Question:
Post Operative Vision Changes, 8.5 Months Out, Type II Diabetes:

I'm 8 and 1/2 months out from the LAP RNY. Before WLS, I was a Type II Diabetic. My surgeon took me off ALL of the diabetic medications because after monitoring in the hospital, the labs were so normal that he felt there was no longer a need for me to continue the medicine. I still use my glucometer to keep my eye on the blood sugar levels anyway, just to be safe. I've noticed for the past 2 months, that my vision is blurry~almost like I wake up in a fog of sorts. It usually clears up after I'm awake for some time, but NOT completely. My eyes don't hurt or anything. I'm thinking since I do wear contact lenses, and they are the same ones I used when I was pre-op, that I might just need to go and have another eye exam. I get so embarrased because sometime people wave at me passing by my office, and I can't even make out who they are, and strain a little as I type this question and in doing my daily work on the job. Do you think this is a result of the WLS, or that it might be a good idea to see my eye doctor to change the prescription? Thanks! LAP RNY 9/3/02 265/160/115~    — yourdivaness (posted on May 19, 2003)

May 19, 2003
I would say see your Dr. Someone told me once that when your sugar levels out your eye sight is at it's worse. I was a diabetic before surgery. (type II)I have been in the good range since surgery. I have had to go to the eye Dr. and my contacts were changed a little. I wear monovision, I was +1.50 and +3.00 now I am +1.75 and +3.00. Hope this helps. Open RNY 3-4-03 -49
   — Jane T.

May 19, 2003
Please not only get your eyes checked but your blood sugar levels too. When my husbands levels are high he gets blurry vision. In fact, the eye doctor would not even change his perscription until his diabetes was under control because the vision changes so much when the blood sugar levels are off. Good luck to you - Jill
   — J G.

May 19, 2003
I am 15 months post op, and had type II diabetes before surgery. A few weeks before surgery I had a horrible time with a sudden onset of blurred vision. I had gone to the eye doctor and actually had to order glasses. (I had never worn glasses or had a problem with my eye sight before.) Well the glasses weren't done before surgery...but it ends up after surgery my eye sight was fine. I haven't had a problem with the blurred vision at all. When I went back to the eye doctor he said the blurred vision can be caused not only from high blood sugar...but any change at all in your blood sugar can cause the blurred vision. I would see your eye Dr. to see if your prescription needs to be changed. I ended up canceling the order for my glasses...didn't end up needing them at all.
   — Kelly T.

May 19, 2003
I was told by my eye doctor (and holds true for me) that with any substantial weight-loss (for some people that is 10 pounds, for others it's 50) that your eyes can and usually do change - IF they were bad to start with. Can't hurt to have them checked.
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 20, 2003
Thanks to all of you that have answered so far...I came into work today with my ugly glasses!! I hate glasses. Gonna pray for my eyes to be healed so I won't have to wear them ANYMORE! They have burned all day. The some of the blurriness has gone away, but not all_it has cleared up some. As far as the blood sugars/glucose levels: my finger sticks have been lower than 100 for 6 to 7 consecutive months. This morning, it was 75, and I have no low blood sugar symptoms (no shaking, tremors, etc) my urine is clear-no glucose detected other than negative in ketones. So, I'll probably just leave my contacts out for the rest of the week, meanwhile I'll call my PCP and ask if there is a reason other than me being post-op WLS that I should be referred to an eye doctor; maybe. I think I'll probably take your advice and have my vision checked again since there appears (no pun intended) to be no other issues concerning my vision. Again, thanks for those of you that responded...I appreciate you!
   — yourdivaness