Up at 6 a.m. I'm very excited about this morning's appointment. I'm going to see my Ophthalmologist. I love this man. Well, now his son, who took over his practice last year. Marriage came with many gifts, not least among them the opportunity to join my husband's medical plan. First thing I did (O.K. maybe fifth) was to schedule an appointment with an Ophthalmologist who worked with visually impaired children. I knew this doctor could change my life.
I was born without the use of one eye. One eye turned in, evidently quite fond of my nose. The other eye picked up the slack and took on my little world. One eye made sense of all its shapes and contrasts. One eye learned to read. It wasn't until I was 5 years old that I had an operation to correct my crossed eyes. My 24/7/365 eye patch and daily eye exercise did rouse my brain to recognize shapes - a door, a table, a mountain, a face, a plate. Exactly what is on the plate, what shape a person's nose is, what color their eyes are, what particular trees are growing on the mountain eludes my second eye. Letters, well, letters can be understand if they are big and blocky. Since it obviously takes two working eyes to understand depth, I relied on other cues. Perspective was one. Tactile information was another. I'd grasp a handrail going down stairs, gingerly feeling where the first step down might be. Once you know how far down the first step is, you can continue down hands free! Nobody wanted me on their softball team, when that ball was in the middle of nowhere out there.
I adjusted to mild vision impairment. No big deal. I can drive. I am pretty good at memorizing the letters on an eye chart with my good eye. I could pass the driver's license exam.
Time's up! Oh, I do go on. Very quickly... This very special ophthalmologist took on a woman in her thirties with a thirst to see more. For five years he and I worked together weekly in a room with a collection of hanging objects and other gizmos. As his other clients were 5 and under, his furniture was on the small side for me.
I got my miracle. Mid thirties might be a little late for the brain to play catch up reading letters, but I got my miracle. I now see through both eyes. I now have depth perception. I am thrilled, thrilled I can pour liquid from a pitcher and actually have it land IN the glass.
I get to go to my Ophthalmologist today. His son has taken over his father's practice. And he is as sweet as his dad. I thank his father Ira from the bottom of my heart.
Good morning.
Wishing you a bright and colorful day!
I was born cross-eyed too---you should see some of my baby pictures---but I had the surgery when I was still months old (4 to be exact) and I did the patch thing as well. I can see (no pun intended) why waiting until a child is older and had adapted to looking at the world through crossed eyes in not the best idea. It's so great when you connect with someone in the medical field, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteWow! We have so much in common LOL. I didn't know they were doing surgery on young babies back then. I would have asked my mom to bump it up for me! I'm so glad it turned out well for you. It is wonderful to meet truly respectful and helpful people in the medical field. I'm blessed to have three medical professionals I really connect with. Doctor shopping is so worth it.
ReplyDeleteLet's see - we were both born cross eyed. We're both left handed, born in April, artistically inclined, veterans of shoulder surgery. What else?
How about off-beat? Seriously, I've read plenty of stuff that indicates left handed people are often artistic and creative. Something to do with that trait's gene being linked with the gene for left handedness.
DeleteInteresting. Only 10% of us are lefties, and that proportion's been constant for 5 thousand years. Recent theory is that we are more comfortable with divergent thinking than right handers. Less need to be team players and more comfortable thinking outside the box?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. What a wonderful doctor you had--to take that kind of time to help YOU, even when you were "older" than his normal patients. We take all our sensory gifts for granted I think--until our sight get blurry, our hearing gets dimmer, we lose our taste buds and our noses are stuffed up with allergies--much of which I am going through now, LOL
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing our hearts can grow brighter as the rest of us dims. Sometimes it feels like my optimism muscle is the weakest of them all.
ReplyDeleteI too was born with visual impairment. In my case, crossed eyes and severe nearsightedness. I have relied on visual cues as well. My suggestion is to be mindful of children's eyesight when they are very young. If taken care of early, many eye issues, like mine, can be dealt with so that they do not become bigger problems later on.
ReplyDeleteDoris Gibbs @ Moody Eyes
So happy you stopped by and commented, Doris! It's a bummer to be born with handicaps such as ours. I, too, hope that children's doctors, teachers and parents are more mindful these days, because this particular handicap is more easily repaired early on.
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