Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Contacts

So, when I mentioned let's not talk about complications - I really did mean it; however, remember how I mentioned don't tell us twice because we heard the first time - well that is very true as well.  In fact the moment you told that newly diabetic that the complications were amputation, loss of eye sight, neuropathy  and the list goes on - that diabetic started examining his or her toes every now and then covering one eye trying to see if his or her vision changed. Of course we know the complications and of course we don't ever, ever, ever, want to run into them.

Yesterday I went for a eye exam, mostly because I wanted to get contacts ordered A.S.A.P  my last pair ripped and I was losing my mind having to wear glasses all the time. You see, I have had glasses since I was in grade seven and while I didn't wear them as often until say, grade 9 - I still found myself hating having to throw them on  - in fact my mother would even admit that I am super awkward with handling my glasses, hence why they were missing the cushion nose pieces, super loose and incredibly dirty - I hardly ever wear glasses because I really, really enjoy wearing contacts.

There has been some talk about diabetics and contacts; however, my eye doctor has never brought it up to me.  The only thing mentioned was that contacts shouldn't be worn too long for anyone - diabetic or not (that's what I like to hear, it's not just diabetics it's everyone!)  I put mine in shortly after I shower, and take them out around 11 pm or close to bed time - since I do not need them to read and that is what I do most nights in bed.    Of course at times, I end up taking them out because of high blood sugar - that feeling of rocks in my eyes drives me nuts and while I still have it when I wear glasses, I can at least rub my eyes until it goes away or the blood sugar goes down.

Either way, I think the 'rock in the eye' feeling is normal during high blood sugars.   So, back to the appointment!  I had a doctor that I don't normally see because I was just taking a dropped appointment. She was really nice and had to write in my medical history since the optometrists just went digital apparently.  It seems that as soon as they know you're diabetic the whole appointment becomes about your diabetes.  I insisted even though she had my records - that I have had bad vision since grade 7 and I was diagnosed after high school with type 1 diabetes.

Either way, the only change was a little bit in my left eye I believe...maybe it is the right... I'll find out when they send me my contacts.   It wasn't by much, but the best news was when she used the microscope and told me that she sees no damage, no signs of glaucoma or cataracts - which are all linked to complications within type 1 diabetes.   That was all I needed to hear to know that I was doing a good job *pat on the back*  She also gave me a pair of contacts to throw on in the meantime!


Kayla

2 comments:

  1. When I was diagnosed in 1974, the doctor said there was a 100% chance that I would have eye damage within 15 years. According to him, the link between Type 1 diabetes and retinoapthy was unavoidable. Since I was 3 at the time, I always expected eye damage before I graduated high school.

    Well, guess what? I am 41 now -- 38 years on insulin -- and I have no eye damage! The doctor was obviously "old school" and didn't realize that with modern care of diabetes, all complications are avoidable.

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  2. My doctors told me if I took care of myself, I would not have any complications at all. I could steer clear of the complications diabetics have. Well a diabetic for almost 47 years I have no eye problems. I've worn glasses since I was 10 or 11. I did have cataract surgery, but I had congenital cataracts... I was born with them, so being a diabetic had nothing to do with me having them. I drove my eye doctor so nutty that he told me at one point he did see a tiny bit of retinopathy, but it's on the very far edges of the eyes so there wasn't any reason for me to be concerned about. At my last two appointments, both eyes were clear.

    I did wear Hard contacts for several years. I refused to get the soft. I only stopped wearing them because I needed bi-focals. I understand you can get bi-focaled contacts but I didn't want them. I'd wear them up to 12 hours with no problems.

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