About ten years ago, I noticed my vision was blurry. Initially, I thought it was due to my existing short-sightedness. I tried increasing the power of my spectacle lenses, but my vision didn’t improve. It turned out that my right eye was affected by glaucoma — a progressive, incurable condition caused by high eye pressure that gradually damages the optic nerves.
A belated check-up at the Singapore Eye Hospital confirmed that I had glaucoma in my right eye. Unfortunately, by then, it was too late. Glaucoma cannot be reversed and, over time, leads to complete blindness. Thankfully, my left eye remained unaffected and continues to have perfect vision. To protect it, I now have to apply three different types of eye drops regularly to prevent high pressure from building up.
Living with half-blindness has been challenging and life-changing.
Is it troublesome? Absolutely.
I struggle with simple tasks. I often miss the cup when pouring water, and lighting candles or joss sticks has become an exercise in frustration as I frequently miss the target.
These are minor frustration I can live with.
My main worries are missing a step or kicking a curb resulting in a nasty fall that could potentially be the end of the road for me. God forbid.
This morning, while waiting for the bus, I placed two bags of groceries on the ground beside my seat. When the bus arrived, I only picked up the yellow plastic bag and unknowingly left behind a transparent bag containing $10 worth of prawns. Losing it was a painful reminder of how glaucoma—and perhaps my carelessness—has affected my daily life.
To those fortunate enough to have perfect vision, my heartfelt advice is this:
Never take your eyesight for granted. Go for regular eye check-ups at an eye specialist clinic or hospital (not just an optical shop) to ensure your eyes are healthy. Early detection can make all the difference.
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