Retinopathy & Lucentis injections.

Hi, I have had a lot of problems with my eyes over the past 4-5 years due to very poor control at an early stage of my diabetes, I would like to see what other diabetics have experienced and what side effects people have experienced as i have had some serious ones.

I was warned of eye issues from diagnosis in 1973 but managed to avoid any problems beyond short-sightedness until about 2009 when there was a bit of blood vessel growth in my left eye which required a few zaps of the laser. Prior to DAFNE, had a few sessions on my right eye (about 1 year pre DAFNE) but not enough to challenge my driving licence, although I did have to do a peripheral vision test at Swansea's behest! At my last eye appointment ( first post DAFNE) received high praise from consultant as to the state of my right eye, so it seems good control is of benefit! Its kinda important for me to have a good right eye as the left has been useless since a squint correction in the early 1960s, pre diabetes! I m possibly quite lucky with my eyes, though prior to the last lot of laser, I did find night driving a little irritating.....beyond that no problems.....

Thankyou for your response Neville, After doing the Dafne course last week i do truly believe the benefits from this concept of diabetes is going to change my life now. I do genuinely wish that when people become a diabetic - Health care professionals would explain a lot more about complications in later life as some of the issues that i have experienced could have been avoided much earlier (I don't mean to sound like i am passing the book) but in this circumstance i definitely think knowledge is power.

Funny story: when I was first diagnosed,(1973)I was promised the BMA book on diabetes by my consultant: I eventually got the book 5 years ago after I purchased it from the chemists Apart from this the only info I had about diabetes til DAFNE came along was dire warnings about kidney failure/eye damage, as I was nt keeping sufficient record of urine/blood tests: DAFNE was a real 'reboot' but sadly for some less talked about side effects (erectile dysfunction) too late!

For 18 years i did not keep any records of BG, And the information i received early on with regards to carbs ect was totally misguided and my only form of control was judged by eye on a daily basis. I have not even tested for Ketones for about 10-12 years.

I hope it is working well for you

I am awaiting my call up from GP for this years Hb1c, which hopefully will break the 8 barrier which I ve stuck on for last few years. I m hopeful.......My experience in the 1970s was much the same as yours!

I have diabetes retinopathy as well as a few other eye problems, all stemming from that though, I had the lucentus injection in one eye and unfortunitly ended up with one of the worst side effects and got a detached retina. I am completely blind in both eyes now. Not once did my diabetes clinic check my eyes in all the years I was with them, yet my sis is at same clinic and I remember her having hers tested. Hmmm. My sight went completely within a year of my own optician first picking up on the condition and he tested every 6months to a year.

Think that by comparison with you Faulty, I was lucky in that the hospital in Norwich had very good diabetic services! Due to the fact that I only have one fully functioning eye ( the left eye doesn t focus) has meant that the eye doctors keep a proper look out for me.....Since I moved to Colchester the same care has been taken. Its sad that care is so variable......