It’s that time of year - have you had your annual glaucoma test?

For those new around here, I have glaucoma. It’s not just an “old person’s” disease - I found out I had it at 45, my brother at 38. But after the initial panic of the diagnosis, I slipped into denial. I did my eye drops, until I ran out. I missed first one ophthalmologist appointment, then a 2nd one. Before I knew it a full year had gone by with no checkups and no medication.

Then I noticed I couldn’t see well enough to read. I called to make an appointment with my optho, but couldn’t get in for 3 months. So I went it to see a optical clinic eye doctor on Wednesday, hoping he could at least give me new glasses.

He did more than that. He showed me images of my optic nerve that I’d never seen before. What I saw frightened me. The nerve was swollen to twice it’s normal size. In the exam I learned that my vision had slipped badly, moving from a 1.25 on my bifocals to a 2.5, probably because of glaucoma damage, vision I’ll never get back again.

So I got my new glasses, and a serious scare. He wrote me a new prescription of eye drops, and I filled it immediately. I can’t get back what I lost but I can get serious about not losing any more eyesight. Hiding from bad news didn’t do me any good - it did me major harm. Playing coy with my disease doesn’t work - it marches on whether I choose to be aware of it or not. Ignoring it just hurt me.

I don’t get to say, “I’m bipolar. That’s my challenge and I don’t have to deal with any others.” I wish that each of us would have just one burden to bear and be exempt from anything else the universe might want to throw at us. But it doesn’t work that way.

So it’s time for me to nag you. Even if you don’t wear glasses, or think you’re seeing fine with the glasses you have. Please, get your eyes checked yearly, including a test for glaucoma. Yes, it’s annoying, and I know it feels like a waste of money when you think everything is fine. But please, do it anyway. An exam is just $60 at most walk-in clinics. I know that much money can be hard to come up with, but your vision is on the line. Don’t wait until it’s too late. I’m paying the price for doing that right now.

Be smarter than me.