Progress report: Yesterday, I wrote the first scene of Disruptive Elements, the sequel to Elementary. It would’ve been more, but yesterday was kind of busy…
So, I’ve been having trouble with my eyes recently. It’s all to do with my skin, and the drug I’m on to try to help that, but basically, I was having a bit of trouble seeing at the end of last year. I had Word wound up to 170% normal size so I could see the words properly. It’s back to something like normal now thanks to wonders of modern pharmacology. Steroids are great (except for your blood sugar levels and liver).
Yesterday was my bi-annual trip to the optician. I know I need knew glasses, even without the other problems, but I figured it was going to be bad. It was bad. At least my expectations were met! The optician said that my eyes are so screwed up at the moment that she didn’t feel comfortable providing a prescription for the lenses! So, I’m going back in two weeks after a bit of work.
This is where it gets good. Warm compresses and some eye drops. That’s the treatment. I was in my local pharmacy finding the right eye drops when I also found this bean bag thing you put in the microwave to do the compresses. I know have a legitimate, medical reason to lie down in the middle of the day with a warm eye mask on. Of all the medical treatments I’m having to put up with at the moment, this has to be the absolute best. Bless you, Boots Opticians.
Witches and Ray-Guns 
I suffer from eye problems and swore I would never resort to bi-focals. An odd solution was provided by a suggestion that I use only one eye at a time. It is very good for modern screens, which Really vary in size.
Give it a try, it also stops people interrupting you but doesn’t work on familiars.
I feel for you. Having properly working eyes is so vital for most tasks. Having developing cataracts I sometimes can’t focus early in the mornings, until my lenses relax. I hope the hot compresses and eye drops help!
Out here in the desert I fight with dry eye all the time. I use the preservative free eye drops. They have unlimited use. The ones with stuff in them to keep it from going bad can only be used a few times a day.
I also had cataracts taken off my eyes a few years ago. You have to be awake for that and it terrified me. Thankfully it was very quick and pain free. Two big shots of valium didn’t hurt. You need to get used to eyes that do not change focus.
No use getting new glasses and then your eyes change. That can hurt you worse. Even being retired and with Medicare glasses run about $150 bucks for bi-focals.
I should point out that, while the UK has an exceptional health system which is free when you use it… that doesn’t cover glasses. Yes, I’m going to forking over a small fortune for new specs, though at this rate it’ll be next month before I have to pay for them. Something for future Niall to worry about.
People take eyes for granted until they don’t work anymore. One of mine stopped working around the time I was 14. Or at least that was when I noticed. 😦 Ever since then, I try so hard not to get upset when people expect me to see things on that side with very limited vision there. It makes my life very exciting at times.
I would, quite frankly, go nuts if something like that happened to me. I suppose you get used to it if you have to, but I’m too old to get used to things!