A Medical Emergency in the Rio Grande Valley

During our winter resort vacation, we don't blog as much. We don't have that steady stream of pretty pictures taken on hikes or kayak trips to give us good subject matter for new blogs. So as we're settling into a life filled with activities like pickle ball and line dance, Mark decided to spice up our schedule. One day he assumed he had something under his contact lens that was making things blurry. But after his afternoon of pickle ball, he took out his contacts and his vision didn't clear up. He realized that the blurriness was caused from something inside his eye. We've both had little floaters, but this one was big enough to cover his entire line of vision in his right eye. He found this picture on the internet that illustrates the blurry vision that he was suddenly experiencing.

The Rio Grande Valley is blessed with a large number of medical professionals, all kept busy with the winter Texans that live in the valley. We found a well-regarded eye care center that was covered by our insurance, and Mark was sitting in the ophthalmologist chair the very next morning.

After dilating both eyes, Mark was diagnosed with a PVD. That's a shortened version of the longer diagnosis of Posterior Vitreous Detachment. It seems that as we get older, the jelly-like vitreous inside our eyeballs turns to liquid. Pieces ripping off is quite common, even though his is larger than most. But we read that 75% of the people over 65 will have a PVD. The problem comes if the area detached includes the retina. That's when a patient sees sparks of light, and surgery is necessary to re-attach the retina. The ophthalmologist said this was not happening, but we are to hurry back if he sees any changes.

Eventually, this detached piece floating in his eye should be absorbed. But we've read that can take from three weeks to six months. Mark is already tired of walking around in a blur, but the doctor has told him that he can do anything he is accustomed to doing. So he is still playing pickle ball, which is rather amazing since that little ball is now speeding toward him in a blur. But prayers have been answered in that the tear hasn't gotten worse.

So we'll continue to wander His wonders, even if it's a little blurry--thankful for doctors that can answer our questions when a medical emergency comes up along the way.