Large discs

The optic nerve heads or discs in my eyes are larger than normal. The central part of the nerve head has a depression, referred to as a cup and  large optic discs typically have larger cupping because of the absence of

axons in the middle of the disc as the neurons leave the retina in the larger rim tissue of larger discs.

With me so far? Good.

Now, this is significant because this situation can apparently make opticians suspect the presence of glaucoma and then they refer you to the local ophthalmology department for further investigation. In my case, I then attend the hospital every six or twelve months for a couple or three years and am then discharged because I don't have glaucoma. 

This has been happening to me for the past twenty years but, as no-one had explained the process to me until my latest appointment on Thursday, I just thought that each time I was referred, it was because the condition had worsened, although never enough for me to be prescribed medication. This time, however, the nice lady doctor did explain what had been happening. If the pressure readings are above a certain level at the optician's, he automatically refers me to hospital and round we go again. 

"I might as well keep seeing you," she said, "because if I discharge you, the optician will only refer you back again. So I'll see you every 12 to 18 months and if you get fed up with that, just let us know and I'll discharge you again. But at least, if you keep coming and you do develop glaucoma, we will pick it up very early."

OK, fair enough - I suppose...

A lazy Sunday - not!

For months and months, I have been nagging trying to persuade Keith that it would be a good idea to take the rest of the shop stock to an auction to get rid of it. A lot of it has been residing in the garden shed, taking up valuable space and I was anxious to get rid of it one way or another.

I think it's a man thing, but if you stick at it long enough, they do eventually do as you want them to and if you can make them think that it was their idea in the first place, so much the better. So, this morning we set off on our bikes to cycle the three miles to the van hire place (Yes, I did say 'cycle' and 'three miles' in the same sentence - good, eh!) and then drove the van home to clear the shed. 

It's a good van, one of those with a hydraulic lift, so of course, I made sure I rode up and down on it as many times as possible. Second part of the plan was for Keith to drive the van down to the house where Giles is living to clear the rest of the stock from the garage there and tomorrow, he and Giles will drive it all to the auction.

I've been stood down from further operations. I think Keith and Giles probably want to play on the hydraulic lift by themselves.