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Is Retinopathy Related To celiac disease In Some Way?

Judyin Philly

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Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted

HI

Sure hope someone out there knows something about this

they want me to see a retinal surgeon on Fri or have to wait till June.

calling my internist to see what they say about this referal to dr in the office where i posted a bad experience this am.

an help here PLEASE

JUDY IN PHILLY

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dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted

Wow, I've not heard of it before...I just did a quick search on Yahoo, and most of the hits were for Diabetic Retinopathy. I also saw at least one for hypertensive retinopathy.

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted
  • Author
Wow, I've not heard of it before...I just did a quick search on Yahoo, and most of the hits were for Diabetic Retinopathy. I also saw at least one for hypertensive retinopathy.

thanks so much for looking for me.

i saw those too and b/p is ok and ck'd for diabetes and it was ok 2 months ago..she mumbled somehting about bulging eyes..i said as in Graves Disease...she just didn't like that i was too informed.

the retinal specialist is in the same office. am done with them but opthomoligist i do like is there maybe he can help me...but need a referal sooo..

appreciate your help

Judy in philly

dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted

Sorry I couldn't help more!

debbiewil Rookie
debbiewil
Posted

Judy,

This is from Wikipedia. I bolded the part about systemic disease. I think celiac could be called a systemic disease, so there might be some relation.

Debbie

Retinopathy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Retinopathy [[image:{{{Image}}}|190px|center|]]

{{{Caption}}}

ICD-10 H35.0-H35.2

ICD-9 362.0-362.2

ICD-O: {{{ICDO}}}

OMIM {{{OMIM}}}

DiseasesDB {{{DiseasesDB}}}

MedlinePlus {{{MedlinePlus}}}

eMedicine {{{eMedicineSubj}}}/{{{eMedicineTopic}}}

Retinopathy is a general term that refers to some form of non-inflammatory damage to the retina of the eye. Most commonly it is a problem with the blood supply that is the cause for this condition. Frequently, retinopathy is an ocular manifestation of systemic disease.

Main causes of retinopathy are :

diabetes - diabetic retinopathy

arterial hypertension - hypertensive retinopathy

prematurity of the newborn - retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

sickle cell anemia

direct sunlight exposure - solar retinopathy

medicinal products - drug-related retinopathy

retinal vein or artery occlusion

Many types of retinopathy are progressive and may result in blindness or severe vision loss or impairment, particularly if the macula becomes affected.

Retinopathy is diagnosed by an optometrist or an ophhtalmologist during a form of eye examination called a fundus exam. Treatment depends on the cause of the disease.

[edit]

See also

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

I found this, below. So are they saying your symptoms are due to this and not sjorgren's? Most of what I saw was diabetic related too... What are your symptoms--dry eyes and pain? Sorry Judy... :(

Retinopathy damages the retina by destroying the capillaries (minuscule blood vessels connecting arteries and veins) that provide blood to the retina, the light-sensitive nerve tissue that sends visual images to the brain. With the onset of retinopathy, these vessels weaken or bulge with microaneurysms that may hemorrhage, leaking blood or fluid into surrounding tissue. When new blood vessels grow on the retina (and into the vitreous), they can cause blurred vision and even temporary blindness. The real danger lies in the scar tissue that ultimately forms, detaching the retina from the back of the eye and often causing permanent loss of vision.

Floaters can be a sign of diabetic retinopathy. Sometimes difficulty reading or doing close work can indicate that fluid is collecting in the macula, the most light-sensitive part of the retina. This fluid build-up is called macular edema. Another sign is double vision, which occurs when the nerves controlling the eye muscles are affected. If you experience any of these signs, see your eye doctor immediately. Otherwise, diabetics should see their eye doctor at least once a year for a dilated eye exam.

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted
  • Author

Thanks so very much you guys

I've been on line too but didn't find all you did.

The bottom lines jenvan sent me and seems most relevant to me.

The real danger lies in the scar tissue that ultimately forms, detaching the retina from the back of the eye and often causing permanent loss of vision.

1... if you have one detachment, which i have had, and it's been repaired in R eye--the chances of another tear in that eye or the other one is likely...that's why i've been haveing then ck'd each year but last year took the 'yr off from doctoring'' :lol: that'll teach me...so this could be the pre curser to a new tear. if i get it early,,, won't tear i guess...

