A Mistake That Almost Cost Me My Eyesight A Mistake That Almost Cost Me My Eyesight ...
A Mistake That Almost Cost Me My Eyesight
By Junaid Tahir
During one of my previous visits to my native country, I happened to go to the market on my brother's bike. It was a dusty dusk, so my eyes got mild irritation. After taking dinner at home, my sister-in-law told me to take an eye-soothing medicine from the refrigerator. I took one eye medicine out, considering it to be an eye cleaner. I poured some drops into my eyes and lay down for relaxation. Around midnight, I went to the washroom for my night toothbrush, and to my astonishment, I was unable to read the label of the toothpaste! I quickly washed my eyes again and tried to read, but it was all blurry. This was the most horrible moment of my life. I couldn't believe what kind of stupid mistake I had made.
I am the kind of person who reads and investigates a lot about everything, so it was a very serious mistake on my part that I didn't read the label of the medicine properly. In fact, this particular eye medicine was given to my elder brother by his doctor for his cornea expansion some weeks back. The soothing medicine was placed next to this medicine in the refrigerator, but I mistakenly took the wrong one.
The Rush to the Hospital
Anyways, I immediately rushed to the nearest hospital. The doctor on duty recommended visiting an eye specialist ASAP, so I had to rush to another hospital. Of course, my brother was driving and I was sitting with my eyes closed, remembering God and seeking His blessings, thinking that I wouldn't be able to continue my job and would lose my eyesight (God forbid). I was cursing the moment I used the medicine without proper care and vigilance.
Anyways, we reached the eye hospital and the specialist treated me with the correct anti-allergic combination of medicines. In the next half hour, my eyesight became normal.
Lessons Learned: My Recommendations
Based on this experience, I recommend the following to my readers:
1. Be vigilant: Whenever using medicine, be vigilant about what disease you are suffering from and which medicine you are taking.
2. Check expiry dates: Always check the expiry date at the time of purchase and before using any medicines. Check the expiry of all medicines you currently have in your house. Throw the expired ones away.
3. Research side effects: Read the side effects of medicine on the internet. There are plenty of websites where you can type the medicine's name and it will give you side effects in detail.
4. Don't self-medicate: If you have a sensitive symptom, don't try to be a doctor yourself. Visit a professional doctor and get a prescription.
5. Follow the dosage: Take the recommended amount of dosage. Don't invent dosage on your own.
6. Report violations: The health ministry of your country might have banned some medicines. Try to investigate a given medicine and report it to the relevant authorities in case of violation. Play your role against corruption.
Final Thoughts
Remember that mistakes are valuable as long as you learn from them. However, when it comes to sensitive matters like health, do not take any risk. If you doubt anything at first, doubt again. Consult a doctor. Don't leave any symptom unattended.
Small matters of ignorance can lead to big disasters in the future!
For authentic medical information, you can visit WebMD or consult your local health authority.
Article written by Junaid Tahir
✦ A personal experience shared for the benefit of others — always consult a professional. ✦
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