a poem for light relief

[Royrace]

Check up day, and I’m Right on time

10 minutes early for my ten to nine

They call me through but false alarm

It’s just the nurse, eye test, stay calm

My good eye reads nearly all the chart

But Glaucoma eye is not so smart

Can only get about halfway down

through pinholes an extra line can be read if I frown

Back to the chairs where I wait again

it’s now 9:20 but there I remain

Until I’m called at 9.32

There’s something else theyve got to do

It’s field test time our favourite thing

Flashing lights, that makes us cringe

Press the button when it flashes its easy they say

But with floaters and blurring, is it easy? “No way”

Now come through sir and take a seat, we are here to serve

Now Look at the blue cross lasers while I look at your optic nerve

Back to the chairs and on the way,

I see the Doctor coming in for the day

Isn’t he running a little late?

No wonder I’m going to have to wait.

But at half past 10 my name is called

It’s my turn to be examined I’m so enthralled

Hello sir how are you?

There’s a few thing now I need to do

So put you head into this vice

While I put these stingy drops in it won’t be nice

Now relax and I’ll shine this light directly into your eye

The lights so bright I can feel it burn I think I’m Going to cry

Look up look down look left look right

While I shine this bright blue light

Dilate and numb with eye drops now

Which makes the world so bright

At last it’s time to check my pressures with a lense against my eye

But he keeps mum for a while as I worry about how high.

Then it’s a big relief as although still high at least it’s staying stable

So I can loosen the grip of my terrified hands gripping used tissues under the table

So off I go with dilated eyes hoping that I’ll Be fine

Looking forward with eyes like owls to coming back in four weeks time!

[muddledme]

Thank you , very apt ! Could only have been written by an NHS glaucoma patient.

[Dorset22]

Sums up the anxiety and uncertainty exactly.

[Granny79]

Ha ha ha. I was with you every step of the way having had just that experience.

[Tschuggen]

Oh so right, had a chuckle about “gripping used tissues “ - have so been there! Does anyone ever get used to the lense on the eye?… Made me smile this morning, Thank You 😁

[hirsey12]

Brilliant poem, sums it up well. I haven’t had eyes dilated yet, something to look forward to. Is the lense on your eye for checking the angles?

[Royrace]

hi, thank you for your kind comment. The pence n the eye is usually for checking the pressure.

[hirsey12 in reply to Royrace]

Ah the blue light one, know it well

[Royrace]

If anyone is interested I have a YouTube channel with all my glaucoma related experiences ie surgeries diagnosis etc.

not poetry but just honest experiences.

if so just search “glaucoma pirates” on YouTube x

[balacakkhu]

yes... wise owl ... our crescendo heart beats will start beating all over again and again....😊

[whitedog]

I think many of us could relate! I've often thought it would be good to write something about Glaucoma from a patient's perspective. I could honestly write a book about my observations over the years, particularly regarding interactions with professionals at all levels.