Diabetes and Blindness
G’day and Welcome
Less than five months ago my partner complained of sore eyes. He has been a diabetic for over 20 years and was not due for his check-up with the optometrist. He was also diving 12 to 16 hours a day, six days a week. Of course his eyes were sore!
To be safe, and as they appeared to be deteriorating, he made an appointment at the local Gold Coast optometrist. Fortunately, he received a very knowledgeable consultant who immediately referred my partner to the Southport Eye Specialists.
My partners FIRST consultation resulted in an urgent appointment for steroids on one eye. This did not help and indeed went fairly badly. At the next appointment his other eye was lasered. Last week it was lasered again. In six weeks it will probably be lasered yet again. The long term prognosis is for legal blindness next year.
For anyone who reads this who has diabetes and sore eyes. Please see your optometrist as soon as possible.
Since his diagnosis (he is 44), he has met;
- A lady who reacted to the steroids by having two strokes. She is now blind.
- A gentleman who had the same major eye lasering as my partner. He is now fully blind.
- An aquaintance whose husband has just gone legally blind with diabetes. HE IS 27 YEARS OLD.
Last month I spoke with a business aquiantance who got diabetes last year as a result of a heart operation. He has the same eye symptoms as my partner did. He claims he has no time to make an appointment with an optometrist.
My partner had to walk away from his business at quite a substantial financial loss. He is now on a disabilities pension and we have just sold our home.
…Less than five months ago my partner complained of sore eyes…
Kerri RaLuna