Sudden loss of vision.

Poor you - sounds scary. I do hope your sight is restored asap. Sending positive thoughts. Must be a very stressful time for you with other health probs too.

That's rotten luck, Littleannie. I hope things go well for you.

My daughter had an ulcer on her eye when she was 30 and it damaged it beyond repair. She isn't totally blind in that eye but light is refracted now so driving at night is very difficult for her. On the plus side, before the damage, she kept ripping that part of the eye because her eyelids stuck to it overnight. She had weeks on end unable to care for her child because she had to be in a darkened room. We visited the hospital several times a week with her to try to get help but every time it started to heal, the blessed thing ripped again. So for her, as horrible as it might sound, as the damage made that area of the eye stronger, it turned out to be much better.

I can't give you any advice, but am just sending you my sympathy and empathy and hoping that you ( or your eye) will recover
Re eye drops - put your finger beneath your eyebrow and push the skin up for a while until the drops have drained away - hopefully!

If you're not happy with the diagnosis, perhaps your GP could refer you for a second opinion? Or at least reassure you about the health of your eyes.

PamQS - I'm sorry I don't understand your message. I've not said I am unhappy with my treatment. I am having excellent care from all the eye clinic staff.

Sending you love and hugs. Xxx

How scary, Littleannie. I do hope concern and sympathy here can make up for the lack at home.
I’ve had only one useful eye all my life and It was never any drawback, though it must take a while to get used to in later life. Being one-eyed only became an issue when I needed my good eye operated on and I was terrified that, if anything went wrong, I’d be left blind.
Of course you want your affected eye fixed but we can manage well with only one.

Littleannie, so sorry to hear about this! Did you know that you had shingles before it showed in your eye?

I just had a quick read on ocular shingles, and it sounds painful and frightening. I'm glad you had a quick diagnosis and good care.

My older sister had a spontaneous retinal detachment, so I thought of that when I first read your post, but I don't think there was pain involved. She had surgery, but the recovery involved laying flat on her stomach on a special bed (like a massage table) for 10 days! She found it very difficult, but followed doctor's orders and is recovered now.

I hope your recovery goes well.

Thank you all for your kind messages.

Canadian Gran, no I have no other symptoms of shingles. I had the vaccine against it a couple of years ago. The specialist told me the virus is herpes which includes shingles cold sores and of course chicken pox, which most of us probably had as children. It lies dormant in most people but can suddenly awake to cause havoc.
Watermelon, it's just my sister who has been most uncaring. Luckily I am getting the utmost care from my treasure of a husband.

Sorry my message posted too soon. I wanted to say I am sorry about your sister
CanadianGran. What a terrible time for her.
Your message about your own experience is reassuring watermeadow. I am just hoping that my vision returns.

Please let us know how you're getting on Littleannie. I hope all is well soon.

I had an ulcer in my eye about 2 years ago. It was touch and go as to whether I would lose my sight in my right eye completely. My eyesight is pretty shocking as it is, it was already -15 in each eye. I had to go to hospital every day for weeks and I was gutted at first as everything was so blurry, but they gave me some heavy duty steroids and it did improve somewhat. Now I would describe it as manageable. My sight was compromised, but I got used to it and actually I don’t notice it so much these days. It’s as though my bad eye switches off. I hope you make a full recovery, but if you don’t please try not to worry, if it comes to it hopefully you will adjust. Wishing you the best of luck 💐

Mamma66
Thank you for your positive message. I am on steroid drops hourly, and strong steroid tablets 5 times a day. I go to the hospital again today. Fingers crossed.

Littleannie

ayse - did it cause you to lose your sight?

No. Fortunately my doctor was on the ball but she explained the possibility that this could lead to sight loss if it was not treated soon enough. I was horrified, to be honest as I knew nothing about danger to sight from herpes virus. That’s why she told me to go to eye casualty straightaway if there were any further developments

I hope all goes well for you today 💐

Littleannie, what a shock for you I’m so sorry. Your Sister could have been a little more sympathetic , some people are so wrapped up in their own world and some just don’t hear.
I hope the antibiotics start to work soon and your sight returns to normal. Be careful if you are still driving as your spatial awareness will be different, like depth perception and distance perception. Take it from someone who knows!😉
If things don’t improve in a week I’d be straight back and ask to be referred, you can’t take chances with your eyes.

Well I have seen the eye specialist again this morning. More eye drops etc. He doesn't think my eye will return to full vision, but thinks I will get some vision back. At the moment it has stopped all the things I enjoy doing, reading, TV, jigsaw puzzles, swimming.
I had to stop driving 2 years ago as I have terrible attacks of vertigo which can strike suddenly.

What bad news littleannie that it is unlikely to return.
I do hope, however that it returns enough for you to still be able to do some of the things you love.
💐

I second that. Am hoping for the best for you.

I hope the treatment gives you back as much vision as possible.

Thank you all. I am keeping positive.