A Blur

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A week went by in a blur, a stressful blur. I didn’t mention cataract surgery in July, because it’s very common if you live long enough. Eight days after that surgery, I read a number of lines on the standard eye chart and could read a card in my hand if I held it far away. The date was July 20 when I knew the right eye was working well. Last week the second eye was done. It, too, seemed very good. I gradually came to the conclusion that the eyes didn’t seem to be working well together. Because both were set for distance vision, John helped me buy readers to help focus closeup. Reading was still very difficult. I became aware that the right eye had a spot in the middle where there was only a blur. That screamed macular degeneration to me. My dad developed that when he was about 82 years old, and he was blind for the last three or four years of his life.

On August 17 the eye surgeon could tell that my left eye was 20/25. Great! I hadn’t seen that well since I was seven years old. When my right eye looked at the chart, the only letter I could read was the very top E. The doctor said several things could cause that, so we did a scan of the retina. He put a scan done several weeks ago on the screen, along with the new scan. One was flat; the other had a big bubble in the middle. My supposition was correct. I have macular degeneration. He quickly said, “Ten years ago we could do nothing. Now there is treatment for that.”

The office made an appointment for me with a retina specialist in Asheville for Friday. John canceled his trip to the train club so he could drive me there tomorrow. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.

My smile isn’t broken.

Anne

Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

Published

53 thoughts on “A Blur”

  1. What extraordinary timing. I’m so so glad the surgeon told you immediately that nowadays macular degeneration can be treated if you catch it fast enough. Which you did! You’ll hear plenty of good news stories to cheer you on, thank goodness.

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    1. Thank you. It would be rather nice not to go blind. I laugh when I think about my childhood. My eyesight was never good, and every once in a while I’d practice being blind. It probably lasted until I stumbled over something.

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  3. There are indeed treatments to help now. My mother’s was successfully treated for years and she still had some vision when she died at age 91 & 10 months. Lovely smile, and happy trails to you.

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  4. My sis-in-law has had it for at least 10 years, maybe longer. She can see well enough. She never talks about it so the treatment, whatever she’s getting, must work for her. Wishing you the best!

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  9. Good luck at the appointment tomorrow Anne. Modern medicine will help you have good eyesight. Thank goodness for that. Fingers crossed and I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

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        1. I’ll have the first injection on Monday. I just found out that the retina specialist uses my regular eye doctor’s office space once a week. This is marvelous that we won’t have to go all the way to Asheville for the shots.

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  13. Of the friends I have that I’ve known with MD (Elwood, and the Apostle who wrote with REALLY LARGE letters), now Anne sees with a sense of blur. Here’s to popping that bubble! Will be praying for you today.

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  14. Hi Anne. Did the doctor say if it was wet or dry MD? Maybe they will today. Praying it all works out for the best. I know they gave Dave some special vitamins to take, but just like a man, they made him nauseous (probably because he didn’t eat first) and he would never try them again. I know you’ll do whatever the dr tells you to do! 🙏🙏

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  16. That does not sound fun at all. Glad you gave a chance to fight back though. Amazing what tech can do. Love that beautiful, unbroken smile!

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  19. Wishing you all the best with that. I had the surgery and now see well, so I really appreciate that. Macular degeneration I did not have, so you’ve got one more road to travel.
    It’s interesting to me though that reading online was easier than sitting down with a book, although that was still difficult for any period of time. Reading now is still difficult and I start to blur after about 20 minutes or so, so I don’t push it.

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