Macular Degeneration Support Group

Wait on the despair until after you see the retinologist. Try looking at an Amsler grid in the mean time. The "good news" is that if it's the dry type, it could be decades before it affects your vision. By then, there will likely be treatment. Visually, you're not in bad shape yet.

Thanks, Barry. It's already affecting my vision, a d in fact I've been telling opticians about this for over a year now. My right eye is blurry to the point that I can no longer sit down and read a book because of the strain it causes, and the accomodation in my eyes is suddenly shot, making it impossible for me to knit, because when I look up it can take ten minutes for my eyes to adjust! Something wacky is going on with my eyes, but until this last optician no one seemed to care.

I "pass" the Amsler grid test, but it's like there's a cloud over my right eye and it can no longer be corrected to a decent level. Can't read, can't knit, and I'm an artist.

Also have interstitial cystitis, IBD and fibromyalgia, which means the quality of my life isn't very good anyway, and now things I'd choose to do to keep myself occupied are things I can't do. Kind of hard to stay upbeat.

Still, I do plan to wait to freak out until after I see the retinal specialist.

How did things go? I'm sorry everything that's going on and being hit with the MD on top. I understand - I am also an artist, photographer my first trade and training. I also have Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Disorder, chronic pain, the list goes on. I'm 34.

I wish you all the best, remember to try and stay positive! But i totally understand - none of the treatments seem to be a match for me either.

Alicia

Sprockets, you mention that you have like a cloud over your right eye. Has your doctor talked about or have you had interocular lens replacement for cataracts? I had that several years ago following extensive retinal repair. I noted an immediate and significant improvement in my vision when I was not wearing my glasses. My experience of vision at that time was extremely blurry, and if I did not remember where my glasses were I would be unable to find them.
One downside for me has been an extreme nontolerance of bright light and glare. I don't know if this is from retina surgery, lens replacement, AMD or some or all of the above.
There are lighted magnifiers that might be of help for you. I hope that soon you can experience better vision.