Neuro-Optometry and more...

The above painting is by Michal Tchachenko, part of her series on her own journey through a valley.

Lately, the valley of shadow has meant treating my eyes. I have severe eye strain and fatigue, light sensitivity (especially to blue light and bright sunlight), headaches, nausea, and balance problems that get worse on uneven surfaces. Last week, while rucking and walking my parents’ dog, I lost my balance and fell. I struggle to wear contact lenses, as my eyes don't naturally produce tears anymore.

I finally saw a neuro-optometrist in Vancouver. Her assessment described post-trauma vision syndrome with binocular dysfunction and convergence insufficiency, meaning my eyes and brain aren’t teaming up as they should, especially for close work like reading and screens. This diagnosis also explained how disrupted visual processing after injury can make ordinary environments feel exhausting. 

What comforted me most was the verse in Psalm 23 “thy rod and thy staff” can look like structure and guidance: a practical rehab plan—pursuits and saccades, then convergence/divergence training and alignment work using tools like red/green glasses, prisms, and lens exercises, plus visual-vestibular rehab to support balance and motion tolerance. 

When words run out, I keep returning to the hymn “The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” letting Psalm 23:4 become something I can sing or play flute when the valley feels long.

I am thankful to the various churches in Asia, Europe, and North America that pray for me. 

My prayer requests: 

1) Is that I would be transferred to a Neuro-Optalmologist, who can confirm the diagnosis of post-trauma vision syndrome with binocular dysfunction. The insurer at fault for the accident, requires a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada to make the diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan.

 2) An MRI would be completed of the brain to reveal if there are any significant changes after the accident.