I’ve been getting headaches for a few weeks. They have progressively gotten worse and worse and it was to the point where I could barely see my computer screen to edit without really squinting. My rx always changes with each pregnancy and each baby, so I just figured my eyes were finding a new normal now that my hormones are leveling out from having Teagan last year. And since Taryn is off having fun with Lily on this Friday ((aka fun friend friday is what they call it)), I made an appointment for this morning. Teagan and I head off, and they give me the option to either have a retinal scan or be dilated. The cost for the scan is only $30 so I go for it, I don’t like getting my eyes dilated at all. I’ll happily fork over that 30 bucks. The tech put me in place and then handed me the button to snap the scan as I looked into the light, right up my alley, I can take a pic! But when I did, everything got really quiet in the room. Then the other eye, quiet again. I immediately asked her about the dark spots I was seeing pop up on the screen and again, quiet. Turns out, I have a hole in my retina. Actually, I have two bad areas, one in each eye, but the left one has a significant sized hole. Thankfully at this point, it isn’t causing blind areas or spots in my vision, but it is the reason everything is fuzzy, well, more fuzzy than normal. Even with a new rx, the left eye won’t be 20/20, they cannot correct what is not there I suppose. We will watch the areas closely over the coming months to see how they change and if they grow in size and go from there. Hopefully, surgery will not be necessary. Hopefully, it will all stay exactly the way it is now. I could live with that. I’m good now, I can see. What I cannot live with is the idea of not being able to see the world around me. My husband. My children. All of their moments. My work…..it’s my passion, I rely on my eyes. What I see is how I create. The thought of losing that makes me feel like I can’t even breath.
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oh Lyndsay! I’ll be praying for you that things don’t get worse! {hugs}
Oh no! Is there anything they can do for it other than surgery or a new contact lens prescription? Can you get a second opinion from another opthamologist? If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to let us know – Mike and I would be happy to watch the kiddos for you if you need to see another doctor.
Oh dear, I’m sorry. Thank God for modern technology and the ability to correct what they can. I did that scan once, didn’t turn out so well…but it was because the tech made me do it without my contacts and I can’t see JACK, not even 8 inches in front of me without my contacts.
I will be praying for, I know things will work out, you are just too good of a person for it not to. {{{hugs}}}
Oh lyndsay. I am really sorry for you and hope your eyes will stay the way they are and not get worse.
Oh my, that does sound scary. I guess it better that you know and keep close tabs on it.
My gosh…Im so sorry! I never have heard of that before. I hope your eyes get better or at least stay the same! Your art is beautiful and only you can create it through your eyes…best of luck with that.
I am part-time photographer and went through something similar last year. Unfortunately, my vision issue affected my eyesight severly and the damage is permanent – but only in one eye, thank goodness. I have learned to rely on my “good” eye and I think the challenge has actually strengthened my photo skills because I am extra aware and very grateful for each opportunity.
Anyway… just a word of encouragement and let you know others have been there, too. I completely understand the paralyzing fear. Especially as a photographer, I understand how your brain “thinks” visually and how scary it is to know that it may be taken away. Take care, hang in there, and follow the doctor’s orders.
Lyndsay, that must be so upsetting! I hope they don’t progress any. Did they give any indication as to why they thought it was happening? I know I will likely face that situation someday, I have thin spots already in my retinas that make it fairly likely I will end up with a whole or a tear at some point. My father had one a couple of years ago and had to have surgery to repair it. The surgery wasn’t bad but the recovery really took a toll on him I hope you don’t have to go through any of that.
I’ll be praying for you!
So scary, I feel like you can’t catch a break lately. I will be keeping you in my prayers and hoping it doesn’t progress any further.
I can NOT imagine the pit in your stomach. Prayers of health for your eyes. I grew up with a guy, Todd Smith, who is an excellent doctor at the eye institute of Austin.
