Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Anyone else with Persistent Pupillary Membrane (PPM)? (self.Blind)
submitted by smaller-god
Looking for solidarity since the condition is so rare and I often feel misunderstood. I have it severely in one eye which has very low vision as a result.
lubutu 1 points 3y ago
Hey, I stumbled across this post while googling PPM. I have it in my left eye, and although I have some vision in that eye, it is still legally blind. I can make out shapes, but can't read, and my brain seems to essentially just ignore the eye most of the time.
I wasn't even aware that PPM was sometimes visible to others, as mine isn't. Opticians repeatedly tried to treat me for having a 'lazy eye' before they realised what the problem was. (Weirdly, as apparently it can be seen once they shine a bright light into my eye.)
I wear glasses, but I always ask the optician to apply the prescription of the right eye to the left as well, as this seems to result in the best sight. This was suggested to me by an optician as it maintains the same balance of sightedness in both eyes. Trying to improve the left eye, to the extent possible given that the underlying issue is obviously not a problem with the lens, actually causes my overall vision to worsen as it begins to interfere with that of my right eye. More recent opticians have sometimes disagreed with this, but that always results in a worse prescription.
I almost forgot — I have sort of 'microscopic' vision in my left eye. When there's something on my right glasses lens, it's maybe a blur or otherwise I can't see it. On my left lens, I can see each individual speck of dust in perfect detail. This makes cleaning my glasses a nightmare as if I miss anything at all, even something I have to inspect the lens meticulously to even see, I will be able to see it once I put my glasses on again. Details about a centimetre from my eye are in perfect focus, and nothing else is. Quite bizarre.
Anyway, that's my wall of text done. Just felt it was worth responding given that the only reply was from someone without vision issues. I wasn't aware the condition was particularly rare, but in any case, there's more of us around!
I wasn't even aware that PPM was sometimes visible to others, as mine isn't. Opticians repeatedly tried to treat me for having a 'lazy eye' before they realised what the problem was. (Weirdly, as apparently it can be seen once they shine a bright light into my eye.)
I wear glasses, but I always ask the optician to apply the prescription of the right eye to the left as well, as this seems to result in the best sight. This was suggested to me by an optician as it maintains the same balance of sightedness in both eyes. Trying to improve the left eye, to the extent possible given that the underlying issue is obviously not a problem with the lens, actually causes my overall vision to worsen as it begins to interfere with that of my right eye. More recent opticians have sometimes disagreed with this, but that always results in a worse prescription.
I almost forgot — I have sort of 'microscopic' vision in my left eye. When there's something on my right glasses lens, it's maybe a blur or otherwise I can't see it. On my left lens, I can see each individual speck of dust in perfect detail. This makes cleaning my glasses a nightmare as if I miss anything at all, even something I have to inspect the lens meticulously to even see, I will be able to see it once I put my glasses on again. Details about a centimetre from my eye are in perfect focus, and nothing else is. Quite bizarre.
Anyway, that's my wall of text done. Just felt it was worth responding given that the only reply was from someone without vision issues. I wasn't aware the condition was particularly rare, but in any case, there's more of us around!
smaller-god [OP] 1 points 3y ago
HOLY SHIT this is exactly me! Like I was misdiagnosed for a while, then spent 9 years wearing a patch over my good eye to help the PPM eye, which of course resulted in poor eyesight in the "good" eye as well. It's nice (if unfortunate) to find another person with my condition. I have such a hard time explaining my vision to people because it's so complicated. I wore glasses for a year when I was a kid but stopped because I felt like the difference was so minimal it wasn't worth it. It always throws people when I say I used to wear glasses.
"Oh, did your sight get better?" "No..."
I really relate to what your were saying about the PPM eye being better at seeing certain things in focus than the "good" eye. I'm actually going to get another eye test soon because I want to see how my vision has progressed over the years and whether it's a good idea to try glasses again. Feel free to DM me to chat about PPM stuff anytime.
"Oh, did your sight get better?" "No..."
I really relate to what your were saying about the PPM eye being better at seeing certain things in focus than the "good" eye. I'm actually going to get another eye test soon because I want to see how my vision has progressed over the years and whether it's a good idea to try glasses again. Feel free to DM me to chat about PPM stuff anytime.
kellyycha 1 points 3y ago
I have it on both eyes. It's not severe though and I see normally. The only time its noticeable is if I look through a microscope, small hole with light behind it, or squint to light with tears in my eyes.
This is a picture of one eye.
$1
This is a picture of one eye.
$1
smaller-god [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Glad you’ve got no vision issues - sadly not the case for me. Mine is also less visible to look at so people don’t realise haha.
kellyycha 1 points 3y ago
is the pupil more covered?
and people don't realize for me either. this pic is flash with the brightness super high. i didn't notice i had it until my eye doctor was looking at my eyes and was like "woah thats cool" in like middle school
and people don't realize for me either. this pic is flash with the brightness super high. i didn't notice i had it until my eye doctor was looking at my eyes and was like "woah thats cool" in like middle school
smaller-god [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I don’t honestly know the full details, but from what I understand it’s deeper into the eye and accompanied by co-morbidities that make it worse. All I can see of mine is a tiny white dot in my pupil and only in very bright light.
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