Blindness & Visual Impairment Support Group

I'm legally blind during the day and completely blind in low light situations. During the day, I use a cane sparingly, but at night I am dependent on it. I mention this so you will know that I DO understand.

Point one: Go get your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist, not an optician. Find out where you stand and what your options are.

Point two: Change does not care whether you want it - it just comes.

Point three: I overcame most of my fear by getting training, and by getting into situations and getting out of them. With experience comes confidence.

Last point: I lost my vision all at once, rather than slowly. I know that was scary, but I can't compare it to slow loss. If you are diagnosed with something, get with a clinical psychologist and learn some coping skills.

Hope this helps.

Cherie,

You put that wonderfully.

I don't go out at night by myself, but that is my choice. When I am out during the day by myself I use a cane to help me so I don't fall.

dc6289

Cherie made some good points. I understand your fear and its times like these I wish I knew something comforting to say to make it better for you. I guess all I can tell you as I've been there (and am there) myself. My eyesight is horrible and even more so at night. Definitely see an ophthalmologist and take it from there. Some sort of mobility aid such as a cane may be necessary at some point and hopefully there are services in your area who can help you with mobility training if necessary.

All the best to you.

cherie is so right. my eye sight failed gradually over two years and it was the hardest thing to come to terms with, but i did and im sure you will too. i also need a cane when its dark and hated it at first but now its my best friend in the dark, it enables me to be more independant. theres a lot of help out there for you so dont be afraid to ask for it because it changed my life and was the best thing i did.

Also check your medication. I've had a few that really messed with my sight. Also I have good days and bad days. Somedays I see better then others. If I get a lot of sleep and don't use the computer or haven't been straining my eyes, I see better. So many things can factor in.
Going through sight loss is never easy, seems like everytime I get used to a new adjustment the eyes take another shift. I take it one day at a time and come up with ways to continue doing the things I love. I refuse to give up. Remember you can do anything anyone else can do, we just do it a little slower.

Although your profile page says you're only 29-years-old, I thought I'd throw out a bit of information that might help. As people age, they naturally need more light to see. I learned about this when I first saw the low vision specialist. A person who's 60-years-old will need 4 to 5 times more light to see and read than they did when they were 15 or 20. I know you're not 60-years-old yet, but the doctor told me that at your age, you might require 2 to 3 times more light to see clearly than you needed when you were 20.

One other suggestion to add to CherryBonBon's excellent list. After you've seen the ophthalmologist, assuming there's a problem, consider checking with an M.D. who's a low vision specialist. You ophthalmologist can certainly refer you to someone.

thanx everybody

Hey guys... I have been battling retinopathy about 5 months now weekly surgeries and times i kinda wanna jump! I know how hard this is and crazy. What caused you guys to be this way and what help have you gotten? I have amazing friends and all but it's still hard when others don't really know what you are going through!

Angla, I have AIDS related retinopathy and i'm having weekly laser sessions plus this one medication they injected in my eyes. I wish they had told me that it caused temporary blindness for about thirty seconds. I screamed cause I thought he had screwed up, then it passed and all I have are floaters that are going away.

Lossing your eyesight is a scary thing but you can adapt. I can only see out of one eye and I have low vision, legally blind, permanant condition that I hope will not get worse but I am happy with the vision that I have. Since I cannot teach anymore I am going back to school to become a counselor, I volunteer also. The only thing I have found the I cannot do is drive, so I ride my bike...I have only been hit once!

I highly recommend getting your vision looked at, by a specialist!

Good Luck.
Marci