How did I know I needed help?
I have a macular hole in my right eye as the result of a childhood injury. When I was in my 50s, my eyesight changed. I needed cataract and laser surgeries in both eyes. I depended on my left eye and lived an active lifestyle.
When I turned 70 and my eyesight changed again. The first indication was when I was leaving the store when I was stopped by a glass door. I thought nothing of it; anyone could make that mistake. But the next day, a friend called out to me after I walked right past her. She looked puzzled when I told her the room was not very bright. But a few days later, as I tried to sit on the bench at the bus stop and landed on the ground. I felt as if these were warning signs that things had changed.
I made an appointment with my optometrist, and she told me that my eyesight had indeed changed. She made a referral to an ophthalmologist. After several tests, the ophthalmologist gave me the sad news. I have wet macular degeneration and there was no cure. He told me that he would refer me to a retina specialist if my eyesight got worse.
I have lived long enough to know that I would find strategies to adjust. My optometrist gave me an over-the-counter prescription that is working fine. Although I love to read, I listen to books on tape. I feel the bench at the bus stop to make sure I do not end up on the ground. I feel counter surfaces when reaching for objects. I use the rails when walking up or down stairs. I copy and paste text into documents and make the text bold. I print and enlarge the text for recipes and articles I want to read. I wear bifocal sunglasses when I go outside.
My life has not changed very much since I got MD; I just altered my activities. As a result, I feel confident, I have supportive friends and family members, and I am an independent senior.
you have made very sensible adjustments and thank you for sharing those with us. There have certainly been many issues with your eyes over the years. It's good to hear that you are remaining independent and have a good network of friends and family. Which eye has the wet macular degeneration? Is it the one with the macular hole? Wendy, Patient Leader. No, the right eye has the macular hole. The left eye has wet MD. I am still learning the differences between wet MD and dry MD.
the reason I asked is that most people are treated for wet macular degeneration with regular injections in the eye to dry up the leakage. I'm wondering why your optometrist said there is no treatment? Wendy, Patient Leader.
My ophthalmologist is cautious because I have very little vision in my eye right (caused by the macular hole). There’s no guarantee the injections will automatically improve my vision. So, I take over-the-counter pills twice a day. Every month, I test myself with the Amsler grid. Also, I try to avoid putting pressure on my eyes. I limit my time on the computer. I use over-the-counter eye drops several times a day to avoid dry eye. I put a warm, wet washcloth over my eyes if I have a headache. So far, my left, MD eye has not gotten worse.
thank you for elaborating. I thought it might be something like this. The adage, "First do no harm" is very valid and sensible, particularly in your case. It seems you and your ophthalmologist are keeping a close watch on your wet eye, and you are taking good, sensible steps to look after it. I'm glad there's been no deterioration so far. It sounds like a good plan. Wendy, Patient Leader.