2..my question is...WHY AM I PREDISPOSED TO RETINAL TEARS...???? THIS IS HELPING ME GET READY FOR APT...OK, JUMP IN YOU SEE SOMETHING YOU THINK OF, OK.

3. Debbie, I'm going to ck you link after dinner, trying to multi-task here. u had some points on this i think.

Floaters can be a sign of diabetic retinopathy. Sometimes difficulty reading or doing close work can indicate that fluid is collecting in the macula, the most light-sensitive part of the retina. This fluid build-up is called macular edema

1...drs always bring others in to see my FLOATERs AS THEY are the biggest they have seen..

2...you guys know i have trouble 'doing close work like on the computer cause sometimes i type in caps as can't see the screen..

3...having alot of trouble when outside and the sun is really bright and the sun glasses are the click ons and they always fall off when gardening...getting a pair of perscription sunglasses..I'M WORTH IT DON'T YOU THINK? :o

4...Macular edema...she mentioned the whites of my eyes bulging..that's when i said 'like in Graves disease."

where i was promply ignored.

My wonderful internist called back while at chiro and said that---.

1...this retina specilist (that's in the 'b%$@#es' office) & also the opthomologist i like and handled the after care of the first torn retina....is good and people seem to like her..he didn't know the 'jerk' one is guess and i didn't go into detail. need to get a referal and drive 1/2 fri am and get there in bumper to bumper trafic but since other opthomoligist is there too....i'm going. (bet she had some 'interesting things on my chart) wanted to try someone with a clean slate..but...

2,,My chiro said she'd like me to see a specialist who can see a corralation between celiac disease and this condition..

3. I'll call other office and speak to them about it...first...didn't work last time but maybe this time...

4. trust my internist and he knows the kind of drs. i like.

I'll post more on his ideas about sogorjens later eyes tired and have to cook dinner. grrrr.

Judy and thanks friends.

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mouse Enthusiast
mouse
Posted

When I had my detached retina attached (many years ago), there was a woman there who was very young and they had to attach both of her retina's. The doctor told me that they ran in her family and she had a predisposition to them. As to floaters I also have them, but I thought they were common as we age. I must have been living in the stone age for me to believe everything that has been said to me.

I do know that you CANNOT wait until June to have this checked into. Even the lousy opthamologist that told me that I only had a small change in my vision and new glasses were not necessary (ha, that is why the Neuro-OP changed them from a -25 to a -300) made me come in the same day as I called.

Take care as I know how frightened you must be. I have been there and I am praying for you.

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted
  • Author

THANKS SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR POST

Take care as I know how frightened you must be. I have been there and I am praying for you.

yOU KNOW I'M NOT AS SCARED OF WHAT ELSE IS THROWN AT ME AS I AM OF BEING 'ABUSED VERBALLY BY YET ANOTHER DR IN THAT PRACTICE. GOD KNOW WHAT THIS TWIT PUT IN MY FOLDER...

I'M JUST TIRED AND SICK OF BEING TREATED BADLY BECAUSE I ASK INTELLIGENT QUESTIONS AND THEY PROTECT THEIR 'SELF ESTIME' BY PUTTING PATIENTS IN THEIR PLACE.

I REMEMBER NOW WHY I STOPED GOING TO THE DRS BUT CAN'T NOT DO THIS.

THANKS ALSO FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

JUDY

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

Judy-

Wish I could be your "personal doctor advocate" and accompany you on appointments so I could "put the smack down" when necessary. Like "Excuse me Doctor, but using that tone with my client is completely inappropriate. Or, "Our time is not up. If you leave this room now, I will slash your tires."

Wish I knew more for you...

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted
  • Author

DEBBIE. YOUR THE BEST..THANKS SO VERY MUCH :) IN INFO IS RIGHT ON

PRINTED THE WHOLE LIST FROM THREAD YOU SENT.

jUDY

Lynxear Rookie
Lynxear
Posted

Are you sure that you are not diabetic???

What is your hemoglobin A1c reading? This is the telling measurement for blood sugar. Your normal monitoring with a glucometer varies all over the map depending on your last meal. A fasting blood sugar is not a true reflection of your diabetes status. hemoglobin A1c is the diffinative test.

