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What Causes Bleeding With Significant Decline In Vision In Diabetic Patients?
Question: Hello, my father is an 88 year old male of South Asian descent. He was diagnosed with the wet form of Macular Degeneration about 10 years ago. For the past six years, the retina specialist has been giving him injections of Lucentis; however, the doctor reduced the frequency of those injections and has actually not given my father any injection for the last three years.
In the past two weeks, my Dad has noticed a significant decline in his vision; when he went to the ophthalmologist, he was told that bleeding has resumed in his left eye. I have made an appointment for him to see the retina specialist again, but he will have to wait until mid-April. My father is very concerned about his precipitous decline in eyesight .
My father has Type II diabetes which he controls with Metaformin (500 mg 1/2 tablet twice per day) and diet; he also has hypertension, which he controls with Adalat (30mg bid), Terazosin 5mg bid, Lipitor 40 mg once per day .
Do you think, given that bleeding is occurring in his eye, that he can wait until mid-April for another treatment with Lucentis? Would you be able to tell me of any alternative or temporary fixes that exist for treating his condition?
Sincere thanks.
Brief Answer:
Close monitoring is required to prevent worsening.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care magic
Iam Dr. Dadapeer K, an Ophthalmologist and I answer health problems related to eye.
I reviewed the history, your father is 88 years old, known diabetic and hypertensive on treatment with wet macular degeneration for which he has taken anti vascular endothelial growth factors like lucentis till last three years.
As told by your ophthalmologist he has got bleeding with significant decline in vision.
This can be because of activation of wet macular degeneration or because of diabetic retinopathy.
Ideally he requires evaluation to find out the cause for bleeding and treatment accordingly by retinal specialist.
However if you are not able to seek consultation with retina specialsit, he can prevent worsening of the condition by
Control of diabetes and hypertension and preventing the fluctuation of blood sugars and blood pressure
Cessation of smoking if at all he is smoking
Using antioxidant drugs
Avoiding sternous or heavy activities
Daily monitoring of near vision by using amsler's charts
With the above mentioned methods he can monitor and delay the progression for a while, but definitive treatment is must at the earliest. Hence try to get appointment as early as possible with retina specialist.
Hope I have answered your question and the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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