Everything is so Loud it Hurts

Heightened Hearing After Vision Loss

Everything feels so loud now. Background noises rush in all at once, making it tough to focus on the conversation right in front of me. Take work, for example—while sitting at my desk, I can clearly hear conversations happening five cubicles away, details I never would have noticed before. At home, it’s the small, constant sounds that drown out the movie I’m trying to watch. The dishwasher hums in the background, water drips from the faucet, the toilet flushes, and I can even pick up on the tumbling sound of clothes in the dryer. There’s a strange duality to it; while this heightened awareness has its perks, it also has its challenges.

Since losing some of my vision, I’ve noticed my hearing seems more sensitive, especially to sounds that are loud or unexpected. It’s likely a condition called hyperacusis, where everyday noises feel amplified. I’ve thought about trying earplugs to muffle some of these sounds, but I’ve learned that could make the sensitivity worse in the long run.

This shift in my hearing isn’t entirely unexpected. When someone loses a sense, the brain often reorganizes to heighten other senses, like hearing, as a form of compensation. This adaptation can happen at any age, though it’s more pronounced when someone loses their vision early in life, while the brain is still developing. For me, it feels like my hearing is finely tuned to details I hadn’t noticed before, as if my brain is making up for what my eyes can’t quite capture.

Dancing Paisleys

When I close my eyes, I'm greeted by brilliant colors swirling in intricate patterns, like dancing paisleys performing just for me. Each vision feels breathtakingly beautiful, a fleeting piece of art I wish I could hold onto forever. But as soon as I open my eyes, it’s gone—only to be replaced by a new, vibrant display the next time I drift into this colorful world. I often lose myself in these visions, my mind joining in the dance until I gently slip into sleep.

These mesmerizing lights and patterns are known as phosphenes—small, flickering lights or swirls created by the electrical activity of the retina. Phosphenes are a natural part of how our eyes process visual information, even when they’re closed. For some people, particularly those with vision impairments, these visions take on even deeper and more personal meanings. Some describe a “visual tinnitus,” an internal landscape of shifting colors and shapes that fill the spaces left by lost sight.

Whether you have full vision or not, these "dancing paisleys" offer a glimpse into the mystery of the mind’s ability to create beauty, even in darkness.

Managing Light Sensitivity During Easter Jeep Safari

It’s so bright it hurts, and I can’t see. To keep the light out of my impacted eye, I wear an eye patch. Whether I’m at work or out in public, I often wear dark sunglasses indoors as well, just to find some relief from the overwhelming brightness.

This year, it’s Easter Jeep Safari time in Moab, Utah. Being out in the great outdoors all day, I’ve opted to wear the eye patch. Even though it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable with the stares and questions from others, I found a moment to make light of it—no pun intended.

A young boy approached me and asked, “What happened to your eye?” I couldn’t resist and simply responded, “Red Rider.” The look of surprise put a little fear in him and a little smile on my face.

Field of Vision

(Left Eye): This image represents the visual field of my left eye. The black sections indicate areas of significant vision loss or impairment, suggesting reduced sensitivity in those regions. The white sections show areas where vision is relatively intact

(Greyscale Visual Field Map): This image gives a more detailed greyscale representation of my left eye's visual field. The darker areas represent regions with severe vision loss, while lighter areas suggest relatively better vision. Showing a central loss of vision with peripheral. regions maintaining some visual sensitivit

My AION Journey

On October 17, 2017, I woke up to something that would change my life. I noticed my vision had shifted dramatically, like I was looking through a migraine haze but without the pain. I knew something wasn’t right and decided to head straight to urgent care, feeling that this time, it wasn’t going to be a simple fix.

The clinic gave me a migraine cocktail shot, hoping it would help, and I was out for the rest of the day. But when I woke up in the middle of the night, my vision was still off—if anything, it felt like it was getting worse.

The next day, I returned to the clinic, only to receive another shot that did nothing to change my sight. By day three, I told my husband that it was time to go to the ER; I just had a gut feeling that this was more serious.

After a series of examinations and an ultrasound, the ER doctors suspected a torn retina and sent me to an ophthalmologist the following morning. That wait was agonizing, but when I finally got in, the ophthalmologist had a different theory—he believed I was dealing with something called Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION).

He referred me to a neurologist at the Moran Eye Institute for further testing. It was on October 23rd that I finally met with Dr. Warner and her PA, Irina. After numerous tests, scans, and long discussions, they confirmed it—AION had taken part of my vision.

It was a lot to process, but I knew I had to adapt and face this new challenge head-on. This experience has become a part of who I am, and it’s another chapter in my journey of resilience, strength, and embracing life’s unexpected twists.

What is AION

Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION) is a condition that occurs when there is a sudden loss of blood flow to the optic nerve, which is the nerve responsible for transmitting visual information from your eyes to your brain. This interruption in blood flow leads to damage and swelling of the optic nerve, resulting in sudden vision loss, typically in one eye.

There are two main types of AION:

1. Non-Arteritic AION (NAION)

This is the most common form and is usually related to issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, or sleep apnea. It occurs when blood flow is reduced, often due to narrow blood vessels, and can happen without any warning.

2. Arteritic AION (AAION)

This less common but more serious form is associated with giant cell arteritis (GCA), an inflammatory condition that affects the arteries, particularly in the head. This type requires immediate medical attention because it can lead to permanent blindness and can affect the other eye if left untreated.

People with AION often wake up to find their vision is blurred, dim, or has blind spots, particularly in one eye. The vision loss tends to be painless but is usually permanent, although sometimes partial recovery is possible.

AION primarily affects people over the age of 50 and is a significant cause of sudden vision loss in older adults.