Oh how we take our sight for granted

[Riverman]

Today I was casually reading the news on my laptop and suddenly I was unable to read it.

It was wierd and to be honest and a little scary. You must all know what it's like when you look into a bright light and there's a bright patch on your retina that takes a few minutes to go away.

This was very similar but this time there was no bright patch and it lasted for ages, about 30 mins. My peripheral vision was really fuzzy and it almost seemed like there was a streak down the left side of my eyes. It's still there a little.

It's freaked me out a little, especially as for quite abit of that half an hour I was struggling to read anything. I'd just look at the paper and it felt like there was a black blotch in the centre of my vision.

I will pop and see my GP soon. For a moment I felt like I was losing my sight. I have a new found sympathy for those who lose their sight. I'm not sure what's worse, losing your sight, losing your legs arms or your hearing?

 

[Kirstie]

Are you diabetic?
I once lost my vision because I exercised very hard and didn't take in enough food. It was frightening. But it came back in about 10 mins after I ate tons of food. Apparently this is what happens in the early stages of diabetic coma!

 

[Globalti]

There is a blind patch in your retina where the optic nerve joins. People seldom notice it because the opposite eyes fill in for each other but you can see it by staring with one eye at two marks about 2 inches apart; one will disappear at a certain distance.

 

[domtyler]

Not trying to make light of this issue or anything, but could you maybe tell us a bit more about this "news" site that you were viewing on your laptop shortly before you "went blind"?

 

[Sysagent]

I will pop and see my GP soon.

I think I would be trying to get in either tonight or tomorrow at the earliest...

 

[Ashtrayhead]

I think I would be trying to get in either tonight or tomorrow at the earliest...

And make sure you don't walk into the shop next door.

 

[Kirstie]

And make sure you don't walk into the shop next door.

Ask Greedo what that's like...

 

[Globalti]

Why not just ring around a few opticians for a eye examination today and pay the lolly? I wouldn't waste a second. The Dr will send you for an eye checkup but you could wait ages unless there's an eye hospital nearby.

 

[Theseus]

When I was a student I was hit in one eye by a firework rocket. One of the most frightening moments in my life as I thought it had been pulped until we got to A&E and I could see pink from the blood inside. At that point I had immense relief knowing that it was not totally lost.

I spent a week immobilised in hospital and had checkups for years afterwards in case of a detached retina, but it is all OK now.

As a way of combating the initial fear I was thinking up different fake eyes I could get. A globe, a torch, ...

In case you want to know what a rocket looks like end on, it's black with an orange ring round it.

 

[numbnuts]

Seeing (no pun intended) you live in Southampton go the eye department at the General Hospital ASAP, don’t mess with eyes

 

[User169]

I once managed to give myself a form of snow-blindness (albeit this was in E Anglia in the total absence of snow). It was extremely disconcerting to lose sight for a couple of days.

 

[Mr Pig]

I saw a program on the TV about a guy who just went deaf instantly, without any warning. How awful. We certainly don't count our blessing often enough.

 

[Kirstie]

In case you want to know what a rocket looks like end on, it's black with an orange ring round it.

I know that was a horrible experience Touche, but that ^^^ description had me in stitches. I'm not sure why. Must be the way you tell 'em. I'm sorry if you didn't mean it to be funny.

 

[User169]

Out of interest, how did it happen?

I was using a UV source to view ethidium bromide stained DNA. I had a "quick" peek without using a mask. Woke up later that night with the sensation of having my eyeballs sandpapered and could barely open them for 2 days.

 

[Theseus]

No offence taken Kirsty, it was meant to be light hearted. I often find that in times of stress I will make jokes, sometimes tastless ones. That was why I was thinking about different fake eyeballs on the way to A&E, the rocket description is one I first gave to one of the nursing staff during my stay. That is why when there has been a major disaster like Challenger or the Twin Towers jokes appear and I laugh at them. Looking back on those jokes now they were terrible, but at the time they provided an emotional release.