My right eye hates the international date line. Every time I fly from Haneda to San Francisco the eye develops infection, moss and rust. https://thequietripple.com/2024/03/02/8-hours-in-er/

This time it is not so bad when I get to San Francisco but my condition rapidly deteriorates. Strangely enough, no pain nor swelling but badly impaired vision.

I set off for a Goose watching adventure that necessitates blasting up Highway 80 for a while. After 30 mins or so I realise that my vision in the right eye is not just impaired but I am in fact blind in my right eye. Not blind as in deep blackness but more the London Pea Souper Fog variety. I turn around.

Something has to be done! I go to the Zuckerberg General Hospital https://www.zuckerbergsanfranciscogeneral.org where I have been treated before.

“Have you got an appointment?”

“No”

Don’t worry sir, I’ll find a nurse to see you now.”

They were wonderful! 3 different nurses put me through lots of tests and finally a doctor tells me that it is my old buddy Uveitis but with an special New Year Offer of a membrane growing over the iris thus causing blindness. Thanks everyone. Not exactly the gleeful party of most Okinawa medical visits but very efficient and above all free! Medi-Cal covers all treatment and medication. Hooray!

I am told to take lots of eye drops but that if they don’t work I will need some sort of cataract type surgery, which means a ticket to Okinawa!

Anyway thanks to everyone at the hospital, thanks to Medi-Cal and big shout out to Marc Zuckerberg who provided the money.

I would like to see a King Charles 3 Dental Hospital or a Prince William Cancer Clinic in the UK. They should give some of their incredible wealth back to the people.

Anyway, I hope it goes away soon as I can’t, drive, read, watch YouTube etc.

Good news, my Medi-Cal has been extended for another year!

They also offer me free food but I will not apply as I have plenty of money.