can we all just agree that it's pretty horrifying when your eyes start growing new blood vessels where they don't belong?

seriously, it just happened to me. it's called corneal neovascularization, and it happens when you wear contacts for a long time (13 years) for great lengths of time (all day, just about every day) and your corneas (which do NOT have blood vessels in them) don't get enough oxygen (they become hypoxic).

it happens because, unlike much of the rest of the body, the cornea does not get oxygen from the bloodstream. it relies on contact with the air and with tears (which are oxygenated) to fulfill its oxygen needs.

so apparently i either need to
1. cry more (like a LOT more)
2. not wear my contact lenses NEARLY as much (impractical!)
3. switch to new contacts (that are twice as expensive)

i decided on 3 with a side of 2 (and picked out fun new glasses to make 2 more practical), so the immediate health concern is not an issue anymore...but dude! not to belabor the point, but it is pretty gross. i mean, high five to my eyes and all for finding a creative (if icky) solution to a serious problem, but A NEW BLOOD VESSEL MUTATION? come ON dudes, couldn't you have just sent me an email or something? bleh!

this concludes your ocular health bulletin for the day (but oh man, did i have to look at some NASTY photos when i was fact-checking myself. that is the degree to which i am committed to high-quality and accurate health information here at c.w.a.j.a.?)