the normal prognosis for these surgeries? Do they normally help vision improve?

[xMenace]

I had laser surgery on myright eye Tuesday and I am going to have the left eye done next Tuesday. What is the normal prognosis for these surgeries? Do they normally help vision improve?

Why are you getting lasered? Laser will not fix vision. It may very well make it worse depending on what your doc is doing. It is intended to keep you from getting worse.

[notme]

Yes Jules, I had an IV dye put in my hand and they looked at my eyes within three minutes. The bleeders I had were very close to my macula, so I did not lose peripheral vision, but vision that is just left and above center vision.

The laser was a bit like a lightning strike to the eyes. WOW!!!! I also felt a bit worked over, but not terrible.

My disappearing vision was always light to medium grey in color.

[Overcomer]

Why are you getting lasered? Laser will not fix vision. It may very well make it worse depending on what your doc is doing. It is intended to keep you from getting worse.

The Opthamologist said I had bleeding around my retinas. I noticed my vision would get blurry when I tried to read anything and that is just frustrating. The more I learn about this disease the more frustrated I get. I'm beginning to think ignorance is bliss. :(

[Keezheekoni]

Nancy, have you done the test for macular degeneration? My grandpa had this and it started out as a gray spot right in the middle of his vision. They tried all kinds of things to fix it, but it did no good. After 20 years he was blind. I remember him toward the end of the 20 years having to look out the side of his eyes to see you, so it looked like he was looking at the person standing 5 feet from you, not you...

[notme]

Now that scares me Rikki!!!! I have done the retinal scans and they always came out perfect. The gray spots didn't appear until after I had the laser treatment.

I hope that is all it is. What test do they use for macular degeneration.

There goes sleep tonight!!! :eek:

[Keezheekoni]

:eek: I'm sorry! I just thought forewarned is forearmed...

Actually there's a really simple test. My eye doc gave me an 8x12 paper to put on my fridge, you look at it from different angles and if some of the spots disappear it's time to see him.

Here's the test: Amsler Grid - Macular Degeneration Test (http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amsler-grid.htm)

It's better if you print it out and stand about 14" from it, so that's why I have mine on the fridge (plus there's good light in there).

Even if the lines don't look wavy or have blank spots in them, by now I'd think that the gray spots would have gone away. I'd definitely call your doctor first thing Monday. :)

[notme]

Grey spots have definitely not gone away. The lines look not so much wavy, but definitely not straight either. Eeesh. I will call my eye doctor on Tuesday. I don't go back to the retinal specialist until May.

Anyone else who has had laser taken this test? Any anomalies?