Friday the 13th

December 13, 2024

I wake up in the middle of the night and realize almost immediately that something is wrong. Both of my eyes have had some blurriness since the onset of my eye infection two weeks ago. This is different. It’s like a ragged grey curtain has been drawn across perhaps the lower third of the field of vision in my right eye.

My first thought is that this might be an adverse reaction to the teardrops I was prescribed when we went to an urgent care clinic two days ago - Rachael to see about her hearing issues from the presumed wax buildup in her ears, and I because it seemed time to have my eyes checked. We both came away frustrated though. In her case, there’s no wax buildup. Our GP surmised that she might have congestion or whatever in her eustacian tubes and prescribed Flonase as something that might help. For me, she also thought my eyes looked fine and prescribed eye drops. Neither consultation was worth the cost, and I doubt we’ll go to an urgent care center again in the future for anything more complicated than first aid for an injury.

I researched the active ingredient in the eyedrops for side effects but saw nothing revealing. With nothing else to be done, I went back to sleep as well as I was able. In the morning though I started calling local eye clinics looking for one that would take me as a walk-in. We were happy to find one, and about lunchtime we drove over and I was met by an optometrist. He performed a thorough eye examination but found nothing concerning either. He also prescribed eyedrops but added that if the symptoms hadn’t improved by Monday (today is Friday afternoon) I should come back.

In retrospect I really needed to see an opthamologist, but none was available on such short notice.

Afterwards we drove to a pharmacy to pick up a different set of eyedrops and then went home. For the rest of the afternoon Rachael went off on a short hike in yet another area new to her here, this time going south to the small South Hills Open Space and its high ground, Vulture Peak. Every time she goes out walking here she comes back more impressed with the range of hiking possibilities close in to town.

Climbing the Ridge Trail toward Vulture Peak.

Is this the summit, Rocky? The sign isn’t quite in focus enough to tell.

There’s a fine overlook of the southern part of the city from up here. I think we’re looking west at the Irish Hills, another of Rachael’s hikes this week; and to the far right we’re seeing the edge of Laguna Lake. Great sky!

The view northwest toward Morro bay. The nearest peak is Cerro San Luis Obispo that Rachael hiked earlier this week. On the far left you can see the edge of Laguna Lake.

This shot is easier to place because of the train line bisecting it. Were looking across downtown to the western edge of Tower Ridge.

The view northeast across the city to the eastern half of Tower Ridge. It looks like there’s another ridge trail over there worth checking out.

I think this is another view to the northwest toward Morro Bay. The nearest peak is Vulture, the high point of this hike; and behind it is the top of Cerro San Luis Obispo.

And here she’s dropping down off the southern side of this small formation, on Stone Ridge Trail.

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Steve Miller/GrampiesI am trying to reconcile the fact that you could not see from the right side yet the optometrist saw nothing wrong. I would think they'd notice as you read the letter chart etc. that you couldn't see? An optometrist is not an opthamologist, but sheesh!
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1 week ago

Scott AndersonTo Steve Miller/GrampiesYes, that was my reaction also. I don’t think it would have changed anything other to get the diagnosis a day sooner, but it does seem like an error in judgement. The doctor in ER was surprised also and wanted to know his name.
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1 week ago