Visual field problem

 Dated: Sunday 26th January 2025

Yesterday evening I was watching TV in a low-lit room when suddenly the lower left half of my visual field vanished from my right eye. It had been replaced by what appeared to be a grey rectangle stretching from the lower left boundary of my visual field about two thirds of the way across.

There was a quite clear right-angled edge to the rectangle, just to the right of the lower-centre of my visual field. This sudden transition to partial visual occlusion was painless but I had a 'funny feeling' in my head as it happened.

After ten minutes or so the occluding rectangle vanished, although for a few subsequent minutes there was a flickering at the bottom-centre of my right visual field, as if I were seeing things there through rippling waves. But this too soon passed and my vision returned to normal. This is not the first time this has happened although episodes are spaced months apart (to-date).

I also quite often (weekly to monthly - for a number of years) have those jagged scintillating patterns which grow in size for maybe fifteen minutes before vanishing. Also accompanied by a 'funny feeling' in my head. I have put these down to a migraine aura - scotoma which I first started experiencing in 2016.

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ChatGPT is quite worried about all this ("What you’re describing strongly suggests a transient ischemic attack (TIA) involving the visual cortex or the blood supply to the retina of the right eye. TIAs are temporary episodes of reduced blood flow to a part of the brain or retina, often called “mini-strokes.”") but I'm inclined to add it to my list of concerns when I see the cardiologist in May 2025. But I will also take this note (not the ChatGPT part) around to the GP surgery tomorrow morning.

"The Evil Eye"

My mother was delighted to see me last night as she had been unable to remove her Christmas Wreath from its high perch on the front door. Sounding flustered, she told me that if you leave Christmas decorations up past Twelfth Night you invite the attentions of "The Evil Eye".

I suppose it's conceivable she was joking.

The Christmas Wreath - after its timely removal

In another encounter with mythology here's a picture of my mother embracing her cushion-present. Tolkien has passed her by but she is convinced that the picture could well be of one of her grandsons ..

Beryl Seel with Bilbo Baggins

But enough of this superstition! Clare came back from Mass yesterday with a special flyer for the Chalk Blessing .. plus some blessed chalk. Parishioners are meant to follow these instructions.

After the prayers of the blessing, the initial of the Magi and the number of the current year are inscribed with the blessed chalk above or beside the main entrance on the outside for visitors to see it. (The initials C, M, B can also be interpreted as the Latin phrase "Christus mansionem benedicat" which means "Christ bless this house".)

Christus mansionem benedicat

Clare has duly executed at our front door. No chance of The Evil Eye paying us a visit then.