ちょっとこの写真には驚かれるかも知れませんが悪しからず。
　結膜炎については若いときからちょこちょこと罹患していまして、そのこと自体は慣れているのです。しかし今回、8/19にマイカー車中でふと気付いて急激に左目が赤変していった事態については、その赤目っぷりが極端だったので病院に駆け込んでおりました。いちばん不安だったのは、昨年遭遇した心臓の冠動脈への血液中のプラーク転移という事態が、今度は脳血管へ影響したのか、ということでした。
　冷静な眼科医さんの専門家としての見立てではウィルス性などの怖れもない一般的な結膜炎で、自然治癒に任せるので構わない、というか投薬などはしない、ということでほぼ１週間推移しております。
　ちょっと見た目には重症と思えましたが、ことが単純な結膜炎ということで安心して病状の推移を観察し続けてきておりました。仕事も第一線は退いていて、家人を除いては対人接触も一部の友人だけということも幸いでした。
　写真上が8/19の左目の拡大写真で、下が本日8/25早朝１番の状況。
　近年はスマホの写真機能で、自分を撮影することが出来るようになったので、それを使ってこういった症状の目視による「自己診断」ツールとして活用しております。こういう社会の利便性の向上はたいへんありがたい。
　で、左目の病状推移は牛歩の歩みではありますが、発症直後の「どす黒さ」からはだいぶ症状が軽快してきているのが確認できる。まだ「範囲」自体は変わっていないようですが、その黒ずんだ赤色から明るめの赤目に変容してきているのが確認できる。
　肌の明度・色調などはほぼ同定できているので、赤目の変化がわかりやすい。いくつかの「血痕」箇所が浮き上がってきているようにも見られます。自己判断としてはおおむね順調に推移してきていると。お医者さんからも「完治するまでには３週間程度はかかるよ」とも言われていたので、その通りの状況。
　こういう高齢者のひとつの症例推移として、みなさんの参考にもなるのではというカミさんからの勧めもあって公開させていただきました。ご理解いただければ幸いです。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇　

[Conjunctivitis that turned my eye red: One week after onset]
I was surprised by the extreme redness of my eye caused by this conjunctivitis, but it was a simple symptom that gradually healed with rest. It progressed as the specialist predicted, so I was relieved. …

　You may be surprised by this photo, but please bear with me.
I have had conjunctivitis on and off since I was young, so I am used to it. However, on August 19, I suddenly noticed that my left eye was turning red while I was in my car, and I rushed to the hospital because the redness was so extreme. What worried me most was whether the situation I encountered last year, where plaque in my blood had migrated to my coronary arteries, had now affected my brain vessels.
The calm ophthalmologist’s professional assessment was that it was a common case of conjunctivitis with no viral concerns, and that it would heal naturally on its own, meaning no medication was necessary. It has been nearly a week since then.
　Although it looked severe at first glance, I was relieved to know it was a simple case of conjunctivitis and continued to monitor the condition. Fortunately, I had stepped back from frontline work, and aside from family members, I only had limited contact with a few friends.
The top photo is an enlarged image of the left eye on August 19, and the bottom is the current condition as of the early morning of August 25.
　In recent years, with the photo function on smartphones, it has become possible to take photos of oneself, so I have been using this as a tool for visual “self-diagnosis” of such symptoms. The improvement in societal convenience is truly appreciated.
The progression of the left eye’s condition is slow, but it is clear that the symptoms have improved significantly from the initial “darkness” at the onset. While the “area” itself appears unchanged, the dark red color has begun to transition to a lighter red hue.
Since the skin’s brightness and tone are largely consistent, the changes in the redness are easily discernible. Several “bloodstain”-like areas also seem to be emerging. In my own assessment, the condition is progressing smoothly overall. The doctor also mentioned that it would take about three weeks to fully recover, so the situation is as expected.
At my wife’s suggestion, I have decided to share this case as an example of how the condition progresses in an elderly individual, hoping it may be of reference to others. I appreciate your understanding.

●Notice
My book “Writers and Living Spaces” has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available for purchase on Amazon.
　

Posted on 8月 25th, 2025 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 日本社会・文化研究