So… the reason why it’s all been quiet on here? I have Central Serous Retinopathy. This is a temporary condition (so I have been told) that basically renders you pretty much blind in whichever eye it affects. Its main causes are stress (and it doesn’t always have to be high pressure stress – excessive exercise, hunger and lack of sleep are all contributing factors), being a “Type A” person (that is… Type A people are highly strung, impatient, fast-paced people and Type B people and relaxed, laid back and generally let things wash over them) and blood pressure (as I have and inherited high blood pressure I’m also in that category). Steroids and cortizone also aggrivate the condition (I’d recently had a steroid injection in my shoulder to aid a neck complaint). I have to now stay away from steroids and cortizone forever. On a side note… don’t hit 40 – you just crumble away!
It started as a little blip in my vision. As I was driving home I noticed that the white line on the side of the road had a little kink in it. I assumed it was my windscreen and thought nothing of it. A week later, as I was reading, I noticed that the words looked pinched around the same spot. Having visited the optician he advised me that I had something that looked like crinkly clingfilm on my left retina and sent me to an eye specialist. The eye specialist firstly said ”Oh… that looks interesting… I’ve never seen that before”!! After this she advised me that a) there was also one in my right eye and b) she would refer me to the Southampton Eye Clinic.
So, as I was waiting for an appointment, this blip suddenly progressed rapidly to such a state that I couldn’t see out of my left eye – it was like a large sunspot you get from staring directly into the sun. I spent most of the weekend talking to Southampton – all this time the spot was gaining in size. So I took myself into Southampton. They examined me, took some 3D scans of my retina and took some photos of the back of my eye (Nikon if anyone is interested!).
On examination of the results they confirmed Central Serous Retinopathy. It will recede. I may be left with mild anomalies in my eye. It may return. I can’t drive with it. When I close my right eye I can’t see anything of what I’ve just written. Damn… I can’t even watch my 3D TV because i have no 3D vision! All in all, not the best condition to have as a photographer but I’m comforted in the knowledge that it should be temporary. I just have to wait several months before I know what, if any, permanent damage it may cause.
Have fun,
Garry.
