Optic Neuritis

Optic Neuritis sucks. I have to say it; it just sucks. Okay, so what is it?

"Optic neuritis (ON) is a condition in which the nerve to the eye (the optic nerve) becomes inflamed or irritated. Inflammation refers to a process in which white blood cells and chemical messengers go to an area of the body to stimulate healing or to attack viruses or foreign material. Optic neuritis is a condition that can happen because of a disease or without any specific known cause." -Cleveland Clinic l

My Multiple Sclerosis is yelling "ATTACK!" Then attacking things it should not be attacking. My eyes are paying the price. Normally, the Optic Neuritis sticks to my right eye, which allows for my left eye to compensate. This time my left eye is being attacked, and I'm suddenly aware of all the damage that has been done to my right eye.

Image Courtesy: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Optic_neuritis

Right now, as I type, letters are disappearing. If I go back to read the definition of Optic Neuritis I see: "Opti ne ti (ON) is a conditi in whi the ner...." As I move my eyes more letters appear but, this is draining; especially when your whole world seems to revolve around reading. Let's not even get into the heartbreak of your child's face being blurry.

Image Courtesy: Optic Neuritis: A Brief Review

Summer means that the heat can and will exacerbate MS symptoms. Combined with stress, (b/c well, pandemic), it's not surprising to me that I am having a flare-up. My only hope is that, now that I've finished my 5 days of an IV steroid and I'm in the throes of oral prednisone hanger, my vision will come back to normal really bad self. If it does so within less than 1-3 months; that would be spectacular.