The Chase | Flash Post 421

Button, I woke up one bright and sunny Sunday morning to find an obstacle in a corner of my left eye. It was around 9.30 and the first thing that came in my line of vision and much as I tried to remove it from my eyelashes where I felt it was stuck, it clung on even more desperately. I then went to the washroom and splashed a lot of cold water on my face thinking it would get dislodged but that too failed. Rubbing that eye made it worse. At this point I gave up and went to the kitchen to make some tea and decided to leave the imp alone for the time being.

What happened next?

I busied myself with other things but my gaze kept going back to it and I found it staring back at me as if to say—Hey, who are you? Why are you in my space?

What audacity!

As you know by now that I too can be stubborn and always ready for a fight—so I glared back and pointed out that it was in my eye.

What does it look like?

It’s black and calligraphic.

Are you doing something about dislodging the little brat?

Well, I accosted it again and again but nothing has worked yet. When I look to my right, it moves in that direction. When I look up, it scrambles up. When I look down, it slips down. When I move my eyes round and round, it apes me perfectly. I have even swung it around while doing my eye exercises with the intent of flinging it right out of my eye but even that hasn’t worked. The whole thing seems like a chase where I am not sure any longer about who is chasing who! I seems straight out of a James Bond thriller and, to be honest, I don’t mind it. It’s actually become a sort of game I play once on a while when I am at a loose end.

Does it sleep or move around or go for walks?

I have no idea what it does after I go to bed. When I am awake, I feel it’s spying on me.

Are you sure Dost hasn’t inserted a chip to keep a track on you! He’s the jealous kind.

Are you serious?

Just kidding but it’s invasion of privacy. How can you allow the imp to have its way and that too in your eye?

What would you do, Button, had you been in my place?

I’d take your help obviously. You have pulled me out of trickier situations. Is it still around?

Very much.

So you are going to sit back and let it be part of your life? I wouldn’t have taken it so lightly.

Well, let’s say I ignored it for a while but I’ve got used to it now. It doesn’t hassle me and follows me around like an obedient puppy. My ophthalmologist has certified that it’s harmless so I’ve left it alone for the time being till I have a more foolproof plan in place. Maybe you can help me with that.

Let me see.

12 Comments

Sham Rodrigues August 29, 2021 at 10:19 am

The only kind if floaters i’ve heard aboiut are the ones we wear on our feet! this is a first for me

Reply
- author August 30, 2021 at 7:44 pm
  
  Dear Sham,
  
  I was taken aback when my eye doctor told me I have a floater in one eye. It was a first for me too because the floaters I knew of till that point was the one we use as footwear!
  
  Reply
david d’costa August 29, 2021 at 10:30 am

hahahah! that is true.same here. I’ve never heard of anything like this! is it painful and does it happen as one gets older?

Reply
- author August 30, 2021 at 7:48 pm
  
  My dear David,
  
  You’ll probably hear about it when you grow older! No, it is not painful at all.
  
  Reply
himanshi gaur August 29, 2021 at 10:43 am

my mum has them too in both her eyes…it’s an age related thing nothing to worry about they say but must be quite irritating to constantly have something in one’s line of vision na?

Reply
- author August 30, 2021 at 7:53 pm
  
  Dear Himanshi,
  
  Now that I know I have a floater in my eye, it doesn’t irritate me all that much. We’ve come to an understanding that we will not get in each others hair but will live in peace.
  
  Reply
Poorna Swaraj September 12, 2021 at 10:04 am

is it similar to cataract? asking because i am 46 and have been having some trouble in my vision…very blurry and eyes are constantly watering…like a constant transparent curtain in front…a little afraid to go into an eye clinic at this point. is there some medicine i can use?

Reply
- author September 21, 2021 at 7:38 pm
  
  Dear Poorna,
  
  I know of someone who had early onset cataract. She was the same age as you. My suggestion is you check it out with your ophthalmologist to understand why you are having difficulty with your vision.
  
  Reply
Malini Seth September 12, 2021 at 10:07 am

if there’s an invisible curtain like blocked vision, it’s cataract…i had it and got it operated 2 years ago…now my vision is crystal clear. i don’t know if floaters can be operated but cataract can.

Reply
- author September 21, 2021 at 7:42 pm
  
  Dear Malini,
  
  You are absolutely right when you say cataracts can be operated upon but floaters can’t. They are harmless—or so I have been told. I have fun with the floater I have in my eye and it’s pretty harmless.
  
  Reply
Rudraksh Sharma September 12, 2021 at 10:43 am

I just want to share that my grandmother is 79 and she has lost vision in both her eyes. i don’t know how she manages to live through each day. it must be a nightmare and extremely depressing. thankfully she has help. but this is just to say that vision is so important to be able to live a complete life. what is life if one can’t see? no one should take eye problems lightly.

Reply
- author September 21, 2021 at 7:55 pm
  
  Dear Rudraksh,
  
  Our eyes are like windows. Loss of vision must be very tough to live with. Especially for those who are unused to it. A few things you can possibly do is play her music she likes, read to her and keep her as busy as you can to take her mind away from the dull moments in her life. Be her eyes.
  
  Reply