Diabetes Talking

Question:

I’m 48 and have had type 1 diabetes for 24 years.  I’ve had all the laser I can have to my right eye, and now have developed a retinal cyst.  My vision is very distorted and poor in the right eye.  My retinal specialist feels I have a 50% chance of improvment with a vitrectomy.  Would appreciate hearing from anyone that could offer some insite or share their experience with this type of surgery. Thanks. lsf

Response:

I had a vitrectomy a couple of weeks ago to correct a vitreous hemmorhage. Surgery was 100% successful.  Surgery was painless and was done in operating room at hospital on an outpatient basis. Joe Joe Reardon    

Response:

I’m 48 and have had type 1 diabetes for 24 years.  I’ve had all the laser I can have to my right eye, and now have developed a retinal cyst.  My vision is very distorted and poor in the right eye.  My retinal specialist feels I have a 50% chance of improvment with a vitrectomy.  Would appreciate hearing from anyone that could offer some insite or share their experience with this type of surgery. Thanks. lsf

I too have had all the laser treatments that my ophthalmologist recommends and had a vitrectomy performed on my left eye.  The Dr told me that I would have a 50/50 chance of improvement.  I was not one of the lucky ones and didn’t get any improvement.  It did clear some of the central vision but I still test 20/400 in that eye.  Since I didn’t have anything to lose, I chose to have the surgery.  As for the surgery, it was performed on an out-patient basis.  I had to wear a patch for a  couple of days and that was all there was to it.  No pain or discomfort at all. I developed a bad cataract on that eye and feel that if it is removed I may get some use out of my eye, dlk

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Hi,      I am a type 1 and on the pump since last August.  After years of anorexia and a a1c reading of 16, I did a lot of damage to my eyes.  I have been getting laser treatments for a year, but they just weren’t working.  My right eye is in terrible shape 20/600 and I just had a vitrectomy.  Of course the doctor won’t say much about the future of my eye for legal/liability reasons I guess.  He said it went very well that they got most of the blood and scar tissue out.        For a year now my a1c had been below 6, and am working hard to control the diabetes.  Has anyone had any good results with a vitrectomy?  I am just so scared- I have so many plans in my life.  My left eye is about 20/50, and I really don’t want it to worsen.  If anyone can give me some encouragement, or positive advice or success stories, please do so. Thank you, Ashley Essential Solutions  http://www.essentialsol.com

Response:

Ashley, I too had problems with my eyes shortly after going on a pump.  Gong from loose control to tight control will frequently trigger eye problems.  My problems took a few years to iron out.  I had a vitrectomy then developed a cataract, then developed a secondary cataract.  But, that was 8 years ago and all is well now.  Because of the lens implant with the cataract I now see (corrected) 20/30 with the eye that was so bad I could not distinguish when light was shined in it. The best thing you can do is to stay in as good of control as possible. Stop smoking (if this applies) and make sure your blood pressure stays down. Follow the docs orders about lifting, bending, aspirin, etc.  And don’t give up hope. Most docs hate being asked "what will happen to me" because they really don’t know – and it pains them to say "I don’t know". Good luck to you. — Marilyn Type 1 for 33 years, Minimed pumping for the last 12

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi,      I am a type 1 and on the pump since last August.  After years of anorexia and a a1c reading of 16, I did a lot of damage to my eyes.  I have been getting laser treatments for a year, but they just weren’t working.  My right eye is in terrible shape 20/600 and I just had a vitrectomy.  Of course the doctor won’t say much about the future of my eye for legal/liability reasons I guess. He said it went very well that they got most of the blood and scar tissue out.      For a year now my a1c had been below 6, and am working hard to control the diabetes.  Has anyone had any good results with a vitrectomy?  I am just so scared- I have so many plans in my life.  My left eye is about 20/50, and I really don’t want it to worsen.  If anyone can give me some encouragement, or positive advice or success stories, please do so. Thank you, Ashley Essential Solutions  http://www.essentialsol.com

Response:

Ashley My left eye was 20/400 before my vitrectomy.  It is now 20/40.  I have had several laser treatments to both eyes in past 2 years also.  Good luck. Joe  

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