I didn’t write yesterday because I had guests – for our first BBQ of the year, then this morning I had a Zoom meeting, plus I wasn’t really sure what I had to complain about… I should have known better.
The tree pollen in April catches me by surprise every year – should have started taking those antihistamines last month! – so a week of sneezing and streaming eyes, is, while unpleasant, neither surprising nor anything to write home about.
I takes a few days for my various medications to catch up, but for some reason my left eye remains bleary and “dim”. I mentally write this off to random hayfever chance combined with my “super lens” not going along with the drops. I am unconcerened, however my wife insitsts, insists, I check this out more fully, and rather to my surprise the optician opens and appointment for me straight after my work zoom.
I am even more surprised when the optician (very local), after giving me dilating drops and a brief exam, tells me, I must go to hospital.
I begin to consult my diary….but no, I am going to hospital, today, NOW.
Here’s a letter, your appointment is in Ayr in an hour and a bit, oh and you can’t drive with the drops in, good luck!.
Drive? I cannot, in fact, see, with the drops in, as the optician is inside a shopping centre and the unexpected sun outside leaves me blind.
Not without some adventure, I get myself to Ayr hospital, where, just in case I can look outside, they refresh my eye drops.
I am seen by the charming Doctor Marion (I cannot read her name tag, and am not given it) and her student Vivian. They are delighed by the novelty of my “artisan” lens (their word) and require the full tale of the “complictions arising”. (Which -naturally-I am happy to give)
However, the bottom line is; I have a- partially- detached retina – unrelated to previous issues, really just about age – and this will require an IMMEDIATE operation.
I had not an inkling of the potential severity of my situation (thank you Chris!), so I’m back tomorrow first thing, for keyhole surgery on the back of my eye, which will then be filled with gas.
Can’t wait.
Next week on IaDL ; Dread to think
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 