Anybody Encounter This?

forlornjohn · #1 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 10:27 AM

Sometime in early February of this year I had an "Eye attack" which consisted of a sharp pain behind my left eye. It only lasted for 15 or 20 seconds & went away. I thought it might have been the cold weather I was out in that day so I forgot about it.
About three weeks later, the same thing happened, only this time with after effects. I was not dizzy not was my vision blurred but when I tried to walk, I was off balance & tended to fall to my left. Also, the left side of my face felt a bit numb. My balance returned the next day but I now had a feeling that there was something in my left eye plus I still had a bit of numbness in the left side of my face.

I contacted my Doctor & he examined my eye & gave me a prescription for an antibiotic which I started using. He also ordered some blood work be done & a few days later, advised me I had Type 2 Diabetes. He stated that this was probably the reason for the eye attacks.

He set up an appointment with an Eye Specialist & after he examined my eye, the Specialist stated that there was some pressure evident in or around the eye. He said I would have to return in two or three months so he could put drops in the eye to make a more accurate exam. At the time he said, "I did not say you have Glaucoma"! I am 68 years old & it makes me wonder.
Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks for reading this.

forlornjohn

Evermont · #2 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 10:44 AM

Hi John,

I'm not sure what's going on with your face. This is probably not it but it's the only thing I can think of might be close:

From Wikipedia: Bell's palsy is a paralysis of the facial nerve resulting in inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. Several conditions can cause a facial paralysis, e.g., brain tumor, stroke, and Lyme disease. However, if no specific cause can be identified, the condition is known as Bell's Palsy. Named after Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who first described it, Bell's palsy is the most common acute mononeuropathy (disease involving only one nerve), and is the most common cause of acute facial nerve paralysis. (link)

fgummett · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 10:45 AM

Hi forlornjohn and Welcome to DF from a fellow Nova Scotian! (live in Fall River & work in Bedford).

Eye problems are common with diabetes but I'm not aware of one that causes a sharp pain, blurred vision and numbness.

I certainly had blurred vision due to high blood sugar when first diagnosed and it took a few weeks to come back to normal as my blood sugar stabilized

Hammer · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 12:18 PM

Hey there forlornjohn! Welcome to the Diabetes Forums. When your doctor did the blood work and said you had diabetes, did he mention what your A1C numbers were? The A1C is a test that measures the sugar levels in your blood over a 3 month period. The numbers are usually like 5.6 or 7.9 or something like that. If he didn't tell you what the numbers were, did he put you on any kind of meds for diabetes> Also, did he give you a blood sugar monitor and ask you to do blood sugar (BS) readings on yourself? That's where you prick your finger and place a drop of blood on a test strip that's inserted into the meter. If he did, what was your reading?

Janlaton · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 01:24 PM

I was also thinking Bells palsey. The pain in the eye could have been a blood vessel popping. This happens both in diabetes and bells. Usually more down the line with the diabetes but no telling HOW LONG YOU have been type 2 without knowing it.

Anyway, Welcome to the forum. Have a good day. Be blessed.

patricia52 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 08:22 AM

Something similar to this happened to my mother. I noticed that her eye was tearing excessively. She said it felt like she had something it it. She did not notice any visual effects because she was almost blind in that eye anyway due to never having a lazy eye treated during childhood. I also notice that she seemed to be leaning more to one side when she walked. Took her to an eye specialist. He said she had a stroke in that eye. He treated her eye with drops to relieve the pressure until he could do lazer surgery. Make sure you follow up with the eye specialist and keep a check on that blood pressure just in case. and keep your BG in control. Please keep us posted. Diabetes is a tricky disease. It attacks every part of our body.

forlornjohn · #7 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 02:33 AM

Thank you ALL for your wecomes & replies.
I am monitoring my blood sugar at present & it runs in the 7 & 8 ranges, mainly in the AM. I agree with the Member who posted the stroke in the eye which may account for pain in the eye plus the temporary off balance issue.
I find that the medication I am now taking seems to be stabilizing the situation.
Again, many thanks for your replies & suggestions.
Regards,
forlornjohn

Janlaton · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 09:03 AM

Remember we share from our experience and our hearts we for the most part are not medical professionals so always stay in close touch with your doctors and diabetic team. We are here to encourage you through the ups and downs and all that goes with this way of life.

vegasvic · #9 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 09:26 AM

I came across this post and thought I'd reply.

Periodically i have a sharp eye pain. It doesn't feel like there is a foreign object in it but the pain is there. Its a rare occurance and it goes away relatively quickly but its painful enough where I remember it.

Never had it checked out but my eye exams are all clear so...

vic