Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Found out I’m going to go blind today, boy this is a tough day. (self.Blind)
submitted by CopTheKick
So I met with my ophthalmologist today, and didn’t go great. At my optometrist appointment early in the month he saw a couple issues with my retina that concerned him. ( I already have retinal detachment in my right eye that has resulted in LPO). So got to the doctor and his fellow starts out checking everything. I could tell he was getting a little excited and not in a good way. In came the retina specialist and they started talking about blah blah at 4:00 and blah blah at 8:00, and I could tell it wasn’t dinner plans. Doc then told me I would need laser surgery right then to stabilize two areas. He then told me it would be a matter of time before it would be gone completely and that I needed to seek out services to prepare for life being blind.
So, my question for y’all, where do I need to start first. I’m 40 years old, married 3 kids and another on the way. I have a consultation scheduled next Friday with the commission for the blind, but I always like to go to anything new prepared with a mental game plan.
I imagine learning many things may be easier sighted but wanted y’all’s thought. I think all this is just my way to process it. My wife can’t stop crying. My mom is crying, I just want to do what I need to do to prepare for life. I’ve been fortunate to work with a lady for many of years who’s daughter is blind and she showed me that there are no limits, so I’m trying to be positive.
So, my question for y’all, where do I need to start first. I’m 40 years old, married 3 kids and another on the way. I have a consultation scheduled next Friday with the commission for the blind, but I always like to go to anything new prepared with a mental game plan.
I imagine learning many things may be easier sighted but wanted y’all’s thought. I think all this is just my way to process it. My wife can’t stop crying. My mom is crying, I just want to do what I need to do to prepare for life. I’ve been fortunate to work with a lady for many of years who’s daughter is blind and she showed me that there are no limits, so I’m trying to be positive.
KillerLag 9 points 2y ago
Talk to your local vision rehabilitation agency. Training while having some vision definitely makes some things easier. They can also discussed what kinds of government supports (equipment, financial) there are.
Is the detached retina from a pre-existing condition?
The news can be quite devastating to yourself as well as family. Take time to process it. For your wife/mother, it may be helpful for them to have someone to talk to who has gone through the vision loss process. For yourself, don't lose hope. There could be a number of treatments for the retina, depending on the situation. But as you said, it could be useful to prepare if it doesn't go as well as you'd hope.
Is the detached retina from a pre-existing condition?
The news can be quite devastating to yourself as well as family. Take time to process it. For your wife/mother, it may be helpful for them to have someone to talk to who has gone through the vision loss process. For yourself, don't lose hope. There could be a number of treatments for the retina, depending on the situation. But as you said, it could be useful to prepare if it doesn't go as well as you'd hope.
CopTheKick [OP] 6 points 2y ago
The detachment is genetic. I have a condition that makes me Predisposed to retina detachments. My right eye detached at age 11. The left eye has been going strong for 40 years.
col3man17 8 points 2y ago
My step-dad was told something very similar and also had detached retina, here we are many many years after he shouldve "gone blind" his vision isn't great.. but he still has his sight. Dont get yourself down, stay positive and ofcours prepare for the worst, but that doesn't mean it'll happen.
Miscsubs123 3 points 2y ago
What is your condition, Sticklers or something?
CopTheKick [OP] 5 points 2y ago
Wow right on the money. You are the grand prize winner for guess the disorder!
Miscsubs123 2 points 2y ago
Get a second opinion. Sticklers has a high chance of detachment, but your doctors blanket statement of "just a matter of time before it would be gone completely" doesn't sit well with me.
Post on r/eyetriage with any documentation and investigations you have, at least.
Get your children (and siblings) tested for Sticklers, and screened for eye problems.
Post on r/eyetriage with any documentation and investigations you have, at least.
Get your children (and siblings) tested for Sticklers, and screened for eye problems.
ThisBlindChickReads 6 points 2y ago
It is important for your mom and wife to seek other people to talk to ... The stress that their emotional reactions may cause if not worked through or if healthy coping skills are not in place or being worked on, may create a breaking point. This is a tough reality to adjust to but it is not the end of the world ... It is an adjustment. You are doing the right thing by being proactive and working on solutions to help ease the adjustment period.
