Why even go?

[Rebulx]

I've been diabetic for over 10 years. I've never seen an eye doctor. I think my eyes are fine. Why should I go?

[sarahspins]

Because "thinking" your eyes are fine and "knowing" they are are two very different things... an good eye doc will see signs of retinopathy and other eye problems well before you are aware of them.

[Subby]

Exactly. It is a small price to pay to catch it early. Or, don't go for regular checkups and the first thing you know may be that you may be up to lose a substantial part of your vision... it is up to you.

I have pretty regularly gotten the impression that some retinopathy is one of the more common (and more treatable - if caught early) complications.

I have slipped with my eye exams for a few years and am going to one in a few weeks. If I have retinopathy that's gotten away that could have been easily treated I sure will be kicking myself.

[princesslinda]

Sometimes vision problems can happen slowly over a long period of time, and if you never have your eyes checked, you might not even know there's a problem until you become symptomatic, at which time a lot of the damage may be done.

If you have insurance, an ophthalmologist's exam is usually covered with a diagnosis of diabetes.

I get a mammogram each year, and I have no family history of breast cancer, I get a pap smear, and have no history of cervical cancer.....some things you do, just for peace of mind.

I sure wish i'd have had annual A1Cs over the years, I might have been diagnosed with diabetes earlier and may have been able to control it without meds for awhile.

[fgummett]

I sure wish i'd have had annual A1Cs over the years, I might have been diagnosed with diabetes earlier and may have been able to control it without meds for awhile.Amen to that Linda!

[morrisma]

You want a picture of your retinas while things are good so that that baseline can be compared to later images.
Mike

[davef]

Because "thinking" your eyes are fine and "knowing" they are are two very different things... an good eye doc will see signs of retinopathy and other eye problems well before you are aware of them.
Ditto

Aside from potential diabetic complications, you also need to ensure that glaucoma is not an issue.

I guess saying I think my eyes are ok, is like saying I take my meds, but eat pretty much anything and feel ok - feeling is not testing.

[Dis-N-Dat]

Hi Rebulx:

Hmmm, still invincible eh? :D

Seriously, if you want to know why to see an Opthomologist,
ask my aunt who went totally blind.

If you want to know why to see a Podiatrist annually, ask my aunt who had both feet amputated.

If you wan to know why do it now and not wait, ask me. who thought I was invincible. Now legally blind and in danger of loosing one of my feet, maybe both.

Not trying to be melodramatic but I promise you. you're not invincible.. Take care of yourself...now. (I say this with all love and respect)

[Bethany]

I always get my eyes checked...They get worse every year. I am now legally blind! I also get mammograms(for no real reason) I'm only 31. I pretty much refuse to get my paps, crevical cancer is bad in my family. Now where is the logic in that???

[Bull]

I just found out I'm Diabetic and I am going to an Eye Doc as soon as I get back from Vacation next week.

I'm a 42 year old kid I love my Comic Books and the thought of someone reading them to me is just sad! :eek: :)

[yannah]

most eye issues have no symtoms.....until they are not easily treated anymore. alot of them are treatable untill you have symptoms.

do you understand what I am saying?

my question is why wouldn't you go get an eye exam?

[genie86333]

Rebulx,

I thought my eyes were fine too - 20/20 vision, although I have had to to wear glasses to prevent straining them because my eyes cross when I get tired, no problems with them at all!

Then, 6 months after diagnosis, I bent over to pick up a DVD I'd dropped...and went legally blind in one eye (I couldn't even read the big E at the top of the eye chart...it was just a dark spot with that eye.) It's gotten better now after laser treatments on both eyes, but my vision is now 20/32 instead of 20/20.

That's a *very* scary feeling. Get checked out before you have problems to prevent them from happening if at all possible.

[xMenace]

I've been diabetic for over 10 years. I've never seen an eye doctor. I think my eyes are fine. Why should I go?

Because you're a type 1 diabetic and retinopathy is close to a certainty in your life. You may be an exception, but the odds are you are not. Early detection and treatment is very important in many cases. Significant vision loss can be prevented or minimized with early and correct treatments.

It only took 19 years for mine to surface. It has not been a fun 15 years. My 3rd appointment this year is in two weeks. So far I've had an estimated 13 laser sessions for proliferative retinopathy, edema, major hemhorrages, and background bleeding, well over 3,000 zaps (don't let anyone tell you these are easy), and a vitrectomy. I now have about 1/3 reduced perfipheral vision in my left eye and about 10% reduced in my right. I still have 20/20 in the left and 15/20 in the right.

There were no symptoms for the proliferative. Symptoms for the rest were and are very difficult to live with. "Sorry I can't read that. My eye is full of blood. Maybe tomorrow. NOT!"

[Rebulx]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to find an eye doctor tomorrow and setup an appointment. I appricate your words of wisdom.

[Rickmar]

Hi Rebulx;
Why go? check this out... THIS HAPPENED TO ME .
I have had diabetes since the late 80's.
I was prescribed just about all the oral medications for years, nothing seemed to work much.
Finally I asked my primary physician about insulin.

Now I am a patient of a major diabetes clinic in Boston, Mass.
I began injecting myself with insulin twice daily.
They examined my eyes using Fundus photographyand always turned out fine test after test after test.
The insulin was not having much of an effect.
The diabetes doctor (Endocrinologist) told me I am insulin resistant, so he prescribed higher and higher injection amounts.
Finally it started to take effect...Novolog Flex Pen (Fast acting)/Levemir Flex Pen(long acting).
Finally after a loonnggg time my A1C results had the doctor giving me the thumbs up sign and told me that was great and we were both smiling :)
Finally he said "let's check your eyes we have not done that in a while" :confused:

After all the bright flashes using Fundus photography the technician asked if I could wait for a few minutes, saying the images were a little fuzzy and had to check and see if the images were O.K.
I thought to myself "This is unusual":confused:
I came back and the technician told me someone wanted to speak with me on the phone:eek: :confused: :eek:
I was told I have Macular Edema of the right eye:eek:
It has now effected the left eye as well.

Take the advice of all the others and myself and have your eyes checked OFTEN.
Also, request Fundus photography of your eyes!!

Fundus photography 4 Important Eye Tests for People With Diabetes - Type 2 Diabetes - Health.com (http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20189424,00.html)

Macular Edema Diabetic macular edema definition - Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes, Type 1, and Metabolic Disorders Treatment and Medications on MedicineNet.com (http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16569)

Stay Healthy;
Rick

[Moonpie]

I also believed my eyes were fine & thought the eye Dr was lieing to me, when he told me I had glaucoma. I asked him to prove it!! So other things, besides diabetes complications can happen to ones eyes, which are far too precious not to be checked. Glad to read you are going to one. Good luck .

[It Ain't Over]

I have been a regular at the eye dr office for years now. Never have found anything, but the md told me what they are looking for is thought to stem from something that occured or started to occur at least five years ago. By the time it can be seen it is often very late and can cause a lot of trouble. So I make an appt every January and go to see the bright lights one more time.

[ant hill]

Sometimes vision problems can happen slowly over a long period of time, and if you never have your eyes checked, you might not even know there's a problem until you become symptomatic, at which time a lot of the damage may be done.

Yes indeed Linda as I am proof of not going and thinking if there is something wrong you would be too late to do anything about it. It is known that the eyes are the first to go.

It should be no secret that control is the key to great health!!! Go and have a checkup and have an early diagnosis before the damage is done. You may well see no evedence of damage but please check it out!!! ;)