Do You See What I See?

I've tried to edit an image of one of my favorite bowls to give you an idea of what I currently see.  I didn't do a very good job with the limitations of my eyes and the software.  No photoshop, at least not right now.

This explains part of the reason why I've been taking longer breaks from the blog.  From time to time the eyes get bad.  Back in 2010 I had eye surgery in my right eye and knock wood, my vision has been good in that eye.

However, the disease jumped from my right eye to my left, a week after surgery, the stinker, and now for the past two plus years I have it in my left eye and mildly in my right eye.  The drs call it a disease, and for over ten years I would just call it my condition.  I thought if I diminished it's stature, it would not be so bad to me.  Didn't work.

For me there is no known cause, I've had every possible test to determine the cause and to eliminate it from my body.  No go.  Some people get it for a brief period, weeks or months, and others, such as me, can have it for many years.  I first got it in 2002, so I am in my eleventh year, and never thought it would take over as it has.

The eye disease is called, "Uveitis."  You can search online and find lots of info.  There are many kinds of uveitis.  There are very few doctors trained or specialized in the disease.  I've been seen by some who never saw it first hand.  What a treat it feels to be an oddity and asked if others can come and look, too.  If I had stayed in NJ, I would have been a patient at Wills Eye in Philly.  They are one of the top eye hospitals in the country.

Uveitis can be mild or it can blind you, which I've come this .. close to several times.  The treatment causes cataracts and glaucoma.  You can have surgery for those, but glaucoma can blind you.  Uveitis is sometimes painful, but I'm tough, usually.  It often feels like someone has punched you in the face- hard and often.  Sometimes it doesn't hurt like that, but lamp light, computer light, sun light, etc. can hurt.

I am at the end of the list of eyedrops and oral meds for the glaucoma part.  I've had an implant in my right eye.  The debris and scarring inside the eyes can happen quickly.  I can go to the dr one day, have a "flare" a day or so later and be scarred.  The scarring does not go away with treatment.  I've lost bits of my iris and both pupils.

Why am I finally revealing this?  I'm weary of trying to avoid talking about it.  I rarely talk about issues with health  but I wanted to ask you guys, you know, my blog friends to keep some positive thoughts for me.  I am scheduled for surgery on my left eye on Dec. 20, next Thursday.    Plus, if anyone can be helped by me talking about it, all the better.

Slowly I slacked off on doing lots of projects, chores, errands, etc.  My get up and go just left on its own.  I hope the surgery will give me back some clarity in both eye and overall wellness.  I'm not proud to say that my energy and zest are waning due to my eyes and other things.  But, I'm not giving up.

I have lots of stuff on my desk, images on the camera card, and more to do.  Hope to be up and at 'em very soon.  I have written a couple of posts and will schedule them, but what I really want to do is some of the art and jewelry projects banging around in my brain.

If you got this far, Thanks Very Much for reading.  I hope you will say a prayer or keep a good thought for me for Dec. 20 and for healing well.  I really appreciate it.  ♥     Surgery can only take place when the eye is "quiet" so I am keeping my fingers crossed that there won't be a flare between now and the 20th.

If I don't reply to emails, this is why.  I've had to limit my computer time and everything takes much longer than it did before the uveitis got bad.  

If anyone has any kind of eye inflammation, pain, redness, sensitivity to light, or something doesn't feel just right- get to an eye dr pronto, your eyes are precious, take good care of them.