Laser

[DaveUK]

Just had my first laser treatment for leakage in my left eye and thought I would post this as information for others. I had been very worried about the possibility of it causing blind spots but it worked really well and there is no difference to my vision at all. Also the procedure was very quick, it only took a few minutes to do 13 burns, and it was not at all as bad an experience as I had been expecting. I was lucky in that it only needed 13 burns at this stage, but that is thanks to the new digital photographic systems drawing attention to the problem early on.

Dave
type2, diet only

[Marcia K in Fl]

Wow! I am glad you are ok.

What kind of leakage were you having?

[DaveUK]

Thanks. This is what I had, you could see the blood vessels were leaking near the macula in the photographs. >>> Blood vessels become leaky, fats and fluids that are normally carried along in the bloodstream may then leak into the macula. Fats that have leaked into the retina are called exudates. Fluid leaking causes waterlogging in the retina and is called oedema which if present at the centre of the macula will cause some loss of sight.

Dave
type2, diet only

[notme]

Thanks. This is what I had, you could see the blood vessels were leaking near the macula in the photographs. >>> Blood vessels become leaky, fats and fluids that are normally carried along in the bloodstream may then leak into the macula. Fats that have leaked into the retina are called exudates. Fluid leaking causes waterlogging in the retina and is called oedema which if present at the centre of the macula will cause some loss of sight.

Dave
type2, diet only

Sounds like we had the EXACT same treatment done Dave. I also had a small amount of leakage a little to close too the macula for my doctor's liking. I also had a few zaps done and probably about the same amount, maybe a few less.

My day to day vision is totally not effected. What I do notice is when I go looking for the spots, I can find them. It was my right eye that was zapped. When I close my left eye and look at the keyboard (typed letters to be exact) I can find the spots that were zapped. It appears as a few missing letters. I really have to look hard for them. I know when they do the test where you have to look for peripheral vision lights, I will probably miss a few.

This said, I know that I had to address the problem and I needed the laser zaps. I just hope I don't need more as I am afraid of losing enough vision that the spots will become apparant in my day to day vision.

I will keep working at blood sugar control. I have had type one for 23 years and my doctor assures me that I am doing great for having diabetes this long with no complications. My eyes are my biggest fear.

[DaveUK]

I just hope I don't need more as I am afraid of losing enough vision that the spots will become apparant in my day to day vision.


Thats exactly how I feel Nancy, spots would really bother me as well. Do you have the special digital photographs done regularly? I find it helps because you can see the effects of making more effort to keep your blood sugar down. I originally had some leakage in my right eye but it looks like better control improved that eye and it is no longer a problem, which I find very encouraging.

Keep up the good work.

Dave

[Jan B]

Thanks for your post Dave. It is encouraging . . .

I have an appt next week and I always think I'm prepared for something like that. My eyes have actually improved since a few years ago, and I've regained good control. However, good control isn't always a guarantee of no damage.

I love the new and constantly improving digital photography. It has done so much for the medical community and US!

[sumi]

Thanks for the post Dave. I'm sure all of us would like to keep up on information to ensure healthy eyes.

[techgirl2000]

Hi all...I'm new to this forum. Diagnosed as Type 1 12yrs ago. Received bad news today tht both my eyes need laser treatment. Have scheduled to treat 1 eye next Tuesday. I'm extremely scared tht I'll suffer from permanent blurness after the treatment

[genie86333]

techgirl,

I understand your fears totally. I went legally blind in one eye from this & although it was getting better before they did the laser, I was worried that the the laser treatment would cause it to either get worse, or it just wouldn't get all the way better ever - but my vision went back to normal.

Like Nancy, all I've experienced is a couple teeny tiny blind spots that I barely notice - in the 9 months since the laser treatments, I've only noticed it once without *trying* to find the blind spots.

Hopefully, it'll go as well for you!

[techgirl2000]

genie86333, the waiting (for the treatment) is causing anxiety. I couldn't sleep last nite after reading abt Proliferative Retinopathy @ ADA website (I'm located in Asia).

