Just an FYI: where I'm at

[Erica]

I had an appointment at the hospital eye unit Monday (I've been having problems with my right eye & getting very bright blue flashes in it).They think it's ok for now but there's a good chance that the flashes are symptomatic of my retina preparing to/beginning to tear and that I need to see further specialists about it because my severe myopia makes the situation worse.

They're scheduling me for some tests in the next couple of weeks and we'll go from there.Things are up in the air at least until everything is sorted and we know I won't need laser stuff done, or worse case, surgery.

Anyway, I'm trying not to stress but also I'm not supposed to strain my eyes either. So I've got to limit the amount of time I'm at the computer & doing other stuff. I'm still working on at least one story for the zine but at this point I'm trying to take it easy.

Anyway, good thoughts are appreciated!

[Anna]

And good thoughts are being sent!

And remember - this is only the first zine of the year. If you can't get your story in, don't worry. You can make up for it with the next deadline. Health first!!!!

[Hope]

Also remember--we do give extensions for compelling reasons, which this certainly is. If your story is partially finished January 31st and you think you can finish it in the next week, send us what you have with a note to that effect.

One of my retinas has already seperated with no ill effects, which my eye doctor tells me is a good thing. It's very common with severe myopia...and I was 20/200 by 10 years old, about 20/750 now. By contrast, my 10 year old is finally getting glasses for...drumroll please...20/30.

[Chantal]

Erica--Best wishes on your eye condition. Anything having to do with the retina is scary, in my book.

Take as much time as you need. Eyes come before zine. If you can't finish a story for this issue, there's always the next one.

Hope--Can you explain why your 20/750 is correctable enough that you can drive, and my 20/400 isn't? I have ROP, if that's any help. That just baffles me.

[Hope]

Chantal--the error for me is in the refraction of my lens, which causes simple myopia; since the error is refraction, it can be fixed with refraction, with lenses. The part of your eye, the macula, that can reach 20/20 with the correct refraction is severely damaged. you do your seeing with the part of the eye that normally handles peripheral vision, and its best discrimination is about 20/200...so that's the best you could ever be corrected to by refraction. Does that help?

[Chantal]

Erm...Wouldn't that be macular degeneration? I don't have that. I do have central vision, or I wouldn't be able to read normal print unaided. I just have to hold it close to my face. From what I understand, the problem is dragging of retinal blood vessels and fiber growth behind the lens.

*slaps forehead* Is that what the problem is? I can't get adequate correction with refraction alone because what's behind the lens is still interfering?

[Erica]

Jan 26, 2010 8:37:47 GMT -5 Chantal said:

Erica--Best wishes on your eye condition. Anything having to do with the retina is scary, in my book.

Take as much time as you need. Eyes come before zine. If you can't finish a story for this issue, there's always the next one.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the well wishes.

I've got one story in the works that I'm hoping to work on this week (and get your way before deadline) and a 2nd that I'm co-writing with Kitty---she's done her part it's just me holding us up from subbing it so I'll try hard to get that your way too but it may be a couple days past the deadline.

[Anna]

A couple of days past the deadline is fine, Erica.