First of all, don't panic! Seriously, all the energy going into fear could just as easily go into finding folks with which you can relate.

Secondly, there is something I recommend your never ever forgetting, no matter what. I say this as someone who has had 20/200 vision in my left eye and 20/600 (zillion?) in my right eye for nearly fifty years. Never, ever fporget that you are a person. Yeah, I know, that sounds like a no-brainer, but it's not. It's *very* easy to forget, when getting caught up in worrying about your sight, what others think of you, etc, People who forget they're individual persons often don't truly realize they've forgotten it, because they've internalized so much of society's superficial bullshit. I say again: You are a person. There is more to you than a visual acuity. There is more to you than a "disability." There is an actual, real human being there, with your own preferences, habits, interests, needs, etc.

I'm very sorry that someone dumped you because of your vision, but honestly, anyone who would do that wasn't truly with you from the start. You're better off without someone who would even consider such a rash and uncaring action. You do *not* need to settle or be settled for. You need people who accept you, and this is very important--If it's either because of or in spite of your eyes, it's not real acceptance.

Last but not least, I actually do *not* recommend "coping" with going blind. To merely cope with something is simply to adapt to it and decide nothing is to be done. I would very strongly recommend *thriving* over coping, and yes, there is a freaking *huge* difference.

The simple version is pretty much just this: Live your life and thrive, instead of merely "coping."

edit: rewrote second paragraph for clarity and flow

> I'm worried that I'm just not the type of person who is positive enough and brave enough to handle going blind.

The first year that I started dealing with my condition (vitelliform macular dystrophy), I was suicidal. It was very difficult for me. I can still remember the day I picked up a book and could no longer read it and I went to bed and sobbed for hours.

I know exactly how you feel. I am not going to lie to you, it's hella scary. The bigger problem that you have right now, is you are likely dealing with medical staff at your appointments and pardon me but they don't know SHIT about what to tell you.

You need to get into a support system. Most blind centers have group support meetings where others talk about their fears *and* their victories. In larger cities there is likely a Braille Institute, but look in your local area. I found one right on the bus route and I go over there all the time. They have group outings, where you will meet other blind people and it's going to help you!


>But I'm so, so scared of not being able to get a job (I'm in Applied Social Psychology and just defending my Masters in August) I'm afraid I won't be able to do my job tasks or that no one will hire me.

Are you teaching as part of your Master's training? Or working? The Department of Rehab is what you need to slide into. They will help with any extra adaptive training referrals that you need. As well as training you in how to use public transport, orient yourself, get around and do it keeping yourself safe.

I am not insinuating that you need it yet, what I am saying is mastering those skills is going to give you a much better outlook and more confidence.

My Department of Rehab counselor is mostly blind because of a brain tumor. When she went blind, and there was no "time to adjust to it" period, she went to college and started from scratch, got her MA in Rehab Social Work and started counseling others going through the same thing. The state has provided her with an assistant to help her do the things she has trouble doing.

She has been an inspiration to me. She takes the train and the bus to work every day, she is very independent.

It's not a matter or you being positive, or strong, or whatever. It's a matter of slowly acquiring the skills that you might end up needing and that can be a buffer for you.

I was groped by some random asshat on my birthday a few years ago wandering through a parking lot, and it terrified me. I was scared to get the cane, because I thought it would put a target on my back. One of the technology teachers at the center that I go to said, "My cane is not a target, my cane is a weapon."

I started out not going anywhere after dark, or unless someone was taking me, and I go all over the place now. Public transport is not scary anymore. I have apps to assist me. I can walk around downtown completely blindfolded. It took a while to learn, but I kept at it. I travel, there is always someone willing to point you in the right direction.

Being positive about it is not something you can do on your own. It will come when you meet others who are profoundly blind and do just fine. They will motivate and inspire you to keep moving forward.

Have you talked to anyone from CNIB regarding some rehabilitation training? That may help to learn some skills now, so you know you can still do things if you lose a bit more vision. If you have concerns regarding taking care of yourself, definitely talk to them about getting services. If you wish, PM me and I can help you reach your regional office.

For that eye condition, there is a greater likelihood of retinal tears due to the retina being stretched. Try to avoid blows to the head (weird piece of advice, but it comes up. A coworker of mine has a similiar eye condition to yours, and he was a boxer, so he had to give is up). Also watch for floaters, if you notice an unusally large amount of them, see your eye doctor.

If your boyfriend broke up with you just because you can't see well, then he is just being closed-minded. I'm sure you'll eventually find someone who understands you. It can be harder for people with vision loss in regards to dating, but not impossible. If you are lonely, there are lots of social groups as well (more in the larger cities).

Do you have a therapist you can talk to? I think you need to say all this outloud to someone to help you recognize what specifically about reduced vision is scary, then you can come up with a plan for things you can control and learn to let go what you cannot. Like "if this happens then I'll do this". Can you see your ophthalmologist more frequently? It sounds like your vision is good but you may just need the reassurance of a doctor that knows your eyes. It may help to get some disability insurance when you start working to put your mind at ease in case something does happen (also to cover other injuries/illnesses that are unexpected but could prevent you from working). And to meet folks with vision impairment who are in your field of work to see how they do the job.

