Regular eye check
I had my two-yearly eye check on Wednesday, paid for via my membership to AA. It is amazing what can be detected with this examination. It is something I do try and keep up with as I have had various problems with my eyes over the years, from having two large pterygiums that needed removal, to floaters in both eyes, to an optic neuritis. With this latest test, I have been told that I have cataracts in the early stages, something I was unaware of. I am sure Louise Hay would have something to say to me along the lines of what am I trying not to see?
The first eye issue was the optic neuritis in 1991. Firstly, I suffered an incredibly high fever, 104 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by blurred vision which lasted several weeks. I was booked for an MRI to rule out any tumours but by the time that appointment came, my eye was nearly back to normal. It was an optometrist who diagnosed the condition.
The pterygiums grew slowly over a number of years and were monitored and measured by various eye specialists, finally being removed about six years ago. The second operation was scheduled for the middle of my busy massage season, mid-January, after a spot became available due to another person’s cancellation. I contemplated not accepting the appointment as it also impacted my swimming, then I thought to myself, no time is a good time, lets get it over with.
When I had my first floater a couple of years ago, I was folding washing and thought I had a big black spider caught in my hair. I called out to Stephen to help me remove it, only to realise that it wasn’t in my hair at all. The second floater in the other eye followed soon after. I have got used to them now and they are much smaller and less visible than at the beginning.
And then there have been the visits to the optometrists for vision checks. I did wear glasses once but as I have aged, the eyes have settled. I have one eye that sees long distance well and one that reads ok so I can make do with glasses from the two-dollar shop for reading. I failed the last driving eye-sight test but got away without glasses as my good eye makes up for the deficit in the not so good one.
My mother suffered from macular degeneration, a condition that would have eventually resulted in blindness. She was given monthly injections of an incredibly expensive drug and as her specialist pointed out, their job was to keep the patient’s vision until they died. My mother made it to 92 and was still able to read, one of her favourite hobbies.
To me, blindness would be one of the worst conditions to have, even colour blindness. I get so much joy from colours and I have watched videos of people who are colour blind, putting on special glasses and being able to see colours for the first time. Their emotions say it all as they realise how much they have been missing out on. I am sure blind people develop their other senses in a way that wouldn’t happen with vision, but imagine how much they miss out on; a child’s smile, a glorious sunset, a beautiful tree. Those of us with all of our faculties are certainly blessed.
I guess my cataracts will present a problem in the future but we live in a country where we can access an operation, again, something to be thankful for. I had not realised how much I have needed these optometrists over the years until I started writing this. To all you people out there who take care of our eyes, thank you.