success

[calimac]

Two gratifying things:

1. I got my eyes checked yesterday, but the technician said my pupils were too small, even after some time in a dark room, and needed to be dilated. I've long had a phobia about having anything put in my eyes, but I thought, it's over 40 years since I last tried, maybe I've gotten partly over it, the way my fear of heights has diminished over the years. So I had them try it, and not only did it work, but the technician said the dilation solution relaxes the eyes, which also meant I had less trouble with reflexive blinking than I usually do. I had to wear dark glasses outside for the rest of the day, and I found I had trouble reading even under optimal light conditions. But that all wore off.

2. Slate runs a daily trivia contest, which I always take. Today's was on history, and not only did I get all six questions correct, which is not unprecedented, but this time - and still so, three hours after I took the test - I had the highest score, which is unprecedented. (You get extra points for being fast, and I'm rarely fast.)

Comments

[armiphlage]

Those eye drops always make me feel weird afterwards, like the world is turned up too intense.

[bibliofile]

I had no idea that phobias might fade over time, so nice that you were able to get the dilation drops.

[sturgeonslawyer]

There are alternative technologies to dilating. Our optometrist (who, alas, has just left town for an academic position) used something called Optomap, which took pictures through undilated pupils that the optometrist could then peruse at leisure, and even show to the patient if s/he were so interested (I was).