Well, just got back from the laser. It was not a bad experience at
all. Actually, far less unpleasant than the flourecine angiogram.

I managed to get out of here (I was snowed in) early this morning. I
left my 4X4 at my mother's house and took a taxi to the doc's office
in a nearby town.(my Mother is out of town)

I asked about interocular steroid injections, but was told that those
are more of a first line treatment when the edemas are in or near the
focal center. So, I went ahead with the laser.

I had a total of nine (if I counted right) zaps, and the retinal
specialist just had me look straight ahead. No device was actually
placed in my eye, at all. Just dialating and numbing drops.

It was over in about two minutes.

I did ask about lowering Bg levels, and the retinal specialist's
opinion runs contrary to my ophthalmologist's: he said that lower is
better, and lowering my BG's won't hurt me at this point. He did
however qualify his remarks with the comment that "you are, however,
weird for a diabetic" Yes, he said weird, and I figured you would all
get a chuckle out of that. :-)

What he was talking about was that my BG's are out of the normal
profile, so I'm in an area not covered by studies of any kind.
Therefor, it's extrapolation on his part (his words) that lowering my
Bg's any further would do no harm.

At this point, given the conflicting advice, coupled with the opinion
that I was already low enough for maximum benefit, I think I'm going
to stay where I'm at.  

He said my prognosis is good, as the inflammation is receding. He
expects no visual loss. He did ask me to report any changes, but said
I should be fine, and my next appointment with him is in June!!

I was told it wasn't needed, but I went ahead and scheduled a full
dilation exam with my ophthalmologist in a month. It can't hurt, so I
could see no reason not to.

The Doctor told me that I don't need to worry about exercise or
lifting restrictions, even today. The nurse, however, told me to avoid
heavy lifting or heavy exertions for two days. I'm betting the Doc is
more likely to be right and the Nurse was just giving standard advice,
but, to be safe, I'm avoiding everything but walking for the next two
days.  

My left eye was entirely unaffected today, as it wasn't dilated (only
my right eye was treated). So, once I'd returned to my Mother's house,
I hung around a few hours, and the dilation began to wear off, and I
felt like heading home. After a few hundred yards, it's a dirt road
from there to here, so no big deal. The only effects I had then (or
now) is a bit of blurry vision in my right eye, just slightly out of
focus, mainly for close vision, and distance vision seems fine.

So, all in all, I'm very happy.

What I am not happy about is that I've received, from two eye
specialists, contradictory opinions on both causation, and
recommendations for newly Dx'd. One says slower would be better, the
other says faster is better. Ugh.

BTW, I'll have more time to ask questions at my next visit (I was a
bit pre-occupied with my own case on this one).