Name
Greet Kershaw
Born
5/21/22
Home
Claremont, California.
Diagnosis
ARMD, corneal damage, and carcinoma.
Eyes Affected
Both.
Eye Color
Blue.
Age at Diagnosis
78
Visual Acuity
Left: 20/300. Right: 20/70.
Treatment
Jules Stein for structural problems; Doheny for eye disease (severe
dry eye as right eye did not close after surgery for carcionma.)
Restasis; eyedrops Control retinologist, cancer specialists. Filtered
glasses, glare protectors.
Prognosis or Current State of
Vision
Need strong magnification, will work with Open Book; trying to
replace vision lost with memories (acquired and new). Little
or no help locally available. State Comm. for the Blind slower
than molasses. No one can foretell future.
Family History
None for ARMD but Father and Brother diagnosed with glaucoma. Familial deafness by 60. Platelet
disorder causes bleeding during surgeries.
Positive Effects
When possible,working on second CD rom and reviewing manuscripts for publication. Music has remained; reading returning. Joy in having
found Teaching Company CDs, studying Middle Ages. Closer to friends,
and more time for self. Grateful. Patio and Rose garden!
Impact on My Life
Devastating at first, as loss of sight was compounded by wheelchair,
deafness,insulin dependent diabetes. Was finishing first CD Rom
based on publications; main orientation was visual (because of deafness).
Total blindness (3 months after surgery for carcinoma eyekid) helped
reorientation. Have regained joy in life, and am trying to add new
ways of doing things every day. Difficult that focus is too narrow
to see words, resulting in frequent spelling errors, which are embarrassing.
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