Ok, something's wrong with my eyes.

They're swollen.

I don't know what the heck is going on. A couple of days ago, whilst checking for any signs of new lines, I noticed that my epicanthic folds were pronounced. As in, there is no point in wearing eyeshadow right now as you wouldn't be able to see it. I thought I was imagining things, but the husband confirmed the puffiness. Hence I took it as a sign that---poof---my lids, ala my mom, had dropped. A sign of age and a hereditary one, too. Nothing ususual there. While disturbing, I am thirty-four, baby. It had to happen sometime. It was disconcerting it happened all at once, but hey, isn't that the way these things usually happen? I dunno. All those lines magically appeared overnight, why wouldn't my eyelids droop the same way?

Just as I was getting accustomed to this notion, that's when the headache kicked in. Now, I'm not normally prone to headaches. I just don't get them. Considering I'm married to an occasional migraine sufferer, I know I'm lucky in this regard. The only kind of headache I do get is when my glasses are either new or need to be upgraded. I will fully admit that I'm a year behind on my checkup schedule. As in I picked up the pair of glasses I'm wearing now on September 12, 2001. I was supposed to pick them up on the 11th, but other stuff got in the way and they closed the mall. This is that kind of headache: the eye strain headache.

Yesterday I had a slight headache that wore on during the day and into the night. It's back again today. I've done the advil and while that helps, it hurts slightly to stare at the computer screen, so posting will be light. But since I got the headache, I've begun to wonder about this whole thing. So, like a good little hypochondriac, I surfed around WebMD. And no, I don't have Bells Palsy. I'm not drooling, I can blink, and I can still feel my face and operate it. But as far as it being anything else specific, the vast amount of knowledge that is WebMD coughed up bupkiss. The husband thinks it might be an allergic reaction to something, but as I've done absolutely nothing new in the past few days---nothing new eaten, no new product, etc.---I don't know.

I'm assuming all of this is due to the fact that my prescription needs to be upgraded. But can that cause my eyes to swell? Can your eyes swell in the first place? And to an extent where it changes your facial features? I don't know and I haven't called the doctor, lest he tell me it's possible I've got a brain tumor. I don't think I could deal with that right now and I'd rather live in ignorance, thank you ever so much.

Any ideas? Anyone dealt with this or something similar.

I'm not dying or anything. Don't freak out, please. And yes, I'm referring to you, Mom.

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with ML's wife, The Doctor, and given my symptoms she believes it's computer related eye stress. When I told her I hadn't been spending any more time on the box than usual, she shot me down. Computer related eye stress, says she, is cumulative. I'm supposed to look up computer ergonomics on the web and that there should be some good eye-saving tips that should help. We shall see if it works. I hope it does.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I appreciate it And yes Kitty, I will go to the doctor if it doesn't get better.

Posted by: Kathy at 01:52 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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1 No freaking out allowed! I am not a Doctor so this is not medical advice, just practical. I'm very close to turning 52 and have gradually noticed a slight drooping and swelling of the upper eyelid. But this has been over a period of years, not days. Sudden drooping, along with a headache and the inability to look at a computer screen or read a book for very long should ring a bell with you that something isn't right. The drooping could be pushing on the eyeball causing the headache, etc. So, get thee to a physician! It's probably something very simple, but you don't want to chance permanently damaging your eyes. This is a THREAT!!!If you don't go see a doctor, I'm going to write to "The Husband" and then send copies to all my medical friends. While you're waiting to get in to see the Doctor, lie down and put cold compresses on your eyes. Take care of yourself, we need you to keep us up to date on pressing world issues. Kitty :^)

Posted by: K. Mason at January 20, 2005 02:39 PM (THsAz)

2 Yes, your eyes can swell -- I have a lovely allergy to eggs that has been known to swell them to the point where, if it happens while I'm sleeping, I can't open my eyelids to save my life (And if it's while I'm awake? Well, I'm just saying you wouldn't want to have a staring contest with me then...) -- this is why I now know that Milky Way bars contain egg whites...

Posted by: LDH at January 20, 2005 02:41 PM (bqPDz)

3 Have you figured it out yet? I'll ask the good doctor when she gets home from the dentist. I don't think she know that much about eye symptoms, though. Pregnant? Yeah, I know, very funny. It can bloat all or parts of the face, you know. Are you tired, too?

Posted by: ML in MN at January 20, 2005 02:46 PM (Dvbxq)

4 Also keep track of what you eat, because of food allergies. Either way, I hope you're well, happy and thriving by now!

Posted by: Fausta at January 21, 2005 06:56 AM (LtiJz)

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