This measures your average sugar for the past 3 months.

I have type II diabetes and take glucophage and recently added glucazide to the drug mix....this has worked very well for me NOW. 2 weeks ago I was out of control.

Two things that diabetics have to be worried about (main ones anyway) are your eyes and your feet. They want you to have your eyes tested and examined yearly. I have had the same perscription for glasses since I was 17 years old and this comforts me. I had a bad experience on the last comprehensive exam as the stupid tech double dosed my eye with dilator...I went in fine and came out with a sore eye for several months...they want me to go again....hmmmmm...since lowering my sugar my eyes feel 100% better and my vision is sharper...I think I will wait thankyou.

Your hemoglobin A1c reading should be less than 7 mmol/L if you hav absolutely no diabetes problem. My doctor (before being firmly diagnozed as diabetic used to tell me I was "pre-diabetic that is nonsense...I was diabetic!!! Why do they do that!! Why do they wait until the disease firmly grabs you before they start treating??? Sorry for the rant :)

Oh yeah! I have "floaters" every now and then. But they are not a problem unless they are persistant and interfere with vision.

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted
  • Author

Are you sure that you are not diabetic???

What is your hemoglobin A1c reading? This is the telling measurement for blood sugar. Your normal monitoring with a glucometer varies all over the map depending on your last meal. A fasting blood sugar is not a true reflection of your diabetes status. hemoglobin A1c is the diffinative test.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE INFO...I WAS TESTED WITH JUST ALL THE ROUTINE BLOOD WORK AND ALL CAME BACK OK BUT THIS OTHER TEST WAS NEVER DONE AS THEY SEEMED TO NOT THINK ANYTHING LEAD TO DIABETIC DX...I'M PRINTING THIS POST OUT AND WILL KEEP BASED ON WHAT THE RETINA SPECIALIST SAYS TOMORROW.

YOU'VE GIVEN ME ALOT OF INFO HERE THANKS

PUTTING YOU IN MY BUDDY ADDRESSES INCASE... :ph34r:

YOU SOUND LIKE YOUR DOING WELL.

JUDY IN PHILLY

Lynxear Rookie
Lynxear
Posted

Good luck

I cannot understand why they would not do the hemoglobin A1c test in routine blood work. That makes no sense to me. You see your red blood cells store sugar and they are regularly replaced (I think at a rate of 1/2 every month) So they hemoglobin sugar is a true reflection of your diabetes status.

I can "fake" a good sugar reading in the short term just by eating properly and reduce my sugar intake...no junk food, etc. But I cannot fake the hemoglobin A1c reading unless I am a good boy for 90 days.

Also...a measure of your pancreas's ability to produce insulin to deal with sugar is to take a glucometer reading 2 hours after eating a meal. You should have a reading of less than 10 mmol/liter at this time. If it is signifacantly above this reading for a longer period of time then you probably have diabetes....but this would be confirmed by the hemoglobin A1c test.

Good luck with your tests

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted
  • Author
Good luck

I cannot understand why they would not do the hemoglobin A1c test in routine blood work. That makes no sense to me. You see your red blood cells store sugar and they are regularly replaced (I think at a rate of 1/2 every month) So they hemoglobin sugar is a true reflection of your diabetes status.

I can "fake" a good sugar reading in the short term just by eating properly and reduce my sugar intake...no junk food, etc. But I cannot fake the hemoglobin A1c reading unless I am a good boy for 90 days.

Also...a measure of your pancreas's ability to produce insulin to deal with sugar is to take a glucometer reading 2 hours after eating a meal. You should have a reading of less than 10 mmol/liter at this time. If it is signifacantly above this reading for a longer period of time then you probably have diabetes....but this would be confirmed by the hemoglobin A1c test.

Good luck with your tests

thanks so much for your concern..I'll re read this and post later today.

You've been a great help.

I'll send you a pm later. Judy

  • 3 weeks later...
helixwnc Newbie
helixwnc
Posted

I have a cyst on my eye and celiac disease. My mother has uveitis and irritable bowel. I don't have any research to quote, but I think it is all auto-immune related.

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