Name
Mary Harvatich
Born
11/1/27
Home
St. Louis, Missouri
Diagnosis
ARMD & Glaucoma
Eyes Affected
Both
Eye Color
Hazel
Age at Diagnosis
30
Visual Acuity
Left=20/400. Right=20/80(?)
Treatment
Thirty years ago, when I was complaining about my glasses and my eyes hurting, the ophthalmologist forgot to check me for glaucoma.I was thirtyish, with 20/20 vision, when it was finally discovered the pressure was in the fifties! Drops (medicine) didn't reduce the pressure. Surgery by Jack Hartstein, at St.John's Mercy, Barnes Hospital in 1965.
Prognosis or Current State of
Vision
As of 7/02, pressure in both eyes was 19 /20. From then on, it's gotten to 25/25 in both eyes.
This coming Friday, 2/21/03, I'm getting an AHMOD Implant for glaucoma.
Impact on My Life
The glaucoma cost me my retirement in 1965. I was 36, and the company didn't retireme employees until they were 40.
Positive Effects
I do drive in and around St. Louis, if the sun isn't in my face, if I know where I'm supposed to be, and if it's daylight.
Adaptations
My devoted husband makes sure that I know what to do. I'm driving while we make a trial run to find a landmark, etc.
Working
I'm retired, albeit I spend a lot of time volunteering. Last summer, I tutored English Second Language to a young blonde Bosnian Muslim mother of 3 children. This year. I'm tutoring a handsome gentleman, also Bosnian, who works as dietary counselor at St.Johns Mercy Hospital.
More About Me
I'm a published author, "Perfect Love," about 2 orphaned children, a romance novel, fiction! I'm also working on a new novel about lonely elderly residents living in a fantasy world, wealthy, educated retirement center. I've been married to August Harvatich for 56 years as of March, 2003.
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