I'm 25 and I got diagnosed with a retinal dystrophy ~2 years ago (not sure about the exact disease but I think it's Ushers). My sight is fine in the day, but at night and in dark places it is pretty crap. It's definitely deteriorating as I do notice my sight worsening. My family do know about it. My problem (or at least one of problems) is that I haven't told my friends about my newly discovered disease. I haven't told them because I wanted to come to terms with it first before I tell them but I'm also afraid to tell them. Maybe it's a fear of pity or that they won't treat me the same after they find out. However, I do feel I'm constantly having to lie to them when they ask me stuff like what I'm going to do in the future or when will I learn to drive etc. This makes me feel super guilty especially because some of my friends are so honest that it makes me feel like a phony just to be around them. I guess another fear will be that they will be angry about not telling them before about it but I guess that's more of an irrational fear.

My fear of pity stems from the disability that I already have, my hearing loss (hence, usher). When I was younger, I use to have big clunky hearing aids that were fairly visible and I definitely got treated differently compared to other kids because of this but since I got better, hidden hearing aids, I did notice people treated me with more respect and with less patronisation. I feel like that my newer hearing aids turned a visible disability into an invisible one. However, this could have been from having maturer friends and living in a more understanding society than that of the one I grew up in in my younger years. Despite this, I'm afraid of being placed in a box again like I did before if I reveal my new, super fun disease.

I guess I'm looking for other people's advice on this issue and those who have gone through the same things I have.