It may also help to remember that vision impairment is a spectrum. It's not just 20/20 or compete black out, many people who are legally blind have good functional vision and work and do the things they enjoy. Also you have 2 eyes, and while you are very myopic it's unlikely that both will worsen at the same time. And as another poster said you are not your visual acuity, you're a person and sighted or not you're still going to be who you are.

In the course of a little over a year I have went from 20/20 both eyes to legally blind. It has been a very trying time, to say the least. You will go through the stages of grief as your sight declines. I was really down with my in the dumps about my situation and what I lost (38, married, father of two, have a Master's degree, and had a job I loved.). However, at some point (the acceptance stage I guess) I decided there's nothing I can do about it and feeling bad about it won't help. I've found that adapting to doing the things I always do and accessing resources to be succcessful are much more productive.

Since you are defending your thesis, it sounds like you are at the end of your program. If you have any more classes or decide to pursue a Ph.D., definitely obtain the proper documentation from your opthomologist so you can get accommodations if you are not already. Your opthomologist may offer low vision services, which will introduce you to adaptive technologies and other resources. Your state should have a commission for the blind, and perhaps even regional organizations for the blind. They can provide you resources and offering mentoring or just an understanding ear to hear you out. And to be frank, where you live does make a big difference if you are blind or are low vision, as urban areas offer more public transportation options or services like Uber.

As for the young men (Ok, now I sound old...lol). I don't know why your disability would make a difference to a decent guy. That's not to say that it won't come up at first or even as you get farther into a relationship, but if you feel like he's one foot out the door when the subject of your vision comes up, let him go. There are good guys out there looking for a well educated women, and they (probably) won't even mind squashing bugs for you. Hang in there!

25 year old female here. I don't have macular degeneration but I have a very rare condition caused by an anomaly of the optic disc - that is often treated the same as macular degeneration. I have a feeling I will be legally blind by the time I'm 30-35. My right eye is already useless due to blurred central vision. My left eye has been having problems again.

I also feel that my eye condition has strained my relationships. It sucks, I feel you. Thats why I haven't been pursuing men lately. I hate the idea of being a burden, but I hate even more to think I'm unworthy of someone's love because of my disability.

I don't really have much advice other than theres no point in living our lives like we are already blind, right?

Hell. I'm a web design / art major. A lot good that is going to do me once by vision finally goes to shit. But at the end of the day, it feels better working for something and staying optimistic. I've always loved drawing and it's been a real struggle coping with the idea that I may be incapable of creating anything other than shitty abstract art.

If you ever want to talk about it, hmu. I'm sure we share a lot of simialar struggles

I've never posted here before, nor do I have any experience in this. Yet I feel I should say something... Have hope.. Alright? I know it's hard... But have some hope okay...

This is a really crazy universe we live in, and there's so much of it that is unknown to this day. That includes vision, and consciousness, and thoughts, and dreams...

So what I have to say is, don't forget those things okay? Don't forget that you had vision, don't forget you were lucky enough to experience nature's beauty. Many do not. Whether that be from lack of sight or from living a poor life style.

Consciousness is something that is broadly discussed but never pinpointed. Who are we and why are we here? Well... I believe that nature brought us here, that nature brought us here to live, and breathe, and to enjoy and feel and hurt and struggle, to experience all that it has to offer, through all of its creations. Be that you or me or a tree or a mushroom or a cat or dog. We experience metabolism, as energy moves through our morphogenetic fields that vast our human image.

There is so much to us beyond just what we can see. Maybe you should look into meditation, and try to find peace in the art of nature? This is something that many people fall out of, and is something that I think can really help anyone in a time of distress. Remember, nature created you, and nature created the plants. Plants don't worry, nor do they cower in fear. Animals might worry, but do they let that control them or do they continue through the natural course of life that nature progresses them through?


While I also do not advise you seek out meta-physical experiences through the use of psychedelics to broaden your conscious perception of the insanely beautiful universe we live in, I can honestly tell you that they have changed my life and opened my eyes to not worry about what my future will hold. Because I am nature. I am a part of this organism, here for a reason. And that is to live, and experience.

Terence McKenna is an extremely brilliant philosopher of the 1900's that was way beyond his time. Such an inspirational and intelligent man, I really believe he would be a great introductory philosopher for you to listen to, as well as that of Allan Watts.

Allan Watts is a zen philosopher that was an even earlier of a generation than Terence, yet he too was way beyond his time. These men have really given me the guidance and courage to continue through this universe, and to continue fighting despite my own diminishing health. They have YouTube lectures available and also through many other platforms.

I'm sorry for talking your ear off (figuratively of course, but if you think about it, this itself is a form of synesthesia, or a mingling of the senses. This is another thing that can occur on psychedelics, as to which I also believe might be of your interest considering the position you're in.) Psychedelics can have extraordinary effects on health and have been known to have, at least off the record, healing prep petite beyond our comprehension.

So do not think all hope is lost, as the world still has time, and so do you. There may very well be a cure for your blindness shortly after it occurs, if anything! Think of how fast technology is advancing, there is definitely hope for our human selves yet. We are still young. Or fuck it and the world ends.

Another thing too is, remember dreaming? I do believe that is something that still occurs. So, you do have some splice or escape eventually I think. This is beyond my understanding now, and all speculation. I don't know how dreaming is for the blind. But it may still be profound.