Surgeons can help us, but God truly heals us, whether it is our retina or any other injury, though this story is about my retina and its scar.
Over four years ago my optometrist (Dr. Amy Kim at the Del Amo Mall in Torrance–I wanted to give her recognition) “just happened” to call to suggest my yearly appointment and had one available just a few days after the call. She “just happened” to decide to dilate my eyes on this visit. Then the stress came. Her normally relaxed face began to tense up, and she was pushing on my eye to look inside with an intensity I had never seen her express before. Finally she admitted that in over two decades of practicing optometry, she had never seen a floater as huge as the one in my left eye. She immediately wrote a referral for an ophthalmologist.
Within a week I was in the office, and the surgeon was so shocked, he said I could not even go home, as he needed to do immediate, emergency surgery. That crazy floater was so enormous it had actually begun to tear and detach my retina. Without an intact retina, that eye is blind.
I was astounded. The floater was so high in my eye, it did not alter my vision. I did not see it. Thus I had no idea my vision was threatened. How did my optometrist decide to call me that day? How did she just happen to have an opening so soon? How did she decide to dilate the eyes on that visit? She rarely dilated my eyes. God was clearly helping to save the vision in my left eye.
The surgeon used laser (no knife) to seal my torn retina, but really God healed the eye. Several months after the surgery, I “just happened” to learn about near infra red light therapy where researchers had patients look directly into this special (850nm) bulb for three minutes daily. So I bought a bulb, screwed it into a lamp and looked into it for three minutes too. I hoped this would help my eye to heal since the researchers said this bulb improved the vision in their patients’ eyes.
After the laser surgery I visited the retina surgeon often, and as the eye proved stable, gradually visited less often. But then the assistant surgeon (I switched, because her patients had shorter wait times) saw scar tissue growing close to the retina. She said that if the scar began to cover the retina, I would need more surgery, and this time major surgery (being knocked out and cut with a knife, not just a laser beam.) So I had to see the specialist more often again. Yet during this time I continued to use the near infra red bulb every single day.
My insurance changed two years later (ugh), so I began to see a new surgeon. This summer I was waiting while my eyes were dilating, and I chatted with another patient. Eventually I over heard the doctor telling her he was very concerned about something growing near her retina and that it had gotten much, much worse and now needed serious treatment. I suspected she had the same problem I had had a few years ago, scar tissue. But when the surgeon saw me, he said my eye was perfectly healed–no problems with scar tissue. So he released me from needing to see him again. I was amazed, because the prior surgeon (nearly 3 years ago) had been so concerned about the scar tissue, yet it had stopped growing. I know God is directly behind that, but I also suspect the red light therapy helped too.
So I want to share my insights about this. First, if you ever have a new floater and it is bothersome, see an eye doctor. If your vision ever becomes grayish or cloudy abruptly (such as waking up with this abrupt change), RUSH to an eye doctor. This is very likely the retina beginning to detach, and you need immediate help. Respect optometrists. Mine found that floater and thus she helped to save my vision. Optometrists are very thorough doctors. In fact, I read about an optometrist who discovered a brain tumor, due to way it was pressing near the patient’s eye. The doctor saw it while the patient’s eye was dilated. Eye insurance can be pretty affordable. Please value your eyes and don’t skimp on this. And even if you have 20-20 vision, still see an optometrist each year. They also check for silent eye diseases like glaucoma.
Next, please consider getting yourself a near infra red light bulb. I will share affiliate links for Ebay and Walmart where you can buy one. I wonder if this light has been good for my skin too, since people use this type of light for other problems.
Here is a link to the Walmart bulbs; Note in some photos goggles are shown, but I allow the light to shine into my exposed eyes — no goggles. The goggles would impede the light:
For Ebay, many bulbs are shown. But you only want those with the “850nm” rating. I don’t trust the other bulbs.
I had the same scar tissue the other patient had, but in my case, the scar stopped growing. I know God showed his mercy to me, but I also think that light therapy stopped the scar tissue. The other lady, who had scar tissue growing much worse, was at least ten years younger than me! I do not feel “deserving” of this miracle due to health. I am sure she, being younger, was stronger and healthier than me. I think God showed me the neat article about the red light therapy, so soon after my eye surgery, not by coincidence, but because God was yet again providing for me.
So if you know anyone who has any eye issues, please urge her to research this light therapy. There are many articles about how it is used, safely. This light also has a reputation for healing scars, though that part may be anecdotal. The research on eyes is documented in a medical journal. I admit, I am only one person, so my “testimony,” of healing will not carry the same importance as having your or your friend read medical research. So go and check it out for yourself or have your friend check it out.
Here is just one link to a whole medical review of many applications of this near infra red light therapy (but it does include therapy for the eye.) At the end of this medical review, the researchers include over one hundred sources of actual, medical studies, using this light:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7738953/8953/
God made our eyes (Psalm 146:8a “The Lord gives sight to the blind,” and Psalm94:9b, “He who formed the eye, does he not see?”) Truly God cares for our eyes and for all of our body (Luke 12:7, “Indeed the very hairs of your head are numbered. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”) Yet I know some people do go blind, and this does not mean God does not care for these people. God heals some people, yet not others like the Apostle Paul with the unhealed thorn in the flesh, (2Corinthians chapter 12.) I am not more deserving of healing than others. I don’t know why God had mercy on me. Apparently he wanted me to have vision in both eyes, so I will praise Him with my eyes. Thus, in gratitude, I will notice beauty in my world and give thanks for what I can see. I also believe God wanted me to warn others so they could preserve the vision in their eyes, so I have written this to share with you.
I will maintain a thankful attitude, because I could have lost that eye’s vision. This reminds me that my eyes, just like the rest of my body and time, are on loan from God for me to use for his glory and not my own. I pray God always reminds me I am his servant, and my life’s goal must be to love God and serve others joyfully. I’ll take great care of my body, mind and soul, so I can fulfill this exciting mission God has given me.
I pray we have blessed you with this post and even given you some ideas for your eye care. Feel free to share this post with others. Have a joyful week!