My Eyes Have Exploded

Shortly after I finished my blog post yesterday, my eyes literally exploded. Well, maybe not literally, but they felt like it. The sunlight coming through the window felt like sharp swords of fire and I literally (this time for real) could not keep my eyes open.

I realized then that something was really wrong with my eyes and that I couldn't put off going to an eye doctor any longer. I texted James and texted my boss. I told her I might not be able to drive to the doctor and might need a ride, but her phone was turned off.

And since it's been over five years since I went to the eye doctor, I needed to find one in the local area, so I made it to work. As I pulled into the parking lot, my boss answered my text with something like:
"I just got your text, OMG, don't worry about coming to work. Do you still need a ride?"

I told her I had just pulled into the parking lot, and was going to ask my coworkers for recommendations on an eye doctor. When my boss got to work, she took one look at my eyes (and she's not easily surprised) and said "OMG," again. After calling a few eye doctors and being told they were on vacation or being disconnected after waiting on hold forever, I finally got through to a doctor our receptionist recommended. They asked if I could be there in a half hour, so I booked it over there.

After an hour and forty five minutes of testing, the doctor said I had a bacterial infection and a small corneal perforation. She said she was going to treat it aggressively, since my eye was so inflamed she couldn't get a good grasp on the extent. And since I don't have glasses in my current prescription, I still had my contacts in She made me take them out and promise her I wouldn't put them back in until she told me I could. I said okay.

She told me to go home and "park yourself in a dark room and try and keep your eyes closed."

I stupidly asked if I could go back to work, to which she laughed and said, "NO."

She also said she was calling in two different antibiotics, one in the form of eyedrops, and another ointment. She said I had to use the drops every two hours.

Then she said, "You have a ride home, right?" And I said that I'd driven myself, and she looked a little surprised. She asked if I could get a ride home. I said I could, but I could make it home. And she said she wanted me back in the morning to see if she could get a better look.

So, I was totally blind driving home. And it was raining, which made it worse. And she'd dilated my eyes, and my sunglasses weren't dark enough to provide adequate relief from the little bit of light seeping through the clouds.

I went to Publix and figured since I must be sick, some comfort food wouldn't hurt.

Then I went to the pharmacy counter and found out that the doctor's office hadn't even called in my prescription yet. It was then that the numbing medicine the doctor used started to wear off, and the bright light in the store was agony. So I texted Aidan, who said she could pick up my prescription on her way to work. I booked it home, and did as the doctor asked--parked myself in bed with some ice cream, and after I ate the whole pint, closed my eyes and listened to Judge Mathis.

But that rest was short lived, because I had to pick up Joe from school. He had a great time at the Model UN conference, even though their school didn't win (the school that provides funding for the Model UN conference won--imagine that!). He said they decided on the officers for next year's club, and Joe will be secretary.

About fifteen minutes after my daughter left for work, she called me and said the prescription STILL wasn't ready. By then, it was getting late, and I didn't want to venture back on the roads and expose myself to painful sunlight, so I gave up. I'll have to pick up the prescriptions today.

So, this morning, I have to take Joe to school, then go to the doctor's at 8:20, then pick up my prescription. But after having my contacts out overnight (I usually sleep with them on--they're Air Optix, which let you wear them for 30 days), I can feel the difference. I didn't realize your eyeballs could actually swell. They still hurt, and the headache is sorta bad (I learned your cornea has lots of nerve endings), but when I put my hands over my eyes, I can feel how much smaller my right eyeball is. In fact, it's weird, because I can tell my right eyeball is actually a little smaller than the left.

And it's leaking tons of goo, which it hasn't done since it started hurting.

Anyway, I think I'm supposed to stay home today too, which sorta stinks. My boss is super cool and said I could come in and wear sunglasses in my office and just answer phones or something if I wanted. So, I might do that if the doctor says its ok.

So, that's my exciting story from yesterday. Hopefully the doctor will be able to determine the extent of the damage this morning, and hopefully it's not too bad. She doesn't think I have macular degeneration or anything that serious, but she wants to see how extensive the infection is, because if bacteria gets into the cornea through the tear, I guess that can be bad.

I'll update when I know. I just hope the blurry spot in the center of my vision isn't permanent.

So, the lesson I learned is: Wear glasses more often, get bi-yearly eye exams, and change your contacts even more often than you're supposed to!

Well, here's some new pics of the Terribles: