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Community Perspectives: Awareness, Diagnosis, and Life With MD

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By MacularDegeneration.net

2 min read

February is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month, but every month is the right time to raise awareness and uplift the voices of our MacularDegeneration.net community members. No matter your diagnosis, or whether you are still seeking one, you are welcome here.

Perspectives on diagnosis, awareness, and new life

In this Community Perspectives article, we've gathered together a variety of experiences from our Health Leaders and community members alike, from diagnosis and treatment stories to experiences of self-advocacy, self-care, and maintaining a positive outlook on the future with macular degeneration.

You can also share your own experiences with the community by voting in the polls included in this article or submitting a story.

Thank you for sharing your memories, insights, and advice with us!

The varied emotions of diagnosis

Tendertrak: "It freaked me out that my left eye could no longer see any number or alphabet. I cried openly but praised God I still had my right eye that could see everything. I've learned to live with it and thankful I am sharing this story."

Linda Hoopes: "I prided myself on being fiercely independent and couldn’t fathom relying on others or asking for help. Professional counseling helped me acknowledge and face my fears and find peace with my diagnosis."

Different types, different treatments

Robin: "I’m now 71 and happened upon this site. I didn’t know what GA was and didn’t know that there was a separate category for myopic MD. I’m glad to see all the advances (since I was diagnosed in the early 80s) for those of you who are new to this."

Sharon Moore: "I realized that, subconsciously, I took specific steps every day in an effort to try to slow the progression of my AMD. Here are 6 of those steps..."

Beverly Dame: "I couldn’t remember the exact date, so I got my medical records from my first retina specialist: July 15, 2019, one of those defining moments in my life. There are a few things I have learned in the past 4 years that might help someone newly diagnosed with macular degeneration..."

Finding community, raising awareness, and looking to the future

Debbie: "As I have gotten older, all of 63 years of age, it has become clear to me that life is too short. Too short for giving up..."

RandyS: "It's possible that we may be the first generation of [geographic atrophy patients] to benefit from this tsunami of potential. It's exciting!"

Venice: "I’m glad that I found this group forum that gives me hope and being positive that I’m not the only one who has this fear of what my future will be."

kcourtright: "I do believe you must be an advocate for yourself. Research everything you can get your hands on."

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Treatment results and side effects can vary from person to person. This treatment information is not meant to replace professional medical advice. Talk to your doctor about what to expect before starting and while taking any treatment.
This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The MacularDegeneration.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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