This is a great forum full of helpful resources and even more helpful people. Listen to your docs and don't be afraid to ask questions ... I have a hard time with getting overwhelmed at my appointments, so sometimes I write down questions I may have so that I don't forget to ask them. The specialists work with this, they can point you in the right direction and it seems like you already are heading on the right path.
Be patient with yourself and your loved ones ... This can be overwhelming sometimes, and honestly sometimes it feels like losing a loved one... But just like working through the grief cycle of that type of loss, embracing healthy coping skills and healthy communication is beyond beneficial.
In my situation, my kid is the most understanding and helpful ... Sometimes it feels like the adults in the room learn more from my child about how to treat and help me ...
This is a great forum full of helpful resources and even more helpful people. Listen to your docs and don't be afraid to ask questions ... I have a hard time with getting overwhelmed at my appointments, so sometimes I write down questions I may have so that I don't forget to ask them. The specialists work with this, they can point you in the right direction and it seems like you already are heading on the right path.
Be patient with yourself and your loved ones ... This can be overwhelming sometimes, and honestly sometimes it feels like losing a loved one... But just like working through the grief cycle of that type of loss, embracing healthy coping skills and healthy communication is beyond beneficial.
In my situation, my kid is the most understanding and helpful ... Sometimes it feels like the adults in the room learn more from my child about how to treat and help me ...
Born-1995 5 points 2y ago
Orientation and mobility training is important, as well as adaptive technology training. I had started these types of training before COVID hit and unfortunately have had to stop due to social distancing. Hopefully all those programs start back up this coming year. Anyway, ask about those kinds of services at your meeting.
OutWestTexas 3 points 2y ago
It would be helpful for you to talk to someone who has gone through this and it would be helpful for your mom and wife to speak to someone who is blind so they can allay their fears.
bradley22 2 points 2y ago
I can't help as I live in the UK but wel done for not taking the doom and gloom aproach, it's going to be hard being blind when you've been able to see but it's totally doable.
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Definitely not the end of the world. If you have any questions let me know I am quite a independent and capable blind person.
I would say start learning braille, orientation and mobility, and computer screen reading skills now!!!!!
I would say start learning braille, orientation and mobility, and computer screen reading skills now!!!!!
CopTheKick [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Blind services has been telling me Braille wasn’t that important anymore with technology
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
That’s unfortunate really. Because that’s not necessarily true. It can be quite important and very useful but it all depends.
Altie-McAltface 1 points 2y ago
Allow yourself to grieve. It’s just like losing a loved one. You’ll bounce back and forth between various emotions. Also know this will be hard on your family, maybe even harder than for you. Depending on your job this could be just a small bump or it could be very difficult. Learn Braille. Don’t listen to people who say it’s obsolete. Braille literacy is highly correlated to employment.
if you start things like Braille and O&M now, you can hit the ground running when your vision goes.
if you start things like Braille and O&M now, you can hit the ground running when your vision goes.
ukifrit 1 points 2y ago
So your not thinking about this as the end of your entire world, that’s good. I’d recommend you to see a therapist, because this process isn’t easy to deal with, a therapist might help you on the psychological side of stuff.
The rest is like you said, you’ll have to learn how to do stuff without sight, which might be tricky as someone who lived 40 years with vision. Nothing impossible though. I hope your family doesn’t try to overprotect you from now on, that’s reallyannoying, saying from personal experience.
The rest is like you said, you’ll have to learn how to do stuff without sight, which might be tricky as someone who lived 40 years with vision. Nothing impossible though. I hope your family doesn’t try to overprotect you from now on, that’s reallyannoying, saying from personal experience.
CopTheKick [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I mean it’s not like they gave me 6 months to live, I mean it could be worse ya know. I mean it sucks. I’d like to see what my boys look like as adults, more national parks, and me and my wife agreed if it goes out before the Tesla cyber truck comes out, I’m still buying it. I’m like under 2000 in line so I can feel all over it and sell it and make a couple bucks. There’s currently like 400k pre ordered.
Btw everyone here is pretty swell, and I appreciate it.
Btw everyone here is pretty swell, and I appreciate it.
ukifrit 2 points 2y ago
It will just turn into another aspect of your life. You of course won’t see your kids anymore, but you’ll be with them anyway, helping and caring and, you know, parents stuff. You’ll get used not to see, you still have 4 senses to experience the world and people you like.
Wishing you all the best.
Wishing you all the best.
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