Public Service Announcement: Get Your Eyes Checked

[newguy]

Woke up Tuesday morning and had what I thought was a case of typical "morning blur" in my right eye. Everything was just a hair blurry, both distant objects and up close. I wear glasses and I thought that perhaps my prescription changed dramatically...again. I say again because when I was 9, my eyesight went from better than 20/20 to more-or-less what it is now, but in a week. I had terrible headaches centered behind my eyes during that week, but Monday night/Tuesday morning was pain free.

As the morning wore on, I realized that this wasn't a typical (for me) case of temporary blurriness (usually caused by fatigue), so I decided to get my eyes checked right away.

The optometrist checked my present prescription, then checked my eyes, and then did the is-this-better-or-is-this-better game with his many lenses trick. He finally arrived at what he predetermined was the correct prescription (which was identical to my present prescription), but my right eye was still blurry. At that, he examined my retinas, then pronounced that my prescription hadn't changed at all - this was a medical change.

I've been described as a "type A" personality, which I don't agree with, and I've also been called a perfectionist, and I carry that badge with pride. One side effect of my personality is that my vision must be perfect - and I mean P E R F E C T (with my glasses on, of course). My corrected vision is 20/15, and in fact is just a hair's breadth away from being 20/10. I insist upon glass lenses (weight be damned, plastic scratches), and when I clean my glasses it's typically a 10-15 minute endeavour, if not more. I'm not satisfied until they're spotless, and free of all smudges (I can't stand the grease rainbows they create). Anyway, I mention all this because the change in my vision was slight. Very slight. But enough to really bug the crap out of me.

After several more tests (which included measurements of the thickness of my retinas), I was diagnosed with central serous retinopathy. Quick summary: fluid accumulated under my retina, forcing it ever so slightly upward and thus changing the focal point which rendered that eye ever so slightly blurry. I've been booked in to see a specialist in 8 days (which for here is amazingly fast), at which point they're going to inject fluorescent dye into my jugular and watch for the leak in the back of my eye.

I'm very lucky first and foremost because by suppertime yesterday my long range vision had been restored to normal, and by bedtime my near focus was nearly back to normal. This morning, all was back to normal. However, this condition nearly always returns. In fact, looking back, I'm pretty sure that I've been having these micro attacks of this condition dating back at least 15 years. It certainly fits the evidence.

Now for the preachy part: DO NOT brush off sudden changes in your vision as "old age" or "something odd." DO NOT ignore changes in your vision, no matter how slight. If caught very early, no permanent loss of visual acuity is possible with treatment.

CSR (central serous retinopathy) is referred to as affecting mainly type A personalities (pilots in particular). It is thought to be so because type A's notice the smallest changes in their vision, no matter how slight. The rest of the population are thought to brush off these minor changes. If you're not a perfectionist, make an effort to become one at least as far as your vision is concerned. Take it from me, the realisation that you can lose the sight in an eye is not pleasant in the least.

[/preachy mode off - time for a beer]

 

[Fish13]

I just got my eyes retested after having my glasses destroyed by my lawn mower. Slight change but not an amount to change my prescription. Although i do notice my vision out of my right eye is better then my left with my contacts in but different again with my glasses on.

 

[Dave70]

Kind of timely this. Lately I've noticed -in marginal light anyway- if I look up at the TV from the dining table, say reading a book, then back at the book, it seems to take a second or two for my eyes to re adjust. As in, the text is actually blurry. On the whole, I'd have to say my low light vision has taken a dive. I had my peepers thoroughly checked a few years back when a harrowing case of shingles left me with a left eye that was swollen shut for a week, and once open, was optically useful as staring through Vaseline. Its never really felt 100% since, despite getting the all clear and I've suspected the right eye may be picking up the slack.


Geezz...
I hope the optometrist doesn't prescribe me a pair of those 'lazy eye' glasses.
Oh how those kids were teased..

 

[Bribie G]

You get old you fall to bits.

