My Eye Panic--But all is fine.

About two weeks ago, I was in a dark room and a bright flash of light streaked down the side of my left eye. I have a very faulty left eye. Every eye doctor who looks at it is amazed that I see much of anything out of it. Six years ago, I developed a small blind spot in it which lead me on a two year, full of panic journey, to rule out MS, a tumor in my occipital lobe, cancer, etc. Fortunately, I don't have MS or any other scary condition but it took about 5 eye doctors, 2 neurologists and finally a Nero-opthemologist to come to that conclusion. It was a crappy time and one I did not want to relive again. It impacted everyone around me.

So, imagine my fear when that flash of light hit my left eye. I decided to ignore it but the flashes kept on coming--usually noticed when I was in a dark room but not always (once, while I was singing a solo during a Stake Relief Society Enrichment.) I went to Web MD and again, things were pointing to MS and I thought, "I don't have the time or the emotional energy to go down that road again. It was completely ruled out six years ago and now the fear is back." And, it was back big time. A few posts ago, I wrote about calling my mom. I did more WebMD reading. I started waking up in the middle of the night checking my balance, etc. I DID NOT want to go to a doctor and be sent in for a million tests again. The flashes continued and I was near a breaking point.

So, finally on Saturday, on the soccer field, an opthemologist father of one of the boys on my team was sitting next to me. In my best calm voice, I casually described my symptom. He very casually said, "Oh, that is normal. Your vitreous is pulling away from retina. It happens to everyone. You are at the age when it often happens." He then said, "If you develop a blind spot, go immediately to the doctor. It should go away in a few weeks." He didn't even look me. It was all very "no big deal" talk as our sons beat Sparta (YEA!)

So, it was all reassuring with the exception of the possibility of a blind spot. I already have one of those and other weird benign but making it hard to see out of my eye problems. So, back home, on the Internet again and back to me constantly checking the vision in my left eye. After a few more nights of no sleep, my vision getting crappier because I wasn't sleeping, I finally made the dreaded appointment to the eye doctor convinced I was going to be sent in for a million tests, which I knew I would fail, etc. Fortunately, it is just the vitreous pulling away from my eye. My retina looks healthy and fine and he said it should stop in a few weeks. There is still a small chance of my retina pulling away (one in 100) but based on what he saw, currently no. Retina is still attached.

So, if you develop flashing in your periphery, yes, do go to the doctor (to rule out retinal detachment) but don't freak out. Trust me, I have done all the freaking out for you.