As a child one could have called me Eagle Eyes due to my exceptional vision. Even as an adult in my twenties and early thirties despite having multiple sclerosis, I maintained fabulous vision. I’m a crack shot with a gun, proving time and again my ability to nail a target first shot with no practice. Not to toot my own horn rather to point out that vision has been my friend. That is until 2002-03 when optic neuritis nearly blinded me.

Fumbling for my grade book, I assigned a student to take attendance. The pain in my left eye prevented me from even looking around to find the book let alone seeing the names. Grading student papers was extremely difficult so I became crafty in my assignments. Fortunately my students were juniors and seniors who flourished with tactile/kinesthetic assignments.

My vision was never the same after the attack in 2002. Blurry vision in my left eye with fatigue has plagued me. Double vision. Vision so poor that I have had to give up driving for months on end. Then, I went to my annual neurology appointment in 2015. Unbelievable results: 20/15 vision in the right eye and 20/20 in the left.

What does these mean? I believe it says that my eye structure is fine. My vision issues are in the brain. I’m not a doctor but it seems to make sense. This should also serve as hope for others that vision can return. I don’t think my vision is that good every day or all day but it proves there are periods now and then when old Eagle Eyes is back!