Doctor, I can't see...

[fufaraw]

So, I saw a new doctor (thank goodness. No, really), and we established a rapport right away. Important, otherwise my anxieties just spiral into a pitiful puddle of No Good. But this was fine. He listened, he smiled at the self deprecating jokes, he was attentive to the history and progress of the latest complaint, nodding along.

The good news first--no retinal detachments. I do have at least one, and maybe more tiny new PVDs, but again, he says they'll do more damage if they try to laser them than if they leave them alone. The ones I've had for six or seven years are always there, they haven't sunk. But I've learned to cope. I know they're there. I don't jump anymore thinking there's a bug flying at me from the side, or crawling away on my arm, or on the floor. I *know what they are*, and in those rare cases I get sandbagged by real beasties, I usually can tell the difference pretty quickly.

The sudden drop in visual acuity is also part of an aging eye, and while a PITA, no cause for alarm. I had the absolute least anxiety free session of "this lens? Or this one? One? or Two?" I have ever had. I told him decisions are really hard for me, and he understood. He took the decision making out of my hands and just asked for opinions. Opinions I can do! We got the left eye to 20/30, but that was the absolute best he could do, with the astigmatism and myopia. Combined with the right, though, I'm at 20/20. I'll take it!

He did the blinky light peripheral test and the puff of air test for whatever that is. He put eyedrops in and sent me to the waiting room to dilate, and saw OH next for his exam. He was just about ready to call me back in when the lights went out. In the whole mall. We waited about half an hour, but the emergency generators...weren't. When we left, the traffic lights were out for a couple of blocks--I don't know if it was unaccustomed AC or somebody hit a pole, but we didn't stick around to check.

We went and had ice cream for lunch because we could, and I wore my sunglasses and we went for a nice drive in the mountains. Home now, and there may be a nap in my future.

We both have appointments next week to get the new prescriptions filled, do the dilated eye check, and oh yeah, Pay the man.

It's a big relief, but it means I have to live with the glowing half-opaque planet-eater paramecium from TOS. Until it sinks below my vision line. Yeah, uh huh. Pull the other leg.

Thanks so much for the well-wishes, guys. It means a lot.

Comments

[meus_venator]

I have been anxiously stalking your LJ all day. So what about the blindness in the one eye, will it gradually go away? Or do you have some vision back now? Was it due to too much reading/writing, or would it have happened anyway *asks guiltily*
YIKES!

[fufaraw]

No, no, no, he said the loss of vision strength was normal, again, part of an aging eye. Stinks, but there it is. The new prescription will bring it up to 20/30, and with both eyes, it'll be close to 20/20.

I mentioned spending hours at the computer, he made a "Nah" face and shrugged. So we're both off the hook!

[fireheart13.livejournal.com]

I don't jump anymore thinking there's a bug flying at me from the side, or crawling away on my arm, or on the floor

Oh god, THIS!!! Took forever to adjust like that!!!

Puff of air is glaucoma.

20/30 and 20/20 rocks!!!!

So glad it wasn't worse!! *HUGS*

[sophiap.livejournal.com]

Whew! Glad to hear about the lack of retinal detachments and about having a good rapport with the doctor.

I hate, hate, haaaaaaate the whole "One? Or two?" lens selection thing. HATE. Glad to hear they were able to correct you to nearly 20/20!

[ameliacareful.livejournal.com]

Great news. So hate eye stuff.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Ach, our old eyes. I'm so glad it wasn't anything worse. And you know, glad it didn't have anything to do with staring at a screen for a few hours. Or in my case, days....

*HUG* and ♥

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the whole thing (minus the power going out) worked out, and was low-anxiety for you. :)

*hugs you*

[wendy.livejournal.com]

The puff of air is for glaucoma.

Glad it all went as smooth as possible!

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness that worked out okay. How stressful is that moment when you have to choose between one lens and another! I always sweat a bit.
I am forever grateful that recent opticians have done away with the eye chart entirely for the first part of the consultation - I always felt ridiculous at the "tell me what line you can read on the chart" because once you take my glasses away I can't actually find the chart or even the door back out of the consulting room. Also, ice cream was well deserved and always a good idea.

[fufaraw]

I love to freak out the guy at the DMV. Bored voice: Tell me what line of letters you can read.

"E."

"...?"

The E is always at the top. This time, without correction and with my left eye, I couldn't *read* the E--I knew what it was, but I really couldn't read it.

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

Lol. I find it weird that they ask about your vision without glasses - I mean, what do they think you're wearing them for? I guess it could be long sight - but then you wouldn't normally use them aside from reading. Unless it's changed we only have to prove our sight is good with the glasses on. Still, if its good for a laugh...