Also, because of your post today…I’m going to schedule a long overdue eye exam for myself.
*hugs* sending lots of get better eyes thoughts!
HUGS!!
I’m thinking about you & praying.
You see too much beauty in the world for it to go away. Things will be okay, we’re all praying for you.
Losing my vision is a huge fear of mine. I can only imagine how you feel right now! Please know you’re in my prayers!
Lyndsay, I typically just admire from a far but today I want you to know that you will be in my prayers and that God has His plan, and that it is for you to prosper!! Keep doing what you’re doing, you have a true GIFT!!!
((((((( hugs ))))))))
i’ll keep you in my prayers that it doesn’t get worse! 🙁
OH NO!
I will keep you in my thoughts… I hope it stabilizes.
Do they know what causes that to happen?
One more person praying that it doesn’t get worse. I can’t imagine how hard this is for you to hear. ((((hugs))))
sending good thoughts and healthy eye prayers your way.
so sorry for that news, and definitely hoping it doesn’t get any worse (and maybe they figure out why it happened in the first place?) Best thoughts…
OMGoodness!!! HUGS! (sorry dumbfounded right now, can’t think!) Will be praying for you!
I hope that everything turns out for the best!
Our prayers are with you, take care.
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that! I really hope that things don’t get worse and that you guys can catch a break really soon here…you’ll be in my thoughts and prayers!
Geez, you guys are always getting road blocks thrown at you (but you always seem to land on your feet)! I’ll be praying for healthy eyes for you!
Prayers here too Lynds. I’ll tell mom and she’ll be praying too. Big hugs!
I am keeping my fingers crossed that they stay as is. How scary for you!
That is so scary, Lyndsay. I hope that you don’t need surgery and it doesn’t get worse!!!
wow Lyndsay – I’m so sorry. Big hugs.
You are in my prayers.
Lyndsay, I am so sorry to hear that. I cannot imagine. I will keep you in my prayers. Hugs.
omg, lots and lots of prayers that this is not as bad as it seems…or at the very least that it doesn’t get worse…
I’m really sorry Lindsay, I know how you feel totally. I am legaly blind in my right eye, have been all my life and have relied on my left to get me through. I too fear the total loss of sight in my left eye is coming…then I also realized that my RX had not changed in over 5 years so this is good, I know it is hard now and the thoughts of this can consume you…please don’t let it. It may never get any worse, I have read your blog for several months and you seem to be such an incredible person and happy all the time, keep your chin up fellow Texan. I will keep you in my prayers.
Thinking of you and hoping your vision stays exactly the way it is now. The magic and beauty that you capture with your beautiful eyes simply cannot be altered!
HUGS–I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you, I’ll keep my fingers crossed tightly and hope for the best. Its good that you are having them monitor things- and I’m sure Austin has great eye doctors 😉
I’ve been following your blog for a while now and was surprised to come across this post. Was the retinal scan you had an optomap? I work for that company! We love hearing stories about how problems like this are caught, and cleary it is especially important for a photographer!! 🙂 I’m glad you were able to catch this and hope it doesn’t worsen!
Thank you for all of your well wishes. Hopefully it won’t get any worse, but if it does surgery will be necessary. My new RX doesn’t correct it and it is driving me nuts. I will be seeing a specialist soon. I’m not sure of the name of the machine, but yes, we are very thankfully for the technology that caught it!
I’m so sorry that you are having to go through this – I can’t imagine how scary it must be. I work in the medical field and there are 2 retina specialists that I recommend in San Antonio if you want a 2nd opinion – Dr. Scales and Dr. Cleland. It seems that San Antonio has more specialists than Austin.
Ugh, so sorry to hear about all this stress. I really hope it gets better soon!
Oh I hope all goes well for you. I can’t imagine how stressful this is for you. Ditto on a previous comment, check out San Antonio if you are looking for a specialist. The major business there is the medical ind…they have some really great hospitals and docs.