If you're interested in continuing to do computer programming, it's a pretty fantastic career to continue to do as a blind person. If you learn to read braille, a refreshable braille display is great for coding. These days there are tons of accessible web sites and apps, but as a programmer you could adapt those that aren't already accessible and use them anyway.

>Finding someone to love and be with the rest of my life (I currently have someone, but afraid of how this will be handled, over time, as it is a burden and we are not yet married).

If she loves you, this won't change anything. You can also find someone who will love you despite the "impending doom" coming your way. My boyfriend has RP and it's a possibility he'll go blind and I don't care because I love him and that's something that is a part of him, so of course I take the good with the bad. The things you're worried about are things that someone you love will help you with. And your friends/family. You will be OK. It's normal to be very scared though, I would be too.

I am so sorry to hear about you prognosis. I was born with bad eyes, so I never really knew any different. I, much like you, hope for the best, plan for the worst. Here's what I'd do.
1) Don't rush out and get a cane just yet. No sense going out and buying a bunch of assistance devices until you know that you'll use them.
2) In my state, there is a department for the blind a visually impaired. Check to see if there is something like that where you live and reach out to them. They may have support groups, and classes that may help you prepare for an eventual loss of vision. They can sometimes provide assistance devices and training for when you begin to struggle.
3) 5-20 years is as much an educated guess as anything. My pediatric eye doctor told my parents I would be fully blind by the time I was 25; I'm 40 and while my vision has dropped into legal-blind territory, I can still see.
4) Don't let your prognosis consume you. Don't be a "blind, gay man" just be you. I'm not sure if it makes sense, but if you get bitter about the hand you're dealt, you may just run off those who would still love you for who you are. Don't lose that guy. Get used to accepting and asking for help. Let those who love you help you. It can help them not feel helpless about your situation.

Not sure if it helps, but you can get through this, and you won't die alone. If you can get through life as a gay man, you're strong enough for this!

Late to the party, but just wanted to give an "I know that feel, bro." I'm 30, losing distance and night vision, and I'm trying to come to grips with what I can and can't do. I recently got told that my hopes for a surgical fix are off the table, and you bet your ass I cried for half an hour.

On the plus side, my friends have been super helpful and my biggest problem with asking for help has been my own fear of being a burden. Figuring out some creative solution for getting around my problem and having people help without making me feel bad are great feelings.

I was pretty much born blind so can't relate to the whole losing vision bit. But networking with or surrounding yourself with other successful blind people could really help. As mentioned before, computer programming is a field that lots of blind people are in, especially since it often is performed with command-line tools depending on the language. I would assume, though I could be wrong, that being gay would help you a bit when it comes to knowing what discrimination feels like and how to deal with it or spin it in a positive direction. But in the long run, I think you'll do fine.

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I was diagnosed with macular dystrophy ~18 years ago while I was a teen. Centre part of the eye does not see and that blind spot grows over time and your vision worsens. Because it is gradual, you learn to adapt and in most cases you don't really notice it. It is tougher when you are in a transition period where your life is not settled. Going from high school, to uni then to work is tough because you have to address the issue of your sight loss and this is where you encounter barriers, discrimination especially when looking for work, love etc.

Your situation is however a lot more manageable because you are in your 30s, have a partner that loves you, and a career in IT. For starters You are in the right career for someone who is losing their sight because accommodations are easy and adaptive tech aids readily available. (I use Zoom that comes with a Mac) Now if you were a doctor, pilot, cop, or drive for a living then I would worry financially.

Also, when I got diagnosed almost 2 decades ago, research into degenerative conditions was already looking into implanting regenerative stem cells. They have done testing with animals in the meantime and I'm happy to report that 12 Sep 2014 in Japan, $1 Clinical trials could go on for up to 10 years before they perfect the procedure and address any risks and complications.
Hope this helps