[brendersue]

Nancy, I hope you have seen your eye dr. I had 7 total laser treatments between my two eyes. I was a participant in the ETDRS (early treatment diabetic retinopathy study) which proved that early intervention is the best way to prevent blindness. I worry about your comment on "missing letters" on your keyboard. Lasers should never cause "blind spots" as far as my experiene went with the national study drs. That sounds more like retinal detachment, something they made me watch for throughout many years of treatments. You had to stare at a black and white grid on a piece of paper and if any lines were missing, you were supposed to call the dr right away.
My leakage was into the retina, because small vessels had closed off and new vessels were forming that were weak and frequently formed aneuryisms that would burst and bleed into the vitreous. I had the vitreous removed from my left eye twice (a seven hour surgery) and lasers on both. I was legally blind for about 9 months early in the study (all participants took a tablet every day, which was either an aspirin or a placebo - mine was aspirin and they took me off it right away). That was 25 years ago. In the last five years, I had a cataract removed from each eye and I have 20/20 vision today (without glasses) !

[techgirl2000]

Today is D-Day for my 1st laser treatment for proliferative retinopathy. Dr recommended to laser 1 eye 1st to get me comfortable with the procedure. I hope everything will turn up well. Been diligently controlling my BG with the advice & support from DF members

[techgirl2000]

Just came back from my 1st laser treatment. I requested to laser both eyes today. Dr said I need 1 more round of laser this Sunday and that should be sufficient for now. However, I can never do exercise like weight lifting as he fear it may cause blood vessels to rupture.

He didn't want to laser everything at one time cause it will be very painful. He doesn't anticpate that I will experience any blurness at this stage. I'll need to go for eye checkup every 2 months to keep this well monitored

[notme]

Nancy, I hope you have seen your eye dr. I had 7 total laser treatments between my two eyes. I was a participant in the ETDRS (early treatment diabetic retinopathy study) which proved that early intervention is the best way to prevent blindness. I worry about your comment on "missing letters" on your keyboard. Lasers should never cause "blind spots" as far as my experiene went with the national study drs. That sounds more like retinal detachment, something they made me watch for throughout many years of treatments. You had to stare at a black and white grid on a piece of paper and if any lines were missing, you were supposed to call the dr right away.
My leakage was into the retina, because small vessels had closed off and new vessels were forming that were weak and frequently formed aneuryisms that would burst and bleed into the vitreous. I had the vitreous removed from my left eye twice (a seven hour surgery) and lasers on both. I was legally blind for about 9 months early in the study (all participants took a tablet every day, which was either an aspirin or a placebo - mine was aspirin and they took me off it right away). That was 25 years ago. In the last five years, I had a cataract removed from each eye and I have 20/20 vision today (without glasses) !


Yes brender, I am seeing the retinal specialist again this month and I will see my opthomologist again in a month. I have had retinal scans done and so far the only thing they have noticed is possible retinal edema from the laser treatment.

I asked my optho about the spots and he said having laser that close to my macula can cause small areas of vision loss. He said that generally anyone that has laser done will lose some peripheral vision, but mine was not done peripherally. We will see. I will be terrified if they want to do any more laser. My day to day vision is good, but if I go looking for the spots, they are there.

I hope you are wrong, but I will ask my retinal specialist when I see him this month about the small areas of vision loss.

[genie86333]

Just came back from my 1st laser treatment. I requested to laser both eyes today. Dr said I need 1 more round of laser this Sunday and that should be sufficient for now. However, I can never do exercise like weight lifting as he fear it may cause blood vessels to rupture.

He didn't want to laser everything at one time cause it will be very painful. He doesn't anticpate that I will experience any blurness at this stage. I'll need to go for eye checkup every 2 months to keep this well monitored

Great that you're done with one treatment. I'm surprised to hear that he said it would be painful - I had both my eyes done within 2 days & had no pain whatsoever (in fact I didn't even miss any work!)

Also, my doc also told me to watch bending over in addition to strenuous lifting, as that can cause increased pressure in the blood vessels too.

[techgirl2000]

Hi genie86333. Dr said he didn't want to laser everything at one time cause it'll be painful. So he decided to do it within 2 days. My second laser treatment is this Sunday.

[xMenace]

I'm surprised to hear that he said it would be painful - I had both my eyes done within 2 days & had no pain whatsoever (in fact I didn't even miss any work!)

The more you get done, the closer to the macla they get, the more painful it is. Generally PRP is not very painful at all. I find macula shots sting much more.

[techgirl2000]

Just came back from my 2nd laser treatment. Dr asked to come back next Friday for him to examine if require a 3rd round of laser treatment or not