The Ocelot

Earlier this year I took a vestibular rehabilitation course. We were discussing clinical indicators as they relate to the visual system which is neurologically tied to the vestibular apparatus. When the professor discussed "oscillopsia" my mind went off on a tanget all its own! Oscillopsia is a condition where the eyes cannot focus and everything in the visual field appears to oscillate, the effects of which can be mild to severe. It is not the least bit fun. But, from this lecture arose this silly poem.

The Ocelot

Hidden in the wild lives a shy Ocelot
With big yellow eyes, he is covered in spots a lot.
He lives and plays beneath the sweet melilot,
This is a tale of how he became quite distraught.

Ocelot noticed his vision was not quite right
Everything looked blurry and bouncy- what was wrong with his sight?
He had trouble seeing by day, and even more so by night
With everything doubled and trebled, it gave him quite a fright.

Ocelot travelled to consult with the smartest and best
He underwent tests in the east and in the west
Enduring each procedure in the name of his quest
When it was all over, he quietly curled up and took a long rest.

The doctors convened, wearing crisp white coats
They scratched their heads and cleared their throats
They had listened and looked with their specialty scopes
But finding the cause of the problem seemed beyond all hope

Ocelot tried to remain cheerful, and carefully crept out of the room
Desperate and despondent, he had to find a cure, and soon
So he set out for the jungle under light of the moon
But with his vision in treble, his ship was marooned

Morning dawned bright, making Ocelot blink,
He had to get his bearings, he had to stand up to think
There was no time for sorrow; he had to get his vision in sync
Besides, as he stood there, he realized there was a terrible stink!

He followed his nose, taking small steps to steady himself
And there, under the flowers and leaves, near a low wooden shelf
Ocelot spied what looked like a wobbly, crinkly, wrinkly old elf
Who took one look at Ocelot and knew he needed help.

“Frenzel’s my name, and I know quite a lot.
There is magic and mystery in my potions and pots.
To figure it out I will examine your eyes and check out your spots,
I will cure your condition, of which the doctors learned naught”.

“Well, I can rule out chlamydia, eclampsia, and diarrhea (!)
It’s not dropsey or hydrops, or even tospy turvia,
What you have is special, so let me share with you my idea:
You, my dear Ocelot, have a clear case of oscillopsia!
“The syndrome you have is named after Dandy
For cases like yours, I have a modus operandi
I will give you the treatment, which is really quite handy
But the best news of all is we can treat it with candy!”

His troubles are now over, which means quite a lot
Remembering to take his once daily 'oscillopsipop'
Ocelot has sprung back to shape and is feeling tip top
He spends his days playing, and pouncing, and purring a lot!

~DR