Last year I got a really sore red left eye. Treated with antibiotics for conjunctivitis but it didn't improve and getting stabbing pains into eye socket. So I went to the Brisbane eye hospital (free, don't know how you get on in Canada in that respect and God help the poor suckers South of the Border) and was diagnosed with anterior uveitis or "iritis" where the interior structures of the eye become inflamed, lens sticks to the iris etc. Leading cause of blindness in the Western world.

It's an autoimmune thing like arthritis or lupus. I have low level psoriatic arthritis which was certainly the trigger. Your eyes decide they are going to destroy themselves. Bastards.

Anyway after a crash course in meds including pure cocaine drops it cleared up but could return once or twice. Makes you realise how precious your eyesight is, for a month all I could see with my left eye was "milk" from the dead cells floating there.

Without eyes one cannot view porn

Hope yours doesn't reoccur either mate.

 

[newguy]

[snip]So I went to the Brisbane eye hospital (free, don't know how you get on in Canada in that respect and God help the poor suckers South of the Border) ...[snip]

Medical issues are fully covered* but dental and vision care isn't. ....Unless it's a medical matter in which case it then is. For example, eye exams and prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses are your responsibility. I'm not sure what to expect on Thursday because CSR is a medical emergency, so its treatment should be covered under our universal health care but the appointment slip they gave me states that I should be prepared to pay for the procedure. I think that the slip is in fact in error because when the appointment was booked they asked for my health care #, which implies that it's a medical issue and thus covered.

*Necessary medical issues are covered 100%. If you want fake tits, they're your responsibility (anything cosmetic is your responsibility but I think that if your face was chewed off by a bear then the ensuing reconstructive surgery would be covered since you probably didn't want your face to have been chewed off by a bear in the first place). Some other things aren't covered either, like innoculations for tropical diseases (for instance if you're going on a trip), and wart removal unless the warts are plantars warts, in which case their removal is covered. And doctor's notes. If you're [cough cough] too sick for work [cough] and want a note attesting to the fact, you have to pay for it.

Medical coverage varies by province as well. I'm from Saskatchewan (the next province east of Alberta) and when I grew up dental was covered 100% to age 16, and vision was covered to some extent as well. In Alberta there is no special treatment for children. One ironic fact about Alberta, because of the conservative rednecks who reside here, was that up until very recently gender reassignment surgery was 100% covered. I could be wrong but I think that the only other province that covers the procedure is Quebec. Nothing pisses off an old conservative christian like the realisation that their tax dollars cover sex change operations. ....Which is why those procedures are no longer covered here.

 

[Bribie G]

It always strikes me as bloody marvellous (from the point of view of a fellow citizen of our glorious Commonwealth) that the Yanks are so proud of their War of Independence and the American Way, Boston Tea party etc, and seemingly look down on the Canucks, but in many ways North of the Border you guys are truly a 21st century modern bang up to date society yet have never shaken off the dreadful Royal Yoke. If I were a Canadian I would demand the border be sealed.

:lol:

 

[newguy]

It always strikes me as bloody marvellous (from the point of view of a fellow citizen of our glorious Commonwealth) that the Yanks are so proud of their War of Independence and the American Way, Boston Tea party etc, and seemingly look down on the Canucks, but in many ways North of the Border you guys are truly a 21st century modern bang up to date society yet have never shaken off the dreadful Royal Yoke. If I were a Canadian I would demand the border be sealed.

:lol:

This is actually the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812 - when British, local troops and local native bands not only repelled an American invasion but eventually burned Washington. The Brits helped to shape what we've become, so if that means tolerating the monarchy I'm okay with it.

...And the Americans are never eager to admit that they actually a lost a conflict they started. That explains why the 200th anniversary of the war is rather well publicised here while south of the border....not a lot is mentioned for some reason.

 

[Bribie G]

I thought I had a pretty good grasp of modern history but never heard about 1812 - I hereby adopt it as my signature until the end of the year. B)