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Name
Laura Rose
Born
1962
Home
Santa Cruz, CA
Diagnosis
Myopic Degeneration
Eyes Affected
both
Eye Color
dark brown
Age at Diagnosis
29
Visual Acuity
I am -21.5 in right and -23.0 in left. These numbers are from
1995.
Treatment
When the first retinal hemorrhage happened 10 years ago in my left
eye, my RS tried the drug Interferon since I guess it was being
tested at that time for age-related md and perhaps he thought it
would help me. All it did I believe was give me flu symptoms. The
hemorrhage eventually healed on its own with some slight effect in
my sight. I had another hemorrhage a few years ago, but again the
wavy lines disappeared after a few months without treatment. My new
RS has recommended I consider scleral reinforcement surgery. I am
just beginning to hear about PDT, but do not think my eyes have
warranted this treatment yet.
Prognosis or Current State of
Vision
With contact lenses I test between 20/30 and 20/40. I get a lot of
blurriness and I have lots of floaters that make it difficult to
see street sign letter, etc.
Family History
Both of my parents have some nearsightedness, but neither they nor
my grandparents have any history of myopic degeneration. I am told
that both my parents probably have a recessive gene for
it.
Impact on My Life
Right now the main impact is that I do not drive on highways at
night and I find that I can only do so much reading at one sitting.
The impact has been more psychological/spiritual in that I am just
now beginning to face what the future might hold. As one who has
loved to read, write and study it is a sobering prospect. Yet I am
also so grateful for the sight I have had up until this point and I
am encouraged to hear about all the low vision devices that
exist.
Positive Effects
Sight is an extraordinary spiritual metaphor. Many of the greatest
mystics who "saw" deep things in the spiritual realm lost various
degrees of their physical sight. My faith in the prospect of being
able to see at another level has deepened as I have begun to face
the possibilities of future sight loss. The bottom line is that
whether I like it or not, I must take things one day at a time.
Some days I get scared and sad, others I am content with whatever
comes. Right now, I am delighted to find the MD Community and would
like to find out as much info as possbile on the treatment of
myopic degeneration, find the best medical centers doing research
on it, and hear stories of what other people are going
through.
Adaptations
Mainly the driving at night on highways and reading for shorter
periods of time. Also I am beginning to consider how this will
affect my career, how to plan for retirement, disability benefits,
SSI etc. Need much more info on this and would be glad to hear what
others have discovered as they have considered this.
Working
I am a Christian minister at a local church and I can do
everything I am called upon to do.
More About Me
I love going on walks in nature, and I am blessed to be so close
to amazing ocean views, giant Redwoods, etc. I am beginning to pick
up the hobby of painting with acrylics. I like bright colors and
find that painting (abstractly) :) is something that does not
strain my eyes.
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