Visting the Optometrist

The optometrist showed an enlarged image of the back of my eyes on a desktop screen.  They looked like two huge planets sitting side by side. She pointed out the macular and the optic nerve on each. 

I told her that I didn't like looking at the images. [I feel queasy seeing the inside of my body.  Some things are just not meant to be seen.] She said that my 'good eye' had a sign that could lead to developing glaucoma.  I was worried to see an expanse of white where a healthy tangle of optic nerves were seen on the other eye.

A few years ago I was sent to the hospital for tests to see if I had glaucoma. They were not unduly worried and said that the cupping of the optic disc was probably there from birth.  I wondered why this had never been discovered before as I have had regular eye tests all my life.

A vision test showed that my eyesight has improved since last year.  Last year I was given a new prescription but never changed it because I couldn't find any suitable glasses.  Imagine if I had.  Last years lenses would now be redundant as are the varifocal contact lenses that I was persuaded to buy.

The test was thorough involving puffs of air in the eye and head to head contact between me and the optometrist as she peered deeply into the back of each eye.  Every now and then I could see red thread like veins look back at me from inside a white light.  

Swiftly afterwards I was taken to a sales assistant and had my frame free face photographed (say that fast three times!) on an iPad.  'Clever Frame Style technology'  scanned my features and its facial analysis detected that I have an oval face and should select softer rounder frames.  My face is not symmetric and about as oval as a potato so I didn't put much faith in that depiction at all.

Over at the wall of frames there wasn't any information as to what frames were best for each face shape so the face shape exercise was, in my opinion, pointless.  The sales assistant smiled and shrugged her shoulders when I pointed this out.  Left to my own devices I tried on a few pairs of glasses.  Nothing suited my now oval face.

I left the shop without renewing my prescription.  On the way out I closed my left eye and relied on my right eye to guide me in walking home.   I am frustrated that my 'good' eye is the one most likely to develop glaucoma.  Sod's law.