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Low Vision: Let's share about coping day to day
Hello, I just joined. I have low vision due to glaucoma for over 25 years. I no longer drive, need extra light to read anything, and have a lot of trouble with glare. At age 38 in 1983 I was diagnosed with nuclear cataracts at Bascom Palmer and had natural lenses removed without implants due to young age. In 1988 and 1989 I had detachments in both eyes with buckle surgery. Then came the glaucoma. I'm now on 4 different drops – dorzolimide, combigan, lumigan, and rhopressa to keep pressure at 13-14. When the drops quit working, it will be time for more surgery to put in drains. At last visit to Bascom Palmer, they through GATT surgery would probably work. I have lost all central vision in left eye, and have just lower half of field left in right eye but still 20-40 with perfect lighting. I wonder if I can get an IOC thrown in to improve vision for my remaining 15 years or so?
Are there other members of this group interested in discussing "Low Vision" and what it means in terms of coping with day to day challenges as well and the underlying medical causes such as macular degeneration or long term glaucoma as in my case. Today I came across this interesting annoucement about an aware for research in the field of low vision: (Since I can't post link here is the full title of article you can find via Google: ARVO Announces Oberdorfer Award for Low Vision Research Winner
Distinguished award presented to exceptional low-vision researcher "
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@colleenyoung Thank you for pulling this information together for me and for the good advice re asking a lot of questions before pursuing FSM. I'm pretty protective of my eyes and waited quite a while before having my cataracts removed, which I'm really glad I finally did. The doctor did one eye and the other a few weeks later. I didn't realize with the cataracts I had been looking at the world through amber colored wax paper. It is such a joy to see colors again. I'm sorry you're not on vacation today but thanks for being there for us. Nancy
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1 ReactionI am 75 and have advanced glaucoma, will have a xen gel stent surgery tomorrow. Thank you for sharing what helps you. I have tried changing my computer to high contrast and I wish that it was even more contrast One thing I have trouble with is curbs. It really helps if the curb is painted. Often I cannot tell when to step down,
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1 ReactionI understand. I'm 77 and have been fighting glaucoma for over 30 years. I am a candidate for xen-gen surgery when max eye drops no longer hold pressure down. I too have low vision now with only central vision in right eye, and lots of problems with glare. I also have high contrast white on black computer setting. I have a goose neck lamp by my computer to shine bright light on documents I have to read, and I always carry pen flashlight with me all the time.
I hope your surgery goes well!
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2 ReactionsBack from the surgery. They were two hours behind! Wait an hour then take tylenol. The numbing drops are wearing off. Will rest a lot today, Weird trying to work on the computer with one clear and one blurred
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1 ReactionGald the surgery is done. I'm sure it will take a day or two for the eye to get back to more normal conditions so I wouldn't try to do too much on computer. Since I work basically with one eye all the time, I do have to take breaks and I use refresh drops in addition to Cosopt, Rocklatan, and Pilocarpine drops. Hope your recovery goes well.
Much better, have a great eye pressure, just need to not bend down for a week.
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1 ReactionWe recently got wood floors and we asked the workmen to put a contrasting stain on the edge of the stairs. It’s very helpful for identifying the stair treads. I think it looks nice too.
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3 ReactionsLatest low vision feedback on event. I went to funeral with my wife Charlotte on Saturday. The church was dim and I had trouble seeing much at all. Then we went to reception which was also dim so I had trouble recognizing people. I would have been happy to stay home, but I put on a suit and tie and went to honor the family who lost a good husband and father who was only a year older than I am. I wonder how people are totally blind handle such events.
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3 ReactionsHello @dsh33782
I appreciate your post and the effort you made to attend the funeral and reception in spite of your vision difficulties. It really is challenging to keep up with activities like this, when you cannot see clearly. It is great that you met this challenge!
I can certainly understand that you must feel disappointed by your vision problems and wonder how others, who might be totally blind or have low vision deal with life. I would like to invite some other Connect members who have posted about low-vision to join you in this discussion, including @trellg132 @nobody.
If you care to share more, would you like to share the cause of your low vision, @dsh33782?
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1 ReactionIn 1988-89 I had detached retinas in each eye resulting in buckles and some loss of field. The left eye was worse that the right as I did not recognize the detachment as quickly. And since then I have lost all central vision in the left eye. Glaucoma started in both eyes shortly after the detachments, and I've been fighting it ever since. Periodically I go down to Bascom Palmer Eye Clinic in Miami to see what is new, and I feel fortunate that my current glaucoma specialist did a fellowship there.