Few among us actually believe we'll become a medical statistic, but there are times when the fates and furies coalesce and we find ourselves in a column of statistical anomalies. That has happened here and I wanted to explain why I have not been posting and why features here will be a bit different for the next 4 to 6 weeks. I have had a another retinal detachment, the second in seven years, and can't lift, bend, push or carry for the next month or so. That means I won't be doing a lot of work in the kitchen. Bob - the Silver Fox - has become chief cook and bottle washer around here and we are going to be posting the very simple recipes he feels comfortable preparing. To be honest, that we are posting at all is based on the need to feed the search engines that determine blog rank. They are merciless and don't care much for excused absences, so I do hope you all will bear with us. Things will eventually get back to normal.
I did, however, want to take this opportunity to tell you about retinal detachments. Most people know about heart attack and stroke symptoms, but few know the symptoms of a retinal detachment and the urgent need to get treatment should a detachment occur. Failure to seek out proper care can lead to blindness. The symptoms of a retinal detachment include flashes of light, an increase in floaters, or a dark curtain that forms across your field of vision. Other symptoms include holes in your visual field, peripheral vision loss, and wavy lines. If you have any of these symptoms, especially if you are nearsighted, had cataract surgery or corneal transplants, see your eye doctor immediately.
The overall chance of having a detached retina is 1 in 15,000. Some sources indicate the chances are 1 in 10,000. That works out to 25,000 retinal detachments in the U.S. every year. 40 to 50 % of retinal detachment patients are nearsighted/shortsighted (myopic) and 5% of very nearsighted people (over 6 Diopter correction) will experience a retinal detachment in their lifetime.
There are no preventive techniques, so it is really important that you speak with a skilled ophthalmologist if you have any of the symptoms we've talked about or you are a member of a high-risk population. Most retinal tears and detachments can be repaired if they are found early enough. Hopefully, forewarned is forearmed. As for me, I am a tough old bird, and, so far, things are progressing normally. Like Arnold, "I vill be back!" Hugs and blessings...Mary
