I had my 6-month follow-up appointment today with my ophthalmologist. Well, my actual ophthalmologist was on call at the hospital, so I saw someone else in his practice, but either way, it was still a general follow-up.
We took care of a few housekeeping issues - updated medications, contact info, emergency contact info, complaints or changes in vision, and resubmitting a request for a procedure. In April, an ERG was ordered but was never scheduled, so she has to send the request again.
Along with the polka-dotted vision in my periphery, I have had MAJOR difficulties focusing my vision over the past few months. You know when you have your phone or a book in front of you and you zone out - the words become a bit blurred into the background until you consciously focus your eyes on the words you are reading? That blurriness is what I have been experiencing - but when I purposely try to focus my eyes, they won't focus.
She began to explain how that symptom is from an issue with the lens of my eye (the front of my eye). Although not overly worrisome, because that particular symptom is occurring with a few other accompanying symptoms I have had for a few months, she has recommended that I be tested for Diabetes.
Cuz why not, right?
What is confounding is the actual issues my eyes are having.
So, the inability to focus would be caused by something affecting the lens (the front of the eye)........
The shadows/blind spots in my peripheral vision points to possible reduced function in my retina (the back of the eye)....
And, of course, the already diagnosed Macular Degeneration is an issue with the macula itself (in the middle of the eye).....
And NONE of those are directly related...
How is it that I could possibly have three separate eye disorders that are not connected and do not necessarily share the same cause??
The Macular Degeneration is an oddity on its own, but may be caused by a deficiency of Factor H in the complement series - related to the C1-Esterase Inhibitor Deficiency and Hereditary Angioedema. The possible issue with my retina is particularly confusing and we have not even discussed possible causes. Then, the possible lens-focusing concern could be caused by my Sjögren's or could be caused by an onset of Diabetes.
Seriously, wtf???!
If I wind up having an inflammatory condition that spans all systems and affects every single cell in my body - that has yet to be documented - I propose to name the disease:
Schmidt's Cellular WTF.
Or
Schmidt's Cellular Widespread Tissue Failure.
:)