It was the result of surgery that I underwent on Wednesday to remove a lesion from the conjunctiva of my eye. Sounds nasty. Not one of the best of life's experiences, but let me warn you. The sun probably did this. All those hours of gardening outside, eyes unprotected. How come when I hike and I am at the beach I always wear sunglasses. But I go out into the garden and never think about putting on sunglasses. That will be changing from now on.
The Dr told me that this is not uncommon, although it is less common now than it was years ago. That was because people generally worked outside more and generally spent more time outdoors.
So, take this as a gentle warning. Don't just put on sunscreen put on the sunglasses too.
Nice touch posing next to the eye pokey-looking plants. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIs this caused by UV exposure? I have a really hard time wearing sunglasses in the yard, but like you I guess I'll have to change that.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi, Jenny, hope it all heals up quickly, though I think the eyepatch has a certain raffish charm!
ReplyDeleteI wear glasses with Reactolite lenses, which cost a fortune. I'm always tempted not to have them, especially as they don't really work like sunglasses - they protect your eyes, but they don't shade them.
The optician always tells me that if I do a lot of gardening, my eyes need protection, and until now I've always suspected that this is a bit of an exaggeration. or just a way to get me to spend more. From now on, I'll believe her!
Hope you have a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm glad you could "fix" it.
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing--I always have on sunglasses, except when it comes to gardening. Why????
oooh, hope you recover quickly! I typically pop down to the garden to pull a weed or water one plant, but end up in the garden for an hour or so... with my hubby behind me with the hat and sunscreen. Thanks for the reminder about the sunglasses too!
ReplyDeleteGood points that my mother brought up 20+ years ago...guess I need to quit ignoring them.
ReplyDeleteGood advice.
ReplyDeleteI had a melanoma removed a few years back. I was lucky,,,it was small and local. So, now I wear a big hat and lots of sunscreen.
But, I have to admit...I usually am out there in the garden without sunglasses. I wear them everywhere else. Why is that?
Guess I have even more reason to make sure to wear sunglasses in the garden.
Hope all is well very soon.
I'm just like everyone else - no sunglasses when in the yard working. I guess I don't want any kind of filtration between nature and myself. Guess I need to re-think that! Happy healing.
ReplyDeleteBarbara H.
Thanks for the warning Jenny, hope you heal well and quickly.
ReplyDeleteI also wear sunglasses everywhere but the garden because I find they slip around too much. I'll have to change that habit.
Good advice, Jenny. Wishing you a speedy and uneventful recovery!
ReplyDeleteThe good thing about the eye is that it is a quick healer. Hope you get back to business as usual. I received a similiar warning from my skin doctor a couple years ago when there was a strange dark spot developing on my skin....turns out, it's just age:) Here in Arizona, skin cancer is a real concern for a lot of people. Feel better.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit my first thought was you were trying to poke your eye out with an agave spike. Thank god that wasn't the case.
ReplyDeleteIt never would occur to me to wear sunglasses in the garden, of course our sunny days up here aren't quite as numerous either.
Hope your recovery is speedy.
Jenny, I hope your recovery is fast and relatively painless. Here in the tropics we are very, very conscious about just how much damage the sun can cause to our health. Your message is a good one to share! Protection from those harmful rays is essential for any gardener.
ReplyDeleteI hope you make a full and speedy recovery Jenny. My new glasses I got this summer have the Transitions lenses, so they give my eyes UV protection when I'm out in the garden, or with the horses.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought you'd poked your eye on one of those plants. I've managed to do that a few times and I usually do wear sunglasses because I find sunlight to be about painfully blinding. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteI wonder about this all the time, because I'm pretty lax with sunglasses. Now I've got proof. Thanks, Jenny, and heal fast!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning Jenny. I rarely wear sun glasses because I consider them a hassle and not worth the trouble. I suppose I knew about the possible long term consequences, but your experience brings that point to life. I'm going to make it a 2012 resolution to find a pair of sunglasses I like and will wear. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteOK, so this is the second warning within a week I have been given to wear sunglasses. I'd better listen.
ReplyDeleteLes and everyone. It is now 3 weeks since my surgery. I have finally turned the corner and my eye is feeling better. My son who is 40 and lives in Arizona has to have a similar surgery to remove a sun damage area from his eye. I couldn't give better warning than this.
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