Please excuse any typos...I have a patch over one eye. A nice, black patch, just like a pirate. Here's the story:
Monday night, my right eye started burning and watering like crazy. I immediately took out my contacts and washed off my eye makeup, but my eye still felt like it was full of sand. I went in to see the opthamologist on Tuesday afternoon, and he told me that I have a corneal ulcer, which apparently is worse than a corneal scratch. He said that if I had waited just one more day to come in and see him, I might have permanent vision loss! At that point, my vision was fine, but I couldn't keep my right eye open because it was so sensitive to light. Hence, the patch. The doctor also prescribed antibiotic eyedrops that cost $111, along with some drops to dilate my eye and help with the pain. Yes, $111 for a vial of eyedrops. But when faced with that or permanent blindness, $111 starts to sound like a deal.
I left the doctor's office with my eye dilated and patched. I also put on my glasses to help me see (they only give me 20/40 vision because I need new ones, but that's good enough to pass the DMV eye test!), and then the doctor gave me some giant old-lady wraparound cataract sunglasses to put on over my glasses. I looked HOT! And that was a really exciting drive home on the freeway!
I went back to the doctor yesterday, and the ulcer wasn't any worse, but my vision in the right eye was all cloudy. The doctor said he wasn't surprised and that my vision might even get a little worse, but it would "probably" get better. How reassuring.
I have been trying to limit my driving, but tonight I felt like having a hamburger for dinner, so I drove to the little diner place that's a mile from my house. I was still wearing my patch and eyeglasses at this point, so it should be obvious to everyone that my vision is impaired, right? So I order a hamburger, fries, and a medium soda, and it costs $6.47. Then I hear the people behind me order a "number 2 combo," so I get as close to the menu as I can, and I realize that the "number 3 combo" is the exact same thing I ordered, but for cheaper. Granted it was only an 85-cent difference, but why do people feel like they can take advantage of the handicapped? Respect the patch, people. Respect it.
PS--I got my 85 cents back, and I will no longer be patronizing that establishment.
