A Blinking Bad Week

I’ve not written on here for a week or so, mainly because I’ve had one of those weeks where everything seemed to go wrong. The worst part of the week was a medical scare that stirred up my anxiety and gave me a few sleepless nights.

I was having a routine contact lens check done when I happened to mention to the optician that I had a tiny flash-like light in the middle of my vision (rather like what you get if you look a camera for too long). This disclosure set off a chain of events, starting with optician staring into my eyes for very prolonged period (and having just eaten a cheese and onion sandwich in front of me, this wasn’t pleasant), then telling me that I needed drops in my eye to dilate it, but because I was driving - I couldn’t have it there and then. Therefore, I was told to go to Eye Hospital as soon as possible to be checked for retinal tears or detachment.

I drove home in a bit of a state and of course ended up on Dr Google, looking up every possible thing that could be going wrong and the scary treatments involved. The next morning, my husband whizzed me up to Brighton Eye Hospital for further tests and inspections. The eye drops really hurt, a bit like the time I rubbed my eye after cutting chilli but even worse and my vision started to blur. I sat in my hard seat, trying to test out what I could actually see, my closing each eye alternatively. In the end, I had to stop, because my husband pointed out I was ‘weirding out’ the guy opposite, who thought I was winking at him manically.

After several scans, bright lights, puffs of air and a lovely ophthalmologist with nice breath, I was told my retina was fine - for now. My short sight and age (way to make a girl feel good) has meant that I now have a condition called PVD which means the jelly is separating behind my eye. This can tug on the retina, so I am at risk so to speak. It’s put me right off Hartley’s and has left me a little fearful, but I have been told the danger signs to watch out for.

So, I guess my message today is look after your eyes. If you are an ageing, shortsighted crone like me - keep an eye out for any changes, increase in floaters, flashes etc. Our eyes are so precious and a scare like this makes you realise that even more.

I have also been well looked after and my personal body guard hasn’t left my side

Here’s to a better week

E xx

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