I'm so sorry this is happening to you. You have fortunatly found the right place. People here (who actually have vision issues not just the odd lurker like me) can direct you to all of the amazing resources that can let you do far more than you would think.

Screen readers for one are the best, an iPhone with a bit of bother can be almost fully navigated without looking at the screen whatsoever. Games can still be played though it will be hard.

Your going to be okay.

This is honestly sad and I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. I have Retinitis Pigmintosa so my eyesigjtbis slowly deteriorating and at first learning about that is hard but it’s worse for you as this started happening now rather than teenagehood. Just be brave, because you will adapt. It will get harder before it gets easier but it WILL get easier tho. Just be strong and don’t give up! :)

Hi there. I’m an Orientation and Mobility Specialist; I teach blind and visually impaired people how to travel independently.

I’m not a doctor, but I’ve seen a few clients with trauma induced vision loss. It sounds like you were hot hard enough to detach your retina. If the doctors didn’t detect that early enough, it’s likely that the retina malnourished and died, leaving you a blind spot. Unfortunately, that was in your macula which is responsible for fine detail vision. Once the retina dies, it does not come back.

It is strange that you are now experiencing issues in your other eye. It could have something to do with the optic nerve, the retina in that eye, or the visual cortex of the brain itself. It could be that there was a micro tear in that retina and it is now progressing. The brain is a really powerful thing. I’ve read stories of people growing up and losing their vision slowly, and not even realizing it until they cause some sort of accident that warrants a doctor’s attention. The good news is that you’ve identified the issue now. The sooner you can get medical attention the better. I know the holidays complicate that...

Also good news: if you find that print is difficult to read, there are free services out there for audio books, like the National Library Service. There is free software that will help you use your phone and computer by enlarging the screen or by using audio. Also, every state has a department dedicated to rehabilitation services for the blind and visually impaired. If you need help connecting to them, I would like to help.

This is never an easy situation. I hope the best for you. Please, reach out.

I am so sorry you are going through this. Have you gotten a second opinion? I don’t know what state you are in but I can recommend a couple of places in Texas. I was about your age when I started having eye problems so I understand your fears. I couldn’t imagine life as a blind/visually impaired person so I was distraught. Now that I am further down the road and I am living that live I can tell you that your life can still be great. Don’t get me wrong...being blind sucks...but it isn’t the end of my dreams like I thought it was. Find your state’s vocational rehab and get started on building your adaptive skills. You can send me a pm if you need help.

This sucks. I feel your pain. My wife had perfect vision until she started going blind at 30. It took the doctors more than a year to figure out what was causing it. You can still read and write stories, although reading might be via braille if you end up losing enough of your vision.

I'm sorry you're going through this, but you will adapt and find your groove. My wife used to be a huge reader. She's switched her reading over to podcasts (may I suggest This American Life, The Moth, Planet Money, Radio Lab, Ear Hustle, or Shittown as some of our favorites)

I'll wish you the best and feel free to message. We went through this. My wife did go through a year of depression but has adapted pretty well with losing her vision. On the bright side, if you have a disability, a vision disability is the one you want. There are tons of programs and training to help you adapt.

It's going to be okay. As someone who lost most of their vision, believe me I know it's scary as fuck. You can still read and write with a visual impairment, and watch movies too. Video games are a bit harder though. I'm a full time college student and while I'm not majoring in nursing or anything like that your visual impairment won't prevent you from doing the things you love in life.

So this is also happening to me (28F).

I've been steadily and fairly rapidly losing vision in my left eye. Didn't notice a significant problem to can't read screens in less than 4 months. It continues to deteriorate and they don't know why. (They thought I had a tumor because they saw a mass on several MRIs only to put me through surgery just before Thanksgiving and find nothing.)

Get more opinions. Travel for them if you have to. At least that's what I'll be doing. I'm at the tail end of another course of treatment that is clearly not working and it's felt harder to deal with because it feels like the doctors are just sitting on their hands for two weeks, knowing my vision continues to deteriorate without getting me on the books of the out-of-state next doc and who knows how long I'll have to wait for an appointment.

Anyway, I can't totally relate because I get to hold on to the knowledge that (for now at least) my right eye is unaffected and that helps me cope, but we're probably otherwise in similar places, and if you want to talk, feel free to DM me.