Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
6
↓
This is probably silly, but is there anyone around with low vision in the 20/60-20/100 range? (self.Blind)
submitted by coffee4jesus16
So this might be a long shot and I'm not sure if this is the place, but I have unexplained vision loss, but am on the incredibly well sighted end of the spectrum. I easily pass as fully sighted until people see me use a computer, watch tv, try to read street signs, fast food menus, etc. Given that, I don't really feel like I fit into the visually impaired/blind community but I feel so frustrated sometimes in the world of the fully sighted (for instance I work at an elementary school and my coworkers often forget It stresses me out doing recess duty because I can't see the kids passed a certain point that they are allowed to go with any other staff member on duty). Is there anyone else on here is the 20/60-20/100 range of low vision? It's all probably pretty silly. I mean I'm pretty much fully sighted so I should just deal but sometimes it's just isolating and I kinda am curious how other people with the same range of vision as me cope. All I can find are people passed 20/200z
lepton 2 points 6y ago
I'm about 20/50 just bad enough so I can't drive (can't see far enough to make left turns) and I have to sit close to the computer when I do work. Also sometimes I don't recognize people unless I've seen them up close a lot and even then I recognize people by voice more than face often.
coffee4jesus16 [OP] 2 points 6y ago
This is me 100%.
Have you always had a visual impairment? Do you know what causes yours? Do you get frustrated when you can't see things that fully sighted people can see but feel like you don't totally fit into the blind community either?
It's rare that I find other people so close to in the same shoes as me.
It seems silly but sometimes it feels isolating. I'm sighted enough even close family forget but not sighted enough to go through life without making adjustments and trying to figure out skills to see things.
How do you explain your vision to people? People in my life don't seem to understand that you can have a visual impairment that can't be corrected but isn't total blindness (or passed the 20/200 threshold at least).
Do you use any tools to make day to day life easier like bioptics or a monocular? Maybe purple sunglasses or zoomtext/accessibility features on your computer?
How do you watch tv? Do you ever add descriptive audio? I have a normal smart tv which is great but if I really want to keep up with a new show or movie i either pull out a folding camping chair i own and place it directly in front of the tv or I just use my phone. When I'm tired even if I don't really care about the show I use my phone because it's just easier.
Is your close vision (like reading distance) fairly unaffected?
What other tools do you use to more seamlessly blend in as a fully sighted member of society? Do you ever get frustrated when you can't see things that you feel like you should be able to see?
Sorry...this is a ton of questions. It's hard to meet people with a low level visual impairment.
Have you always had a visual impairment? Do you know what causes yours? Do you get frustrated when you can't see things that fully sighted people can see but feel like you don't totally fit into the blind community either?
It's rare that I find other people so close to in the same shoes as me.
It seems silly but sometimes it feels isolating. I'm sighted enough even close family forget but not sighted enough to go through life without making adjustments and trying to figure out skills to see things.
How do you explain your vision to people? People in my life don't seem to understand that you can have a visual impairment that can't be corrected but isn't total blindness (or passed the 20/200 threshold at least).
Do you use any tools to make day to day life easier like bioptics or a monocular? Maybe purple sunglasses or zoomtext/accessibility features on your computer?
How do you watch tv? Do you ever add descriptive audio? I have a normal smart tv which is great but if I really want to keep up with a new show or movie i either pull out a folding camping chair i own and place it directly in front of the tv or I just use my phone. When I'm tired even if I don't really care about the show I use my phone because it's just easier.
Is your close vision (like reading distance) fairly unaffected?
What other tools do you use to more seamlessly blend in as a fully sighted member of society? Do you ever get frustrated when you can't see things that you feel like you should be able to see?
Sorry...this is a ton of questions. It's hard to meet people with a low level visual impairment.
lepton 3 points 6y ago
Yeah I was born with congenital bilateral cataracts in 1980 and they had to take them out right away. I had very poor vision as a kid but eventually got it up to 20/50 or 20/40 but it was mostly good close up (because I had bifocals). I have felt isolated my whole life, never fit in with the blind community, I don't remember ever going to high school or college with a blind class mate.
