PORCH PONDERINGS

Dry eyes!

A week to go - then Christmas. But the most exciting part for me is the yearly march back to more daylight!

The holiday times are a non-event. I don't have family or a big celebration any more. I don't even cook or exchange presents anymore. I did get a little something for a friend as she gave me a gift.

After 50 some years of nothing from anyone, well, it is over for me. I just hunker down and spend this dark time working my little jobs in town. I write for the paper, I am secretary for the refuse committee. These two jobs give me some spending money, just a bit. And keep my brain engaged.

Yesterday I went, again, to the eye doctor. He is very concerned about my eye health. Seems my dry eye problem is serious. Okay, well, we decided on a unique treatment plan. Now I have never heard of this before. I go tomorrow to have my blood drawn. At least 11 vials, per the company doing this. The blood will then be sent to a compounding company that will extract the serum from my blood. They will then make a dry eye formula for me. It will be 60% fluid, preservative free, and 40% my own blood serum. Seems this has success in helping with the dry eye problem. Autologous serum. Huh. Who knew this existed.

The other alternative is something using the tissue from harvested placentas. Yep - this is a treatment. Something about taking that tissue, making them into discs that are placed on your eye. Your eye is bandaged for a time. The drawback is the treatment is painful, or can be. And only one eye at a time can be done. Um, sounds creepy to me.

So, the price for both are about equal. And pricey. But if they somehow conquer this problem. they are worth it. And the one I chose is not covered by insurance. The placenta one, perhaps. There is a drug, but it costs $28K. Not even considering that.

My eye doctor states this is perhaps neurotrophic in nature. So when I looked up this, dry eye can be caused by a traumatic brain injury. I think my brain surgeries can qualify for that definition. Terrific. But ultimately if you don't treat the problem, you can have serious problems with your eyes. And since I don't want to lose my sight, I am jumping on this treatment.

So, Merry Christmas to me! Eye drops 4xday made from my own blood. What a strange and unusual gift!