THE MACULAR
DEGENERATION COMMUNITY

Name: Susan Gerhart

Born: WWII, Utica Ohio

Home: Prescott Arizona (100 mi NW of Phoenix)

Diagnosis: Myopic (-16) degeneration, macular hole, detachments, cataracts.

Eyes Affected: Right loss of central and some peripheral vision. Left shows myopic degeneration but no damage as yet.

Eye Color: Grey/green

Age at Diagnosis: 50

Visual Acuity: 20/30 Left, ?? right.

Treatment: Scleral buckle, vitrectomy, gas injections, laser, cataract removal.

Prognosis or Current State of Vision: Get along with one good eye, no longer near-sighted after cataract lens removal.

Family History: Early onset cataracts, no known MD or blindness.

Impact on My Life: Many weeks of down-time, but renewed energy post-cataracts. Added medical costs due to pre-existing conditions on private health insurance. Inability to maintain career mobility and competitive edge.

Positive Effects: Slowed me down! Stopped taking certain risks. Had to make a career choice toward family.

Adaptations: Self-imposed driving limits (avoid speed, night). Black background on computer screens, experimenting with speech-text/text-speech.

Working: Software engineering professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, developing education and training in computer security; web software packages and services at www.twurl.com.

More About Me: Live with brother and co-parent middle school niece & nephew, very concerned about gender and disability opportunities in science and engineering.