Because I have really thick glasses (wore contacts for some of my life but then glaucoma medication dried my eyes out so I couldn't use them any more) people are really put off by me and it's kept me from getting jobs. As for tools I just have to have the computer screen closer and sometimes use my phone's camera or magnifying glass to zoom in to things.
I can watch TV fine though I usually can't tell the difference between SD and HD unless I'm really close to it.
I don't really have any tools I use to blend in, when I wore contacts I looked normal which helped me be treated better by people but lost that.
Hope these are some OK answers.
Because I have really thick glasses (wore contacts for some of my life but then glaucoma medication dried my eyes out so I couldn't use them any more) people are really put off by me and it's kept me from getting jobs. As for tools I just have to have the computer screen closer and sometimes use my phone's camera or magnifying glass to zoom in to things.
I can watch TV fine though I usually can't tell the difference between SD and HD unless I'm really close to it.
I don't really have any tools I use to blend in, when I wore contacts I looked normal which helped me be treated better by people but lost that.
Hope these are some OK answers.
HailDaHailu 1 points 6y ago
This sounds like me as well -can't remember the numbers now but its like if you didn't tell anyone you were visually impaired, they wouldn't know? Yeah.
lepton 1 points 6y ago
Yeah they know with me though because I have really thick glasses.
angelcake 2 points 6y ago
My partner is low vision, I don't remember his numbers right now. Probably worse than you at this point because it has been deteriorating but even now he is the same as you, in that unless you see him struggling to read something, his nose a half an inch away from a debit machine for example, you wouldn't know that he's low vision. Even the bus drivers occasionally look at him funny when he shows his CNIB card for free fare. If he needs help he asks for it. That is truly the best way to navigate your way through the world, just tell people. Everybody has busy lives and when somebody integrates as smoothly as you do it's hard to remember all the details.
You may find a tablet/smart phone with an OLED screen helps out in the digital world.
You may find a tablet/smart phone with an OLED screen helps out in the digital world.
claudettemonet 2 points 6y ago
Not silly. I have periphery problems. Not accuatey problems, but vision loss is a loss. I gtg to work right now. But I'm pulling for ya. Your emotions are totally legitimate. I'm sure one of the other regular redditors on this sub will chime in shortly. :) I bet there is someone who has gone through the same thing you are going through now.
f1ourish 1 points 6y ago
I know this is a late response but c'est la vie lol.
My sight is 20/50ish and 20/150 with best correction. It seems like you're a teacher? I am too so I understand your anxiety about seeing students well enough past a certain difference.
I figure we are on the low end of vision loss but we still have the right to feel anxious/sad/isolated sometimes since our vision definitely isn't "normal". It can be isolating to feel like you're passing since it seems like sometimes other people think you're exaggerating when you need help with some activities.
My sight is 20/50ish and 20/150 with best correction. It seems like you're a teacher? I am too so I understand your anxiety about seeing students well enough past a certain difference.
I figure we are on the low end of vision loss but we still have the right to feel anxious/sad/isolated sometimes since our vision definitely isn't "normal". It can be isolating to feel like you're passing since it seems like sometimes other people think you're exaggerating when you need help with some activities.
coffee4jesus16 [OP] 2 points 6y ago
I actually work for an after school program, although it's starting to convince me I got the wrong bachelors degree.
How do you manage when it comes to seeing students? It's starting to get cold enough around here that we should be spending more time inside but it makes me so nervous being on playground duty. I've tried to use a monocular but the kids move too dang fast to focus it in time and there is no way I'm wearing my bioptics on a playground. They'd be destined to break if I did. XD
How do you manage when it comes to seeing students? It's starting to get cold enough around here that we should be spending more time inside but it makes me so nervous being on playground duty. I've tried to use a monocular but the kids move too dang fast to focus it in time and there is no way I'm wearing my bioptics on a playground. They'd be destined to break if I did. XD
[deleted] 1 points 6y ago
[deleted]
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.