After being referred to the Opthalmology department for additional tests-the drs in the neurology departmentfeel there has to be something physically wrong with my eyes, I was put through numerous tests, one mainly for color blindness. I know I can't be color blind as, well let's just face it, my world has been full of color for 26 years except for the short period when I had a flare-up of ADEM when all I saw were shadows. But that only lasted a number of days!
When the optometrists opened their book to ask me to take the Ishihara test, I shook my head. That was the same type of test I had to take fpr my driving license and though I passed last time, I had difficulty telling the examiners years ago what # was the page. To me, when people ask me what I see, I tell them lots of spots with colors on it. A rather direct response but that is what I see. There are certain pictures wherby the contrast in colors is more apparent so I see the numbers immediately but there are pages where it is really hard to tell.
The nurses then concluded that I had a colour deficiency. A senior optometrist scolded the other juniors for simply concluding like that. She made me take another test. This one involved like mini paint bottles and starting with 1 that was blusih green, i had to find another bottle that best matches it, then another bottle that best matches the 2nd and so on. There were around 15 bottles to arrange. They tested me 4 times. All four times, I got 100 % so the fact that I was able to decipher hues of colours is already proof that I am not color blind. They were asking if I had any other bothers who have the same problem or if my parents or siblings have this problem. I said I have no idea. They were saying this problem was due to some error in my chromosome and that because I am female i will definitely pass it on to my kids too.
Heck, I didnt say it out loud but how the heck am i suppose to even have kids with the medicines I'm currently under that causes birth defects? When I asked anohter close friend of mine if she had problems with the clor test for her driving test, she said she had the same difficulty as me! At least I know I'm not alone.
The next day, they made me go back for more test and to get more senior doctors to give their opinions regarding my case. One of the seniors said the arrangement of hues test is definitely more accurate than the Ishihara test. The fact that I am able to get 100% 4 times is already proof I'm not color blind. She just can't explain why I cant seem to tell what number is shown on the pages.
When I got home, I tried taking the test online and realized that the numbers are clearer if you dont look at it so closely! That's why I can see the numbers now! At the hospital, they just put a book in my face and asked me what I see. That's why I just see colors most of the time.
Perhaps I may have some colour deficiency but heck its not so much that I have to worry myself to death thinking I'm color blind. The funny part was when the senior dr responded to the junior that he, the junior, couldn't tell what's the number on all the pages too. Would tht mean he also has the same color deficiency as me? The senior said at least she can arrange the hues 100% every single time so that is no coincidence.
Of course the thought did run through my mind as to whether my high degree of astigmatism had anything to do with my visual acuity, especially in seeing those numbers since I know my cornea isn't round. I did ask the specialists if a neuro patient like me could go for Lasik to correct the high degree of myopia in my eyes but they are more concerned in me solving my neuro problem 1st. They also feel I have MS and asked if I were on interferon but again I said no I am not on interferon since the doctors upstairs are keen to change my diagnosis.
I've an appointment with the Neuro dr later today. I'm going to ask her to fill out an OKU form for me since a friend is encouraging me to apply for that card. I need to admit that I am physically impaired now. if the card is suppose to help me in any way then I feel it will come in handy especially when I finaly resign from my job.
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