The first time I heard Central Serous Retinopathy, I thought it was something minor.
Some weird retina thing that’d clear up in a week.
I kept working. Kept pushing.
Did a few Google searches. Bought some supplements.
Thought I was handling it.
I wasn’t.
Looking back now—with clear vision, a calmer system, and a totally different mindset—
here’s what I’d do differently from day one.
1. I’d Stop Trying to Outthink It
You can’t logic your way through CSR.
It’s not a strategy problem. It’s a system overload.
I wasted hours trying to reverse-engineer a solution.
Biohacking, scanning forums, stacking “maybe this will fix it” protocols.
What I needed to do was pull the damn emergency brake.
Full stop. Get quiet. Let my nervous system reset.
2. I’d Take Sleep Seriously—Like, Military-Grade Protocols
Not just more sleep.
Structured sleep:
- Same bedtime every night
- Blacked out room
- Zero screens before bed
- No caffeine past noon
I used to think 5–6 hours was enough.
CSR laughed in my face and proved otherwise.
3. I’d Cancel More Stuff—Without Explaining Myself
The first few weeks of CSR are not the time to be a hero.
I kept showing up to meetings. Took on new projects.
Didn’t want to look “flaky.”
Stupid.
If I could go back, I’d clear my schedule and give myself room to recalibrate.
And I wouldn’t apologize for it.
4. I’d Talk to an Actual Retinal Specialist—Not Just a General Eye Doc
My first doctor shrugged and said, “It’ll go away.”
Didn’t even order a proper OCT scan.
Just gave me vague advice and moved on.
Now I know: you need a retinal OCT.
You need to know if the fluid is active, if the fovea is involved, and how to track progress.
Get a second opinion if it doesn’t feel right.
5. I’d Stop Drinking Coffee Like It Was Oxygen
I loved my morning ritual. Still do.
But during CSR? It became a silent weapon.
My cortisol was already spiking—and I kept throwing gas on it.
If I got diagnosed again, I’d:
- Switch to decaf or half-caf for a while
- Replace coffee with breathwork for morning energy
- Use coffee only as a reward, not a crutch
6. I’d Talk to One Person About It, Honestly
Not to vent.
Not to spiral.
Just to say:
“Hey—I’m dealing with something. It’s messing with my head more than I expected.”
That conversation can change everything.
You don’t need 10 people. Just one who gets it.
7. I’d Trust the Process—Not Rush It
CSR recovery takes weeks to months.
Not days.
You don’t bounce back. You phase back.
I made myself miserable trying to “get back to normal.”
Now I know better:
Every day is either helping or hurting the reset.
And your job is to stack the helpful ones.
Bottom Line
If I could do it again, I wouldn’t treat CSR like a nuisance.
I’d treat it like a hard reset button I didn’t know I needed.
So if you’re here right now?
Don’t waste time trying to outpace the blur.
Lean into the stillness early.
It’ll save you months on the backend.
