1) I got away without needing the Dreaded Drops for the third time running (they actually nearly gave me them until I asked not to!); and 2) Got the all clear on both eyes on the spot
Woo Hoo!!
Type 1 - Diagnosed November 2007 First HbA1c: 11.2 Last HbA1c: 5.9 Novorapid and Levemir (latter started Dec 08 )
With me they always tell me that the photos go away to be enlarged for a specialist to look at. The operator doesn't even look at them other than to make sure they have been taken correctly and they never comment on the results even when asked. I have also asked not to have the eye drops but I was convinced that I should have them as the nurse said that the resulting pictures would be that much better and they may see things with a dilated pupil that they may otherwise miss. She did say though that if I didn't want them that was up to me and they wouldn't put them in.
I had my screening on Monday and I agree it's an awful experience. At my screening last year they said that there were Diabetic changes which obviously caused me to fear the worst. It was only when i saw my GP and specialist that they told me that after 20+ years of being Diabetic these things were expected and that i shouldn't be overly concerned. They also said that these things can come and go and that they can move around on the eye. Mid year, around june, I went for a standard eye test and the optician had a good look at the back of my eyes as I said that I'd been told that there had been changes. The optician said that he couldn't see anything and that he wouldn't know i was diabetic looking at my eyes.
Oh well. I'll wait for my result which could be up to 6 weeks!!! In the last 12 months my control has been much better so I'm hoping that things have improved and got better, having said that I have started to get a lot of really noticable floaters, something that the literature that they gave me on Monday stated may be a cause of concern. Having said that I had floaters in June, that is why i went to the optician, and he didn't find anything.
Type 1 since 1986. Animas 2020 pump user since mid September 2009, was using Novorapid but at the moment trying Apidra, started with it at the start of March 2010. HbA1C 6.5% in Nov '08, 6.3% in Jan '09, 5.7% in March '09, 5.3% in Oct '09, 5.0% in Jan '10, 5.5% end March '10 (rise put down to problems adjusting to Apidra).
this is the best way for the opthamologist/optician to SEE the back of your eye
It may be the wording I used in my post but I did have the drops in the end, I didn't want them in as I had a big day at work Monday, but her saying that you get a better picture convinced me to let her put them in.
Type 1 since 1986. Animas 2020 pump user since mid September 2009, was using Novorapid but at the moment trying Apidra, started with it at the start of March 2010. HbA1C 6.5% in Nov '08, 6.3% in Jan '09, 5.7% in March '09, 5.3% in Oct '09, 5.0% in Jan '10, 5.5% end March '10 (rise put down to problems adjusting to Apidra).
Good news Lady J, not sure how you get away with no drops, we have a nurse at the hospital whose job it is just to put the drops in. I really dislike her!
claire Type 1, Coeliac & Hyperthyroid DX June 2008 on Lantus/Novorapid First HbA1c - 14.6 HbA1c Sept 09 - 5.9, March 10 - 5.8, July 10 - 6.0!!
Yes, there is a nurse at my clinic too. Quite a pleasant young man but maybe I just think that as I've never had the drops.
Believe me, they always say "ok, we'll START with no drops and see how we get on", but then warn me if the pictures aren't clear enough they will make me take the drops. Between each couple of photos she gives you a break to sit with eyes closed to let the pupils dilate again.
In the end we looked through them all. There were a couple of photos where you could see the light hadn't pentrated to the back of the eye (it looks like a large dark-ish area) because obviously my pupils were starting to get really small with the flashes. These she discarded. However, the rest were perfectly clear and bright (she showed me these against examples of what the photos should look like). She had three good shots of each eye and was happy.
They are very professional. They wouldn't have me leave the hospital with an inadequate set of shots, so I'm choosing to ignore the comments saying they won't be able to see properly, thanks!
They also get sent to the lab and reviewed again, and I get a letter in a few weeks confirming the result.
Type 1 - Diagnosed November 2007 First HbA1c: 11.2 Last HbA1c: 5.9 Novorapid and Levemir (latter started Dec 08 )
I wonder where I saw the comment that "If you don't dilate, you may die early..."?
BATcher Type 2, diagnosed June 1993, on insulin since May 2005; last HbA1c 6.6; early morning: Levemir, 24 u; at each main meal: NovoRapid, ~8-25 u, with Metformin, 1 g; just before bedtime: Levemir, 24 u; also simvastatin and aspirin; hoping expecting to go on Byetta clinical trial in a couple of months' time...
Hi.. just joined this today ....recently been told have background retinopathy (nearly 6 yrs dx) The guy at the screening said everything was ok was told results in 6 weeks. 3 days later - letter "background Retinopathy" with limited info and inviting back for a screening in 12 months! I had my eyes check by the optician who said everything looked good.Any ideas?
I had exactly the same thing a couple of years ago (a month after I'd been to the optician and had an all clear). I went a year later and they said it had been trivial and had now disappeared.
I strongly suspect they do it primarily to frighten you, otherwise, surely, they could give more information at the time.
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