When I woke up today and opened my eyes, I immediately had a lot of pain -- again. Splashed cold water on outside of my eyes, then saline moisture drops in them, but the left eye felt still like it had a tiny cut or scrape on the surface.

Ice pack didn't help, so soon I called the nice ophtha... you know. Those doctors should think up a shorter name for themselves.

For a couple of years I've had recurring erosion of both eyes, which means the surface cells are being raked up by ordinary opening and closing of my eyelids, especially upon waking. Dry eyes contribute to it, but also apparently I'm predisposed to this condition. Every so often it's enough to be incredibly painful. The first time, I had an abrasion that took me to the emergency room and my eyes were so light-sensitive I was wearing sunglasses at night. (It was fun driving to and from the hospital, weeping behind sunglasses in the dark.)

Last time I had the problem, which was a couple of months ago, I was told to use some expensive but over-the-counter stuff. This worked just fine.

Again the doctor said it wasn't too bad, and I could use the Muro drops and nighttime ointment again to get it healed up. Also I got some anesthetizing drops before I left, which felt immediately good... but these lasted only about 45 minutes.

Now my eyes feel almost normal. The best thing about today was the doctor, suddenly turning to me and saying apropos of nothing: "You know, you aren't in danger of going blind or anything. In all the cases I've seen, this condition doesn't lead to that. And I've seen much, much worse than yours..." and he described a couple.

Yay! I'm not going to go blind!

It was in the back of my mind. I was wondering what I would do. My work requires my eyes; and a lot of it, my eyes only.