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I was having a conversation with my husband yesterday evening when he suddenly closed his eyes and put his head down. I asked what was wrong and, after a lot of "Um, uh. well...uh..." he admitted that he's been having "episodes" with his eyesight. The episodes consist of lines and "kind-of lights" that obstruct his vision, but the scariest part is that he loses the ability to see in the center of his vision. The very center just looks "blank." The episode lasted for about 20 minutes.
I am genuinely scared. He's 74 and has the symptoms of macular degeneration. I told him that he MUST go to the optometrist. He said yeah...he will...soon...he guesses...
I reminded him that his aunt went blind from macular degeneration. He said he hasn't told me about the episodes because he "knew I'd tell him to go to the doctor." My husband is absolutely terrified of anything medical and has built up a real monster in his mind about being examined.
Inside my own mind I was seriously shaken up. I didn't tell him, but there is no cure for macular degen. People eventually go blind from it. My husband is a very "young" 74, fit and seemingly healthy - but eye disease runs in his family.
I'm trying not to panic, but I'm feeling pretty darn shaky inside. The hard part is getting him to see the optometrist. He was seen about 2 years ago and was told then that there was "something" they didn't like. He's chosen to ignore it, and hasn't returned.
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