When Something Happens to Your "Good Eye"

It was March of 2019 that I was diagnosed with myopic macular degeneration (MMD). Just in my right eye. The pathway of MMD begins with severe myopic eyesight.

My MMD journey

I have severe nearsightedness in both of my eyes. For reasons unknown, the macular degeneration is only apparent in my right eye. Thankful for this.

Every visit both of my eyes are examined. I hold my breath, anxiously waiting to hear that the left eye is still holding its own. So far so good.

Having this one “good eye” I feel fortunate in a way, I can handle vision challenges as long as I am able to see good with this one eye. The left eye (the MMD-affected eye) becomes the second fiddle in my mind.

Chalazion

Recently I developed a chalazion in my “good eye”. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this happens when an oil gland on the eyelid clogs up. Typically starts as a stye, as it grows, the eyelid may get red and swollen and tender to touch.¹

When the chalazion gets larger, it can press on the eye and cause blurry vision. This is fairly easy to take care of, soaking a clean washcloth in hot water and holding it to your eyelid for 10-15 minutes, 3-5 times a day. The warm compress helps the clogged gland to open and drain.

This is the good eye!

Blurry vision in my good eye is what caught my attention. I discovered I am currently dealing with this malady, I was taken aback. When the chalazion is pressing on the eye, that vision most definitely was blurry.

My mind began to race. This is the “good eye”!

Is this a foreboding moment for me? Will this “good eye” lose its edge? Is this a start of degeneration in my good eye? Will both of my eyes begin to fail me? How would I manage this? Then I pause my panic, get the warm compress and relieve some of the pressure and my vision clears up again.

My future?

This is when I start to overthink things again. What are the odds that my “good eye” will eventually begin to follow the same path? Adjustments would be hard I am sure. Having a mini-preview of obscured vision in this eye was almost like a premonition of sorts. The future is so unknown.

Knowing that injections help, I need to be ever vigilant and carefully monitor what is going on with my vision daily assessments with the Amsler grid and carefully observing what I see and how I see it. Frequently visiting my retinal specialist at any sign of changes in my vision field.

Accepting change

I hope that if things proceed down this darkened road I will be able to pivot and adjust. Dealing with this eye ailment has certainly been “eye opening” (couldn’t resist). I will carefully work through this situation and be constantly aware of what is changing and why it is doing so.