Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
5
↓
Greetings fellow visually impaired folks. (self.Blind)
submitted 7y ago by 1ird
Just wanted to say hi to everyone and give my story.
I was born prematurely in January 1988, I was due in April. I had ROP and surgery to reattach both retinas. It was somewhat successful in my right eye and unsuccessful in my left. I have scar tissue on my retina which impairs my vision (20/80 when I was 18). I feel it's getting worse over the years but I'm glad just to be able to see as well as I can. I don't have insurance these days so it's expensive to get regular checkups, I already owe Vanderbilt a pretty good amount of money.
When I was 12 years old my left eye was being "disposed of" by my body. I don't know the medical term but fat was growing around my eye and they said it had to be removed or my body was going to remove it for me pretty much. If anyone knows more info about that phenomenon I'd be happy to hear about it.
I thought I'd share a funny story from my childhood. My uncle (we call him Buddy) has been blind roughly half his life. I don't know the exact age he was when we was blinded. He had an accident before I was born that caused him permanent brain damage and blindness. I'm told he can see light (similar to having your eyes closed I guess) but nothing else. He's really adjusted to it and able to tell different denominations of money (which I find really amazing) and play the drums (also cool, he taught me some when I was young).
I don't want to get too off topic here so to get on to my story. I was probably four or five years old and had asked him what his cane was for. He told me it was to help him see. I picked up his cane and stuck it to my eye (like holding a telescope or something) and proclaimed "I can't see anything". My great grandmother and him thought that was the funniest thing ever. I always feel a bit embarrassed when I think back on it for being so naive.
Sorry for such a long winded first post, I never thought of looking up a subreddit for people similar to myself. I don't have anyone I can relate to when it comes to low vision.
I was born prematurely in January 1988, I was due in April. I had ROP and surgery to reattach both retinas. It was somewhat successful in my right eye and unsuccessful in my left. I have scar tissue on my retina which impairs my vision (20/80 when I was 18). I feel it's getting worse over the years but I'm glad just to be able to see as well as I can. I don't have insurance these days so it's expensive to get regular checkups, I already owe Vanderbilt a pretty good amount of money.
When I was 12 years old my left eye was being "disposed of" by my body. I don't know the medical term but fat was growing around my eye and they said it had to be removed or my body was going to remove it for me pretty much. If anyone knows more info about that phenomenon I'd be happy to hear about it.
I thought I'd share a funny story from my childhood. My uncle (we call him Buddy) has been blind roughly half his life. I don't know the exact age he was when we was blinded. He had an accident before I was born that caused him permanent brain damage and blindness. I'm told he can see light (similar to having your eyes closed I guess) but nothing else. He's really adjusted to it and able to tell different denominations of money (which I find really amazing) and play the drums (also cool, he taught me some when I was young).
I don't want to get too off topic here so to get on to my story. I was probably four or five years old and had asked him what his cane was for. He told me it was to help him see. I picked up his cane and stuck it to my eye (like holding a telescope or something) and proclaimed "I can't see anything". My great grandmother and him thought that was the funniest thing ever. I always feel a bit embarrassed when I think back on it for being so naive.
Sorry for such a long winded first post, I never thought of looking up a subreddit for people similar to myself. I don't have anyone I can relate to when it comes to low vision.
theimpossiblesong 1 points
Are you my doppelganger? Lol I've never actually met anyone else who has ROP let alone a story so similar to my own. :) I was also born prematurely in January with a due date of April. I've had the reattachent surgeries as well and currently wear a prosthetic in my left eye because it began to die when I was fourteen and my body began to reject it. This led to terrible headaches and it began to change colour. My eyes are Brown but my left eye turned a blue/grey colour. Did this happen to you too? I don't know a lot about that condition but I never really had vision in my left eye so I suspect that the rentina cells and nerves were never very healthy. I do have vision in my right eye though, which I'm super thankful for.
Its awesome to meet you and your story was adorable!
Its awesome to meet you and your story was adorable!
lhamil64 1 points
I was also born premature and have ROP. I have no vision in my left eye but sort of ok vision in the right (my glasses prescription is a -20, and I think it's something like 20/200 with my glasses).
Cool to see other people here with ROP!
Cool to see other people here with ROP!
theimpossiblesong 1 points
Very cool to meet you! Were you also born in January during the 80s or 90s?
lhamil64 1 points
I was born in the early 90s, but in June
1ird [OP] 1 points
Actually yes. My left eye was a brown color and my right eye is kind of hazel or blue depending on the light. I remember the headaches very well, that was another reason they removed my eye. I still get headaches occasionally but only if I strain my eye trying to look at things too small for me to see.
What date were you born? I was on the 16th.
I never expected to meet someone with such a similar story to my own. thanks for respodning.
What date were you born? I was on the 16th.
I never expected to meet someone with such a similar story to my own. thanks for respodning.
theimpossiblesong 1 points
Neither did I so I had to respond.:) but my birthdate is january 29th 1992. I'm glad you found this sub its definitely nice to know we're not alone.
Tainlorr 1 points
Awesome introduction! That's a funny story.
1ird [OP] 1 points
Thanks. Nice to meet you.
Faldorn 1 points
I love kid logic. Very cute.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.