Last week the eye doctor as he began to check my eyes said he would not dilate my eyes. After looking in my eyes with that light he said, "I think I will dilate your eyes?" So I thinks, "Um. What is going on? That does not sound good. After having my eyes dilated he examined my eyes very thoroughly. When he was done he said I had Macular Degeneration. Macular Degeneration slowly eats away the center of the back of the eye ball where we see. He did not seem worried. He scheduled a six month exam again. Later I began to think of what the eye doctor said and what it means to have Macular Degeneration. Did he say it was so slow moving it just needed me to check a Amsler Grid once a week. It is a checkered chart with a dot in the middle. I am supposed to close one eye and stare at the dot. Then do the other eye. If I see holes in the chart or wavy lines I have to call right away. His advice was to check the chart and take the vitamins Zinc and Lutiens. I guess I was in shock because I did not ask any questions. I would like to know if there are different kinds of MAcular Degeneration. If so what kind did I have? I am 59 so how long would I have good eyesight? I began to think of all my hobbies, shooting, hunting, fishing, collecting antiques. I know I can get "talking Books". I know that life can still be good even if blind. But I don't want to be blind. I need not explain more as it is evident how ones life is changed by being blind.
To my sorrow I have found that when I tell people I have this disease people don't seem to care. I could tell them I have a cold and get the same reaction. It would be good for me to have more support. Many probably do not know what to say. A "I'm sorry Bert" would help as a starter. Being asked to keep them posted would also help. Anything would help me feel I was not alone. As with any sickness I think the feeling of being isolated and alone is a feeling well people just do not seem to understand.
Perhaps my sickness is not anything to be concerned about. But just the name Macular Degeneration is scary. I do think sharing how I feel is good for all of us to remember how important it is to be supported. And the support is as simple as saying I am sorry and I care. I know no one can cure my eye problem. I am not asking for a cure. I am asking my friends and family respond with kindness and caring.
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Comments: 16
My father has macular degeneration and he is 95. From what we have learned about it, 95 is too old to do anything. At 59, I think there is. The condition is either a "wet ' condition or a "dry' condition. The wet is more serious.
Read more about it by checking Google or any another search engine. If I were you I would find another doctor who can tell you more. Find out who the best doctor is in your area and see him or her now. I wouldn't wait 6 months and see how it goes. Address it now. (I'm in southern California and I know the eye doctors at UCI are as good as you get) I have had 2 cornea transplants in the past year and I'm doing great. My doctor's name is Roger Steinert. He doesn't specialize in macular degeneration but he is very caring. If you call him perhaps he can reccommend someone or advise you as to what to do. 714-456-7183. My name is Gary. You can reach me at gary@LetLifeIn.com
Good luck.
In the context of dealing with the cancer, I had a pro lead me through a guided visualization. At one point in it, the pro suggested burning the cancer we had just cut out (in the visioning). I said "No, it's part of me" and I decided to bury it with love in that the cells were "dis-eased".
My point is that sometimes the "cure" is to take a positive long term view of the things that are ailing us. I have always been concerned about loss of eyesight. But a few months ago I experienced a time of not being able to see and, as we've all have heard, was amazing how my other senses became sharper nad i was able to appreciate so many things as i had never experienced them before. I have a little note on my pda that comes up every week to remind me that in all likelihood I won't just die; that I will experience decreased functionality here and there. It reminds me to cherish what I have, knowing full well I will eventually die and can't do very much about that except to enjoy what I have and do, even the pains.
My brother died at 70 recently, and a friend read me a poem "When Death Comes" by Mary Oliver that really resonated with me. You can find it (and others that might resonate with you) at http://plagiarist.com/poetry/3191/ Hope it helps and hope you degeneration doesn't denerate, but in any case, hope you do well in moving with it.
With love
Steve
Blessings, hugs and smiles.