You'll Go Blind If You Keep Doing That (Part 1)

Can running cause blindness? In my unique case, the answer appears to be yes. "Too much bounce, bounce", they say.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that my left eye was having trouble focusing. No problem, I thought - it’s about time to update my eyeglass prescription anyway. For us 50-something aged people, this is a common ritual.

But then my vision got worse. Much worse. And in the strangest of ways.

While out on an early morning trail run, a constellation of small black dots appeared in my left eye, floating around the edges of my vision. When the sunlight was bright, the black dots drew like light pens, temporarily flashing white scribbles in my peripheral. After a few minutes of this, I came to a full stop. The black dots did not. They instead began growing in size, ever so slightly, moving towards the center of my eye like an eclipse.

Um, yeah. Can someone please tell me…WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS HAPPENING.

My brain spun up the denial engine right away. I just need rest. Maybe better sunglasses or new swim goggles. Too much screen time. Yeah, that’s it, too much screen time, for sure. But it was hard to ignore this black planetary system, present with eyes open or closed, darting around at will. The panic washed over me in increasing waves. I sat on the trail, anxiously fidgeting my phone, and booked the soonest ophthalmologist appointment I could find.

Not much later, I was at the doctors office in Vienna, a bit more composed, but still haunted by the ever-present celestial carousel... [continued here]