February 28, 2014

Vision



This hasn’t been a good week for me. About an hour after a routine colonoscopy on Wednesday, I experienced a significant vitreous detachment in my left eye. It was pretty dramatic because I immediately saw many black, snake-like threads and billions of tiny black dots in my vision. After the threads dissolved into more black dots, I have been left with large, cloudy and grey floaters in the eye.

Presently, it is nearly impossible to focus with that eye. And to give you a bit of background, my right eye has been a “lazy” one for about 50 years. Even though I had surgery to straighten it a few decades ago, I still mentally turn off the vision in that eye. So my left eye – the one with the humongous floaters in it – is very much my dominant one. I will literally go stumbling through life if I can’t see well out of it.

I was able to get into my optometrist immediately on Wednesday afternoon. Based on the equipment at his office, he was unsure whether I had a retinal tear. So I was whisked over to the eye surgeon who did my cataract surgeries last year. It was one of his surgery days, but he saw me as soon as he was out of the operating room. He concluded that I did not have a retinal tear. That was good news. However, there is a risk of developing one in the next four weeks. I saw the surgeon again this morning because I am developing new floaters and now see flashes of light. Still no retinal tear, thankfully.

If my vision gets suddenly worse and my left eye experiences a retinal tear, then I need emergency surgery to prevent blindness. To complicate matters further, we’re scheduled to go on a photo tour in the Moab, Utah, area during the critical time period. Isn’t it rather ironic to do photography when I can’t see very well? Moab is in the middle of nowhere, and my surgeon would have to direct me to a specialist in Salt Lake City (about 4 hours away) if I need surgery during our trip. So we’re trying to decide what to do - whether we should go ahead and cancel the trip or see how things unfold in the next few weeks.

If you have vision, please count your blessings. And I would appreciate your prayers for mine.

23 comments:

  1. oh, donna, i am so very sorry! it sounds pretty up-in-the-air right now, and i know that has got to be terrifying! it sounds as if they don't know for sure what happened and how you keep a retinal tear from occurring...

    bless you! i hope this can heal without further surgery or trauma to your vision!

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  2. Donna, this doesn't sound good. Actually, it does sound almost exactly
    what happened to me a few years ago, and it was a TIA. Not that I'm
    a dr but I sure get checked by a neurologist if they still can't figure out
    what it is. Prayers for you my friend.
    xoxo

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  3. Donna, I'm so sorry to hear about this. I know that it can be very serious so I'm praying that your eye will correct itself and that you won't have to have surgery or anything. My sister in law had a recent retinal tear in her eye and she only has vision in one eye so it was crucial for her to have the surgery. She started to lose vision while driving her car, pulled over and called her husband. The doctor did laser on it which I hadn't heard of before. We have to travel 5 hours by car from our home to Halifax, NS to have the surgery done. I often have floaters in my eye that come and go and always worry about a tear. Do take care and don't do anything strenuous that might upset it. God bless you!! Hugs, Pam

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  4. Donna, I am so sorry to read this. We take our health for granted, don't we, until something happens to remind us how fragile life and health are. Sending my prayers and lots of positive thoughts for this to resolve itself quickly and completely, with no need for surgery... Take Care.

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  5. Oh no Donna! KNOW that I am praying! ... for wisdom for the doctors, and for you and your hubby as you make decisions about your trip! ...AND FOR HEALING!! xoxo

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  6. Keeping you in my prayers, Donna! I know it's scary, my husband has dealt with the same thing. And the floaters are very annoying, too. Hope it will settle down for you soon...

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  7. Oh my goodness Donna, this is a frightening thing to have happen. Although I'm sure you don't want to, I'd be thinking about cancelling the trip and staying close to a trusted surgeon.
    I'll keep you in my prayers that nothing further develops.
    Hugs,
    Judith

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  8. Oh my! I will definitely be praying for you, friend! While it would be so sad to miss this much anticipated trip, I hope that you will do whatever your doctors think is safe. {{hugs}}

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  9. I hate to hear this!!! I think you should stay put until you get past the critical time. You will have to let us know how you are doing and what if anything...What it had to do with a colonoscopy. I will say a prayer for you right now

    Carol

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  10. Oh Donna! What a thing to have happen and such bad timing. Not that any time would be good timing. I have been having trouble with my eyes for some time now so I feel both empathetic and cautioned. Keep us updated. You are in my prayers.

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  11. So sorry to hear about this Terrible I problem. So scary. Praying for you that there are no further problems.

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  12. Dearest Donna, we are so upset to hear about this sometimes serious vision problem. We both have floaters, it comes with aging of course, they are annoying and I'm sure you know what causes them so I won't go into details here. Retinal tears are something for serious concern and you don't really want to be far way from home, and your trusted surgeon, in such an event. I know it's really hard to have to cancel your long awaited trip, and if your docs say to go perhaps you can take a chance. This is an awfully hard decision to have to make dear - you will remain in our thoughts and prayers.

    Hugs - Mary

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  13. Donna
    I am so sorry to hear of this latest problem with your eye.
    My husband has serious eye problems so I can relate to what you're going through.
    You know I'll be praying for you friend.

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  14. I will pray for you. What about elevation changes and pressure can that have an effect as well? xoxo

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  15. Oh my friend, I am so sorry. That sounds horrible. I will keep you in my prayers. Keep us posted.
    Love ya!
    Kim

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  16. Thinking of you Donna..and prayers for healing, and decisions to be made!

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  17. I'm so sorry you are having vision problems. I can't imagine the stress this must add to your days. My dear, little mother has developed a retina 'issue' and treatment is giving some relief. I think we forget to appreciate the gift of vision until something happens and it's compromised. You are in my prayers - for healing in your eye - and wisdom to know how to plan for the future trip.
    ~Adrienne~

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  18. Oh Donna, So sorry to hear this. Hope you don't have to cancel your trip --but I would be just like you, not sure of what to do. There can't be anything much worse for a photographer than to have a problem with their vision. My hubby has a huge fear of losing his sight since both of his parents had Macular Degeneration... He gets his eyes tested regularly. I recently went to glasses (progressives) --and am still getting used to them. I had a hard time while doing some heavy-duty hiking this past week (up and down)....

    Prayers for you and your decisions and your health.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  19. Dear Donna,
    I am so sorry to hear about your vision difficulties. The ability to see is such a precious gift - one that we don't appreciate often enough. I'll be praying for healing and for calmness for you and your hubby as you decide what to do.
    Hugs.

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  20. Oh Donna,

    So sorry to hear this. I will pray that your eye heals without surgery. I am counting my blessings right now.
    Take Care!!

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  21. I'm sorry I missed this post, Donna! I hope everything turns out well any you won't have to have surgery, but at least your doctor is keeping a close watch. I hope you are able to go on your trip as planned.

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  22. Oh dear Donna
    I wished I lived closer and could tell you I'm here to help you in any way I can.
    What an awful fright for you dear friend - no one needs this to happen.
    I've got the prayers going and I'll keep in touch.
    Love and hugs
    Shane xox

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  23. I am so sorry to hear this, Donna, and I will be praying for you. Our God is a God of miracles, and a God of compassion. :)

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Marty, here! Donna loves comments, and I faithfully pass them on to her. Thank you so much for visiting!