Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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SSDI Vision Exam coming up (self.Blind)
submitted by blazblu82
Based on the paperwork I got from SSDI, they ordered a comprehensive ophthalmic exam along with Goldmann, Octopus or Humphrey visual field exams. In the past, when I sat through a visual field test, my left eye performs poorly while looking into the equipment. I do have usable peripheral otherwise. It's strange, I'll sit there and stare at the orange light; but as time passes, the interior of the device gradually gets darker to the point, I don't notice most of the white lights. Since my left eye is photophobic, I would think there would be no problem detecting those lights. But it's like I get severe tunnel vision and my mind or something blocks out everything. Even the orange light starts to vanish on me. I have no idea how the examiner is going to document this.
Has anyone experienced anything like this with the visual field test machines?
Has anyone experienced anything like this with the visual field test machines?
SoapyRiley 1 points 1y ago
Ooh something like that happens to me too. Like the eye I’m looking out of gets tired and my brain switches the signal to the patched eye so everything goes fuzzy dark then blanks out. If I move my eye, the signal reboots but then throws off the test even more because now I’m looking around.
NoConfidence_2192 1 points 1y ago
I think, maybe? Most of the time there are no visual cues to tell me I am seeing less. Nothing blank, blurred, fuzzy, or just plain missing. My mind seems to fill in the gaps with what it believes should be there. So even though I know see less, as all of the curbs I've missed and things I've run into can attest, I rarely see anything that tells me I am. The exception to this seems to be when I focus on a fixed point for an extended period of time , like we do during those visual field tests. I have noticed when I do that my mind seems to take that as a sign that it's okay to stop filling in the gaps and all of the extras it adds become less and less distinct until there is nothing there. Not too comfortable with that yet so tend to avoid doing that as much as possible.
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Let us know how things go. I have started the SSDI application process and will likely be having many of the same tests so I'm interested to see what your experience is like.
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Good luck and remember to enjoy the day as much as possible.
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Let us know how things go. I have started the SSDI application process and will likely be having many of the same tests so I'm interested to see what your experience is like.
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Good luck and remember to enjoy the day as much as possible.
blazblu82 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I understand what you're describing and it sounds like myself. Although, I'm not running into much except on right side where I'm blind. Curbs I can handle OK unless they are same color then I can't tell. I do notice when I'm shaving in the bathroom, my face tries to disappear if I stare at it long enough in the mirror.
Have you ever noticed the image suddenly jump or shift? It's bizarre and I've only caught it a few times. I wonder if that's the brain doing that as it fills in the gaps? If our brain really does fill in the gaps that much and accurate enough to make us believe we're seeing OK, sheesh, I hate to know how bad my vision actually is.
So far, the SSDI process hasn't been bad. This exam coming up is the last bit before they make their decision and I've already been told they have strong evidence to support low-vision disability. We'll see what happens after Wednesday. I started the process in late Feb and they are back dating it to kid November when I stopped working. They made it sound like I should be seei g payments by June. I wont get SSI, though, since I'm getting unemployment which SSDI is fine with.
Keep an eye out for updates and thanks!
Have you ever noticed the image suddenly jump or shift? It's bizarre and I've only caught it a few times. I wonder if that's the brain doing that as it fills in the gaps? If our brain really does fill in the gaps that much and accurate enough to make us believe we're seeing OK, sheesh, I hate to know how bad my vision actually is.
So far, the SSDI process hasn't been bad. This exam coming up is the last bit before they make their decision and I've already been told they have strong evidence to support low-vision disability. We'll see what happens after Wednesday. I started the process in late Feb and they are back dating it to kid November when I stopped working. They made it sound like I should be seei g payments by June. I wont get SSI, though, since I'm getting unemployment which SSDI is fine with.
Keep an eye out for updates and thanks!
NoConfidence_2192 1 points 1y ago
Will keep following. Thanks!
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