Irish Translation Forum

I had an eye appointment today (a thoroughly depressing eye appointment, actually). The subject of reading vision came up, as it does when you're over 40, and I mentioned the difficulty distinguishing certain diacritic marks (i.e., fadas) from ordinary dots. The doctor being German, this led to a discussion about what language I was reading that required diacritic marks, which led to a discussion about Irish (which she found interesting because she's currently reading "Princes of Ireland"). She asked what had motivated me to learn the language and I mentioned the fact that I've enjoyed listening to Irish singing for years and I wanted to be able to understand what I was hearing. The inevitable question came: "Can you sing in Irish"? Let's just say the good old "spotted worm" song went over pretty well (and I don't think I mangled it TOO badly! I hope! )

That was the upside...the downside was an increasing loss of the visual field in my right eye and a notable rise in the pressure within both my eyes. I have to go back in a month for more extensive testing. She told me not to worry too much, so of course now I'm totally freaking out. Sigh.

Redwolf

IANAD, but i believe that increased eye pressure can be due to other things (less worrisome) than glaucoma, which I assume is what you're worried about. So try not to worry, it may be nothing at all.

What is the spotted worm song?

I'm way overdue to go to the optometrist again but am always so freaked out by the "come back sometime for a night appointment so we can check if your retina is detaching from the back of your eyeball..."NICE

Oh sorry...forgot that not everybody knows the spotted worm song! It comes from my husband and daughter's mishearing of " Molly Na gCuach Ni Chuilleanain" on one of my Altan CDs:

"She spotted a worm, she spotted a worm, she spotted a worm on the gym machine"

(otherwise known as "Is fada liom uaim í, is fada liom uaim í, is fada liom uaim í ó d'imigh sí").

It's actually the one Altan song my family requests..."Hey mom, can you play the "spotted worm" song???"

No, I know I shouldn't worry, but the most common cause of a rise in pressure is diabetes, and I'm pre-diabetic. I'm actually in a pretty high risk group for glaucoma, so this sudden change has me a bit freaked.

Redwolf

mhwombat wrote:IANAD, but i believe that increased eye pressure can be due to other things (less worrisome) than glaucoma, which I assume is what you're worried about. So try not to worry, it may be nothing at all.

What is the spotted worm song?

I believe that's right, so try not to worry. (right!)

I also have trouble in Foclóir Póca telling if it's a dot or fada. Even if I use my NEW reading glasses & a magnifying glass,It'a a bitch to tell .

Redwolf wrote:"She spotted a worm, she spotted a worm, she spotted a worm on the gym machine"

(otherwise known as "Is fada liom uaim í, is fada liom uaim í, is fada liom uaim í ó d'imigh sí").

I'm laughing so hard I actually have tears rolling down my face!

I actually had quite a spat with theoptometrist over my utter refusal to wear bifocals. Yes, doctor, even progressives. It's not a vanity thing, but I absolutely cannot stand to have that kind of interruption in the way I see things...I can't even wear sunglasses, and the slightest smear on my glasses drives me to distraction. I get sick to my stomach...seriously. I'd much rather wear contacts and use magnifiers for close-up work when I need to...but I can't even get contacts now, because my insurance won't cover the kind I need with my astigmatism!

Sigh...I guess that's why we have magnifying glasses!

On the upside, I got to use the phrase "prepositional pronoun" in a sentence!

Redwolf

Redwolf wrote:I actually had quite a spat with theoptometrist over my utter refusal to wear bifocals. Yes, doctor, even progressives. It's not a vanity thing, but I absolutely cannot stand to have that kind of interruption in the way I see things...I can't even wear sunglasses, and the slightest smear on my glasses drives me to distraction. I get sick to my stomach...seriously. I'd much rather wear contacts and use magnifiers for close-up work when I need to...but I can't even get contacts now, because my insurance won't cover the kind I need with my astigmatism!

Sigh...I guess that's why we have magnifying glasses!

On the upside, I got to use the phrase "prepositional pronoun" in a sentence!

Redwolf

As one in the same age group, RW, I can sympathize. I, too, freak out when they tell me not to worry. But I'm sure everything will work out fine. The fact that they aren't having you come back next week means she isn't worried.

Personally, I refused to wear bi-focals as well. Miserable things. I could read the cans in the store alot better, but couldn't see the step to get up the curb to the store (LOL)! My solution? Ask the cute kid stocking the shelves to read the can for me

Seriously, try the magnifying eyeglasses they're carrying in the drug store now. That's what Ben and I do (our insurance doesn't cover eye exams/glasses) - they come in different magnifications and work great.

On the upside, there's always medical marijuana....

Redwolf

Sounds good to me - got muchies?