Seizure Related Vision changes and A Quest For Awareness

At age 42, during a year where both my parents died and I chose to move to another state to take a new job, I noticed something about my health.  Inexplicably, I would take these long, awkward, unplanned pauses. 
 
At first, I waved them off as daydreaming or deep thought, but they kept occurring.  Finally, my family noticed one as I sat behind the wheel of our family van, and there was no excuse that would allay their concerns. 
 
The pauses got longer and potentially more dangerous (running, driving, etc).  Finally, as I was speaking one day, a friend who was a doctor noticed and told me that he thought I was having “silent seizures”.  He recommenced a doctor and encouraged me not to waste any time setting up an appointment.
 
After seeing the neurologist, it was confirmed.  Officially, I have partial complex seizures of the left frontal lobe.  The lobe fires excessively whenever it wants.  The only explanation as to why is perhaps the concussions I had as a child (I was knocked unconscious several times).  Stress, no doubt, was a trigger as well.
 
After months of drug regiments, I finally landed on an RX that dampens the seizures.  I still have them, but the effects are mitigated.  But there were side effects.  For example, one day, while trying to read the numbers off my insurance card (something I had to do a lot at that point), I couldn’t focus on the tiny digits.  My wife had to read them to me.  She joked I was getting old, but one thing was clear:  my sight was getting worse and worse at a rapid rate.
 
While consulting with an Optometrist/friend, she told me exactly what was happening.  The seizures were affecting my sight, and the meds were causing a swelling of the optic nerve.  She said that as my body got used to the meds, the decreased vision might slow down, but I should plan on worsening eye sight going forward.   
 
I got my first pair of bifocals that day.
 
Now, my prescription gets stronger each year, and I joke it’s a good reason for a bigger TV.  In a few weeks, I will return to see my friend the OD and expect a new script with a stronger pair of glasses coming my way. 
 
I’ve considered over the past few years how I could be more active in the epilepsy community, also pondering how my work in the eye care profession could connect.  I’m open to ideas, but there is one thing I can do.
 
Going forward, I will donate 10% of every purchase of the www.prosightsuccess.com system to the epilepsy foundation to encourage awareness and treatment and support.
 
Please connect with me to make me aware of other platforms and avenues that I can pursue.  But a few tips for everyone:
 
Long pauses like mine shouldn’t be written off. 
Tell someone.
Go see your doctor.
Get your eyes checked every year.

Thanks for walking this journey of awareness and treatment with me.
 
Gordon Duncan
www.prosightsuccess.com