Humor is Shrinking

I have Vitreous Humor Detachment.
(Sounds interesting and possibly serious, doesn't it? :))) )


"Vitrous humor is the gelatinous mass that fills the space between the lens of the eye and the retina."
 (Wikapedia).
[I would've let you think that I "thunk" that up all by myself, but you all know me by now, and you know that doesn't even SOUND like me!!]

Mine (in my right eye) had shrunk away from the retina and folded over on itself.
(In other words, I have an eye problem.)

I scheduled an appointment last month to see my opthamologist.
Today (Valentine's Day) was the first available opening he had for me, so I told the nurse to "book it" for me.


Rewind to 2005:

In 2005, I was finishing my last year of teaching. Retirement was coming at the end of  May!! Yes and Amen!! 
I was in the computer lab with my students in the A.M., and I suddenly felt a verrrry strange sensation in my right eye. The flashing lights that started occurring immediately in that eye were unbelievable (and scary!)  I knew enough about the eye/retina to get myself to the doctor...which I did. I left school and drove to my ophthalmologist's office. (Frankly, I was thinking, "Detached retina.")


I was diagnosed with vitreous humor detachment in 2005.  My doctor said, "This doesn't usually happen until one is OLDER." (At the time, I was almost 55 and I think I remember him saying that it usually occurs in a 70-80 year old person.) 

Hmmm. What does that mean?  I have an "old" eye??  

He said, "We can do surgery (a vitrectomy.) 

I copied this from WebMD to give you an idea of what he told me. (Remember, this is all happening in 2005. We are still in "rewind" mode...)


During a vitrectomy, the surgeon inserts small instruments into the eye, cuts the vitreous gel, and suctions it out. After removing the vitreous gel, the surgeon may treat the retina with a laser (photocoagulation), cut or remove fibrous or scar tissue from the retina, flatten areas where the retina has become detached, or repair tears or holes in the retina. 

In my case, there was no tearing of the retina. The surgeon would remove the vitreous gel and then replace it with a saline solution, silicone oil, or gas.  The dangers of the surgery are minimal (but blindness/loss of vision couldn't be ruled out.)

I thought about it, and with his (doctor's) guidance, decided not to have the surgery.  I weighed "sight" over "possible blindness" and "sight" won. Not even a close race.



Fast Foward to 2009:

This is  a photo of  "the eye" (and the rest of my face )  in 2009.  (I have very few photos of me 'face-on'. I tend to have the back of my head photographed, but I found one to share with you.)

You cannot tell by looking  at the eye from the 'outside' that there is a doggone thing wrong with my vision.
But, trust me, looking from the inside out, there is a problem. 

Imagine this:  a film of Vaseline over your eyeball. Now imagine that you can 'clear' the film by moving your eye quickly to the right or left... but it only clears it for a moment. The film comes baaaaack.   I've been dealing with that. For a while now. The "film" seems to have lessened (or I've adapted to seeing through it.)
 This past year, I found this to be very uncomfortable; it was really bugging me. The vision seemed good....when the eye was "clear"...but I found the times of "clear" to be rare ones.

Since I play piano and organ for church, and I love to read, etc., I decided to go back to my ophthamologist to have my eyes thoroughly checked (again) to see if any damage has been done to my retina or any changes have occurred in my right eye.  I saw him today. (No pun intended.)  


(I have put this off and put this off. I have been nervous even thinking about going back...)

The Present: 2012
My eye appointment and my results:


After a thorough examination, Dr. Ophthamologist said, "You have better vision than 95% of the people in this country. You have 20/15."  He said that was better than 20/20...whatever that means.  I've heard of 20/20...but I'm not real familiar with 20/15. Suffice it to say, he said it was excellent. In both eyes! :))  OK.  So, no problem, right?

Well.....


"You have vitreous humor detachment."  (I already knew that.)  Just wanted to make sure that the diagnosis hadn't changed and wanted him to check my retina..  Which he did.  He said that I didn't have any tearing in my retina, and that a vitrectomy could be scheduled for me.  A surgeon that does this type of procedure comes to Valdosta (GA)  from Tallahassee (FL) twice or three times a week and has a surgical unit here in Valdosta. He said it is a much more common surgery now than it used to be.

But...  He said, "In your case, with your vision as good as it is, if it was me, I wouldn't have it done unless something changes. But it's your decision."  He said that the eye could change; it could change overnight, and if I saw flashing lights or new/more floaters to come back to the doctor's office immediately. He said, "But, if we do the surgery, you won't be satisfied with your vision afterward because you have such excellent vision now."  (I'm feeling good about this diagnosis, because, frankly, I didn't sleep a wink last night thinking that I was going to be told today that I should have surgery on that eye.) 


He said that after the surgery I wouldn't have the acuity that I have now (he didn't use that word; that one is MINE!) and if I had this surgery I would probably also face cataract surgery in the future. He said that with all things considered, this detachment is something that I can live with and adjust to (I already have; it just 'bugs' me!)

But. Nuff said. I can live with this humor that I have.

I left his office with a twinkle in BOTH eyes!  I'm feeling good tonight and wanted to share the good news with you.

Hugs,
Jackie