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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Mystery of the Blurred Eye

Not a very good title for a book, but then, this subject isn't fiction. My left eye suddenly has a blurred spot in the middle and now I have no central vision in that eye. I was working really hard one night and my eyes typically get very dry and tired in the evenings, and yet there I was, forcing my eyelids apart with matchsticks and trying to stay on task. Well, the next morning I awoke with distinctly funky vision.

At first I assumed I'd scratched it or something. I was joking about the matchsticks, but maybe I'd rubbed my eye too hard or something. Thing is, it didn't hurt or feel uncomfortable in any way. I walked about blinking and thinking I had sleepy-gunk in my eye. Then I got on my computer, and that's when I thought, "Whoa!!" After some experimentation I realized that central vision in my left eye had become blurred and distorted. The best way to describe this is show you what I mean with the use of Paint Shop Pro, a photo, and some sticky-back plastic. Here's a picture I prepared earlier...



You can see that the detail in the middle is just smudged out. It's actually like a U-shaped smudge around what you might call the absolute center. But however I describe it, basically it means I can't see Jack with my left eye. It's been like this a week now, with no change for the better or worse. I can generally see okay, looking about with both eyes open (as you do). But looking at small print on a screen is difficult, and that's a pity considering that everything I do in life involves small print on a screen.

Have I been to the doctor? Well, not yet — there's a health care insurance issue getting in the way. But let's not get into that. I've done some investigating online though, and Nessa, my wonderful medically-minded and sonographically-professional wife, has done some asking around at one of the hospitals she works at. We've come to the conclusion that it might be something like CSR, which means Central Serous Retinopathy. The good news is that it's not necessarily the worst thing that could happen. The bad news (or perhaps good news!) is that laser treatment is not generally recommended, because the damage is at the pupil and any lasering of that area might make things worse. The good news — and this is by far the best news! — is that it often gets better on its own. The bad news is that it can take anywhere between 2-15 months to get better. The good news is that it typically takes four months.

Wait. Did I say that last one was GOOD news? I have to deal with this for four months, and that's GOOD? Well, I guess this shows how much worse it could be, all things considered. They say that one of the main causes for CSR is stress, which doesn't seem to fit as I don't consider myself stressed at all. Hard-worked, maybe. Impatient and irritable at times, because of being hard-worked... Hmm, maybe it's stress after all. I wondered if it might be simple eye strain from staying up too late on the computer, especially considering that I recently got a new laptop and it has a finer resolution (so the text is smaller). But apparently eye strain is never a cause.

Just reading yet another website... "Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR) is a condition in which a small pool of fluid accumulates under the macula. A defect in the normally water tight layer beneath the retina allows the leakage of fluid which then collects under the retina. This forms a blister-like elevation which alters the function of the retina, and typically becomes noticeable when central vision is affected. CSR most commonly occurs in males in their 30s to 50s... CSR has been commonly associated with stress or 'type A' personalities."

So there's that mention of stress again. And a type A personality! A quick Google tells me this: "Type A individuals can be described as impatient, excessively time-conscious, insecure about their status, highly competitive, hostile and aggressive, and incapable of relaxation. They are often high achieving workaholics who multi-task, drive themselves with deadlines, and are unhappy about the smallest of delays. Because of these characteristics, Type A individuals are often described as 'stress junkies.'"

Oh. I hate to admit it, but some of that — a LOT of that — applies to me. Impatient, yes, probably. Excessively time-conscious, yes. Insecure about status, no, not at all. Highly competitive, no. Hostile and aggressive, no. Incapable of relaxation... Are you kidding? I'd love to sit around and do nothing! High achieving workaholic... Hmm, maybe. Multi-tasking, driving myself to deadlines, unhappy about the smallest of delays... That's sadly true. So some applies, and some doesn't. But probably enough to make me fit into the category of stressed. And my blood pressure is a little high too, partly because I don't get enough exercise! I'm 39 now and this dodgy vision problem is a bit of an eye-opener (pun intended).

Back to the CSR. This is what fills me with hope: "In the majority of cases no treatment is required, and the condition resolves spontaneously within several months... Behavior modification may be recommended if stress is thought to be a contributing factor... The prognosis for CSR is generally excellent. Over 90% of patients regain 20/30 vision or better within 6 months. In some people, the condition will resolve leaving very subtle visual imperfections. In a small minority of patients, CSR may become a recurrent problem."

Okay, I can live with that. This is like a constant reminder that I'm getting on in life and need to start looking after myself better. Maybe my eye will spontaneously get better overnight sometime in a month or two, and that'll be like a message to say, "Okay, you've done well lately, good job — here's your eye back. Now stay fit and healthy or it'll be the worst for you next time, my friend."

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