I Could Not Make This S**t Up!

It’s been 71 days since I had my eyes checked (for the second time) following my Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) diagnosis, in November, 2017.

The first exam took place on January 25th, and at that time I was given a ‘thumbs up,’  but the ophthalmologist said she wanted to see me in six months, versus the usual one year.

“No problemo,” I said, “see you then…”

At my second appointment, in August, I was told that there had been no significant changes and both my long and short vision prescription needs, had remained the same.

The ophthalmologist did however, casually mention, that I “might be” showing the very “beginning signs” of cataracts, but nothing to worry about, we’d keep an eye on it and I should come back in a year.

Prednisone/Prednisolone (both powerful corticosteroids) are the only treatment for GCA; and unfortunately, one of the many horrible and more hideous side effects of them, is that one can (prematurely) development cataracts.  So although this wasn’t great news, it was only a possibility and it was something I had been forewarned about and had researched throughly.

I would cross that bridge when (if ) I got to it.

So…  why/how did I end up at eye doctor’s today for a third appointment, in less than a year?  Great question… I’m glad you asked!”  

About 6 months ago, I contributed to a Kickstarter campaign. If the project was successful, I would receive two pair of cool, funky, high quality frames (with my specific prescriptions in them) made in France, for a £129 investment!  (Of course, if the project didn’t go well,  I could lose my £129, but that was a risk I was willing to take.)  These young, cool, ambitious entrepreneurs had some totally cool and unique eyewear designs and I wanted in, on the Ground Floor.

It took forever, but the glasses finally arrived last week!  I was thrilled. They were/are as cool and unique as I had hoped; and a very high quality, I might add!  However, much to my dismay, when I tried them on, everything was blurry and not quite right.

“Damn… can nothing ever go smoothly for me?”  A classic WTF moment.

Okay, no worries.  Spending £129 on two pair of high quality, stylish frames is still a good deal! Right?

So I took the new glasses to my opticians, last week, and asked that they remove these obviously “inferior French lenses,” and replace them with some good old MADE IN BRITAIN, lenses.  “Why yes,” of course they could!  Especially being English, and having no particular fondness for anything French, it would be their “pleasure!”

I went in this past Tuesday to pick up my new cool, trendy glasses and again much to my dismay; when I tried on the long distance glasses and looked out the window, I could not read the shop sign across the road; it was blurry and out of focus!

WTF?

The reading glasses seemed fine, for the second I had them on, but in all honestly, I was so upset about the distance prescription, I wasn’t really paying much attention.

The guy behind the counter insisted the prescription was correct and perhaps I just needed time to adjust to the newly made lenses and new frames.  (Hmmm? Sounds like a crock of shit to me… but okay!)  I reluctantly agreed to give them a go, but I would be back if things did not improve.

Wednesday night, I pulled out my old long distance glasses, while watching the telly; I usually wear them at the cinema, or theatre, but I forget to wear them when I’m just watching telly.

“FUCK ME! NOW EVERYTHING ON THE TELLY IS BLURRY!” 

WTF?  Drink some wine and go to bed… all will be well in the morning.

Yesterday, while working on a different rant, I noticed that I was having to pull my  laptop closer and closer to my face, in order to see what I was typing.

“OMG!  IT MUST BE A BRAIN TUMOUR! 

I immediately called and made an emergency appointment, for today, with the ophthalmologist.

Well… you can imagine my fucking surprise (71 days after my last eye exam) when I was told that:

A.)  It is not a brain tumour, and

B.) the Prednisolone is definitely taking a toll on my eyes and the cataracts are  developing much more quickly than anticipated.

So quickly, in fact, they have effected my vision and changed both my long and short vision prescription needs in just 71 fucking days!!!

WTF?

The problem can be corrected by changing both of my prescriptions, but there is no guarantee that in another 2, 3, 4 months my vision won’t be worse again and require another prescription change!

The degree of my cataract development does not yet meet the minimum requirement to be corrected on the NHS, but I can splash out £2,000 and have the surgery done privately, sooner rather than later, if I so choose!

*sigh*  “Give me a fucking break!” 

For now… I opted to change my lenses and was pleasantly surprised when my opticians, (Bromptons) offered to do that free of charge, since I had just paid them on Tuesday, for two new sets of lenses!

Wow!  “Thank you Bromptoms.” 

So next Tuesday, I will pick up my new glasses, with my new prescription lenses; and I will hopefully be able to see…  far and close, until the cataracts get worse…

Seriously, I could not make this s**t up!!!!!

{NOTE: GCA, untreated, can and will cause permanent blindness; so it’s extremely important to have your eyes checked regularly and report any changes, immediately.)