If you’ve been reading my blog, you know all about my troubles with my left eye. Well, out of nowhere, my right eye decided to have a retinal tear! Maybe it felt neglected because my left eye was getting all the attention.
It happened quite suddenly. I woke up with sticky, tired eyes, as we all usually do. I took a shower, expecting it to help, as it usually does. But no! It was like I was looking through a sludge of a billion little bubbles or like a massive sprinkling of pepper was hanging in the air.
I called the eye doctor, who got me in right away. He thought it was a burst blood vessel and sent me home, saying it would go away on its own. But the next morning, he called me to say he’d been thinking about it and was sending me to a retina specialist.
The retina specialist called and said to come right away! So I did. It was a tear in my retina! He lasered it right then and there! The appointment only took an hour, and the laser portion only took a few minutes.
I’m truly amazed at the GENIUS of all these eye specialists! What they can do is amazing, and I’m so grateful! I’ve certainly been using ALL their services!
Do you know what causes retinal tears? Getting older. That’s it. There’s no way to prevent them! The only thing to do is see the doctor right away if you notice the symptoms:
1. Billions of floaters, bubbles, or pepper sprinkles.
2. Flashes of light.
3. A curtain that drops down into the vision.
The sooner you see the doctor, the better the chances for a successful repair. There’s my PSA! I’m a little irritated that my doctor waited until the next day to send me to the retina specialist – but at least he did do it!
In spite of this grand event, and a million floaters in my eye (which should go away over time), I sewed this cute little chick doll and romper! (Pattern by Mes Petites Lunes) .
I’ve been listening to the audiobook My Briliant Friend by Elena Ferrante as part of the Cool Bloggers Book Club (CBBC) hosted by NGS, or Engie, from The Time for a Change blog. It’s been so much fun reading what everyone thinks of the book and what stands out to them.
Hi Michelle! I am so sorry to hear you had a problem with your other eye too. That is scary! But I’m very glad to hear you got such quick treatment. The miracles of modern medicine! And that little chick is so cute! I love the whole scene with the spring wall paper and the tea and cakes and the little bird friend visiting on the window sill! Spring is in the air… we finally have bulbs poking up through the ground here which is actually quite early but so welcome. And the picture of the chick in the tree just makes me want to take my toys outside to play!!! 🙂 (That will happen eventually!) Thank you for sharing the wisdom of what to be aware of with our eyes… I had no idea! I hope you reach full recovery soon. :):)
Betsy, thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you can take your dolls outside soon. Won’t that be fun? I’m looking forward to that too. We don’t have anything poking through the ground yet, so it might be a while!
Wow – that’s fortunate that you got treatment in time! I hope you’re getting better with each passing day. Eye treatment is so fascinating. I’m impressed that you could complete your project without much difficulty. Thank you for sharing your PSA!
Thank you, Shelley! Eye treatment is amazing for sure. But I’m hoping that I won’t need to write about it ever again after my treatment! 😂
This is my first time visiting your blog. Really liked your sewing project. Thanks for sharing about your eye issues. I had a retinal tear 30 years ago, due to getting hit in the head while playing volleyball. I think the technology to deal with such issues is much more advanced than when I had my surgery, but I was initially told I would lose the eyesight in that eye, so to have it restored was nothing short of a miracle at the time. Thank you again!
Thank you for stopping by, Katie, and for your kind words! I’m so glad to hear that your eyesight was restored after your volleyball injury. How scary that must have been for you! Thank you for sharing your story with me. It’s nice to talk with people who have been through similar things. I feel encouraged!
Oh no! Obviously your eye was feeling jealous of the other one so had to do something to get your attention. Am hoping you’re doing better today, every day, and appreciate you explaining what the symptoms are.
Thank you, Ally! Oh, the things life throws at us. I appreciate your kind words!
Wow Michelle! That is so scary and I am glad you have good doctors to care for you in your area! My daughter discovered that she had a hole in her retina last year. She is a chemist and believes it happened when working with the laser on a machine she used for chromatography. It was a frightening ordeal for her to go through. Luckily, she is doing great now and is much more aware of protecting her eyes. I hope your floaters make a fast exit and that you are back to 100% eye health soon!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jodi! Wow, that’s scary about your daughter, and I’m so glad she was able to heal up from it. Thank goodness for good doctors!
Oh, Michelle! I am so sorry that happened. But it sounds like you have a great team of caring doctors. I am so glad you were able to get it fixed. How are you feeling?
Thank you, Kari! I’m so grateful, but to be honest, I’m also feeling a bit knocked down. It’s a lot. I’m just trying to keep my chin up and get through my treatment next week!
Oh, no! A retinal tear. I can’t believe your eye luck! (Also, way to have something else to worry about with aging, right?!)
NGS, I know! As if aging isn’t already so much fun!
Ugh. This all feels so unfair after what you’ve been dealing with on your LEFT side. But so glad you got help promptly. Isn’t it incredible what modern medicine/talented health care providers can do!
Everything about your bunny screams spring and joy. Love it.
Thank you, Elisabeth! I’m grateful to all those people who decided to become doctors! It’s amazing what they can do.
Oh no! Michelle! Thank you for this info because I didn’t know that such a thing could just spontaneously happen. It’s like your eye is a toddler, needing attention! Well, I’m glad that you got it fixed and so quickly.
that chickie is so cute.
Thank you, Nicole! I certainly do feel like I’ve had ENOUGH with the eye issues! I’ll be having my proton beam treatment next week, and then I hope I never have to write about my eyes again! 😒 I’d much rather write about chickies and gnomes!
So glad the doctor and the laser were able to fix the issue.
Thank you, Judy! I’m so grateful.
It never rains but it pours! So glad you got the tear fixed before there was any permanent damage Michelle. I love the bunny and its romper is gorgeous, makes me feel springlike ☺️.
Thank you, Rae! I can’t believe all the weird things that can happen to us! Sewing the chick made me feel like spring as well!