Vitreous hemorrhage due to diabetic retinopathy

[dave4091]

Hi :D

I am suffering from a vitreous hemorrhage due to diabetic retinopathy. This is in my left eye which I have had 3 lots of laser treatment in. The eye is now blurred so I cannot read & can just make out objects due to the bleeding. I have been signed off work due to having an active job that could cause more pressure on the eyes.

My question is what is the best & quickest way to get the blood drained from my eye. Is it a case of just sitting on my backside at home & waiting for it to happen or are there any extra things I could be doing to help.

Any advice would be great as I have been off work for a week now with no change at all.

Thanks

Dave :)

[donnam]

Hi Dave...I have had two vitreous hemorrages in the last year after 38 years of diabetes. It is quite scary but there really is'nt much you can do except what you are doing. You should also be sleeping high on two or more pillows. My retinal specialists usually waits a few weeks and if it does'nt clear up then she does surgery. Mine did'nt clear up on its own so I had the surgery to clear the blood and also some laser. It is awful not seeing and I was very upset. The surgery was a success both times and it was like a new world seeing again. For me that is my main worry all the time...my vision....I am seeing fine now and just pray it does'nt happen again. I wish you luck and just wanted to let you know there is a solution. Donna

[transflake]

I too had hemorraging in both eyes, the right eye very badly in March. It did not clear up on its own even with a shot so I had a vitrectomy in May. I will probably have it on the left eye later this summer. It is scary when these eye problems happen and the vision is affected.

I will say this about the laser. I have what I call a bright spot in my right eye after the first laser treatment. It makes my vision blurry in that one spot and my doc said nothing can be done about that. But the surgery did clear up my sight a lot.

[genie86333]

Hi, Dave. I had the same problem about a year ago. My vision was extremely bad when it first happened (way worse than 20/150 which was all the eye chart went up to) but was 20/40 within a week, and 20/32 (normal for me) within 2 weeks.

[xMenace]

The blood will clear up over two to three months, depending how much is in there. You can't hurry it along.

Ypu should ask about getting shots of something. It's new, and the name escapes me. Avastin was recommended before, but this new stuff is cheaper and better.

Keys now are whether it continues to bleed and why. The afore mentioned vitrectomies will put you out of work even longer. You can expect a bare minimum two week vacation, but your doc will likely insist on up to three to six months off for time to heal. Follow his reccomendations!

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Important from now on are a few things. You need great control of your BGs. Your A1C needs to be under 6.5% and preferrably lower.

IMO you also need anti-oxidant control. Insulin+vitamin C = Less diabetes risk (http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/81975.html)

I believe I am achieving teh same by low carbing which minimizes oxydation in the first place. I also "feel" that Omega ratios play a part too. I up n-3s and lower n-6's: lotsa grass-fed foods and green rabbit food, and less grain and grain fed foods. CEL | Michael Pollan - Unhappy Meals (http://www.ecoliteracy.org/publications/michael_pollan_meals_5.html)

History:
- unknown A1C
- proliferative retinopathy dx'd 1994
- 3000+ lazer blasts 1994+
- macular edema zapped 1997
- June 2006 began pumping A1C 7.3%
- vitreous hemmorhage 2006
- A1C down to 6.4%
- legally blind in left eye for 6 weeks
- vitrectomy 2006
- 2007-2008 four background bleeders, two were lasered
- A1C down to 6.0% ish
- July 2008 start of low carb approach < 150g a day
- July 2009 start of lower carb and omega approach < 100g a day
- May 2009 "Your eyes look like they will never bleed again!"








edit: Lucentis: New, Inexpensive Treatment for Retinopathy and Macular Degeneration May Be on the Horizon (http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/vod/vod217/vodsum0707.htm)