Today is really hot by UK standards, with temperatures likely to reach 34C. But today is also the day I had to have my regular jab in the eye. I can't say it's a pleasant experience. But it is necessary.
Back I'm 2020, during the lock down for the covid pandemic, I noticed my eyesight was deteriorating my left eye. It was becoming difficult to see out of it. It was a bit like looking through the frosted glass you have in bathrooms, with some parts of my sight clear, but in the upper centre part of my sight obscure. I eventually managed to see an optician who said I had suffered a Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion or in simpler terms, an eye stroke. I was referred to a consultant opthalmologist.
Eye stroke sounds serious, but it has nothing to do with the brain. It's just that a vein that feeds my retina has got blocked, in the same way a vein gets blocked in the brain when someone has a stroke. Because of this fluid builds up in the macula. If it was left untreated the sight in my left eye would get worse, and I would eventually lose all sight in it. Thankfully my right eye isn't affected.
So every 6 weeks I have to have an injection in my eye. It's not a lot of fun, but my sight is greatly improved after a few days, and it helps to stop any further degeneration.
The procedure involves having lots of anesthetic drops put into the eye. Then, the nurse puts a plastic tube like thing in the centre of my eye. The tube helps to keep my eye open and guide the needle. Then she sticks the needle in and injects the drug. When this happens I can see the fluid swirling around in my eye.
The worse thing about the procedure is that I have to keep my eyes open. Every thing in me screams 'shut your eyes'!'. If I was squeamish about having blood taken I could close my eyes or look away, but with this there's no way out. I have to watch. It's weird seeing syringe stuck in your eye.
I have had loads of these done since my diagnosis, and I can honestly say it doesn't get much easier. However, towards the end of 6 weeks my eyesight starts to deteriorate, and I 'look forward' to having it done, but at the same time I would rather not have it done!
I am so glad that I live in the UK where we have free health care at the point of delivery (it's not really free because it's paid out of taxes) because I would be bankrupt by now. I have numerous medications for different things which would be costly on their own , but each injection of this drug costs £875, which is over $1200! That doesn't include the costs of staff, overheads etc.
So today I need to take things easy. If it wasn't for my good eye wouldn't be posting this. But having done so I will rest up. Hopefully tomorrow I will be seeing much better.
Photo by me.