with my ophthalmologist, Dr Kielar, today. I started seeing him twice a year several years ago because I had a little ocular hypertension--not glaucoma, or even high enough for drops, but the pressure in my eyes was just a bit too high. He also follows me to see if there are changes in my retinas or eyes due to my diabetes. This was just a brief exam--no field of vision test or picture of the optic nerve this time. They basically numbed my eyes with these yellow drops and did the pressure check, after just running me through a quick exam to make sure I was seeing well.
He said the pressure was a little higher, but not enough for drops as if it gets too high and I'm put on the drops I'll be on them the rest of my life. But apparently, it reads a little higher anyway because I have thicker corneas, which is genetic. He said that's better than if they were thinner as they'd have higher pressure than the readings. He also gave me some tips on my contact wearing (which I knew, and which I follow, thankfully, except sometimes I'm a little over my monthly wear, and so I've started changing them at the beginning of the month to be sure I don't go too long). But I don't sleep in them or swim or shower in them at all; I even take them out for naps. I usually do take my contacts out when I get home, which he encouraged, as 12 hours is about the limit of what they should be worn. We also discussed amoebic and bacterial infections and what happens when they infest the eye (apparently it's extremely painful and takes 6 months just to kill amoebae, and then there may be scarring and a need for a corneal transplant. I first was made aware of them by my optometrist, Dr Zent, who stressed drying hands thoroughly after rinsing or washing them with tap water, as any wetness could allow the parasitic infection. Dr Kielar said you should not rinse your case with tap water, but use solution, and if you can, have two, so you have one drying at all times. I don't use tap water on mine. I actually just ordered a multi-pack of the solution I use, Bio-True, from Costco yesterday (that was what I needed but wasn't going to go in-store for because of my ankle). It has two full-sized containers, one travel one, and a couple of cases.
Speaking of my ankle, I'm feeling pretty decent. I did wear my boot today while I was out, and I remembered the secret to getting the thing on without stress. 1) Put your foot into the inner lining. 2) Put that with your foot into the plastic/rubber case. 3) Line up the bladder with the hole on the cover. 4) Lace the straps through their loop and fasten. It makes it so much easier than trying to just put your foot in the whole thing at once. Also, I wore short capris today, which was a mistake, and I must remember to wear long pants rather than a skirt or shorts or capris. I have a pretty large calf and the velcro only closes in a sort of 'v' shape, leaving part of it unattached. It doesn't hurt as far as the fit and the use, but it does rub against bare skin unless I have some cloth there. That is not good for someone who is diabetic at all. So again, lesson learned. I'm glad I have till Monday to work out the kinks before returning to my job.
Okay, it's late morning and I haven't eaten anything. I'm going to go have some cereal. :)
