Articles

Time is funny. Not in the slap-your-knee kind of funny — funny as in, "How is that even possible?" funny. One day you are marking days on the calendar, and...

Yep, I truly could write a book on macular degeneration — SO I DID! I’m sure it won’t be a bestseller, nor will people scramble to buy it upon its...

I was diagnosed with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) 9 years ago. My mom and sister both had wet macular degeneration. I figured that might well be in the cards...

For the last 10 years, I’ve tried to find out as much as I can about my dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). But I’m still confused or unsure on many...

"You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou Living my life with myopic macular degeneration has really changed what I thought my...

I grew up without a car. My mother was on her own, working in a garment factory, not making much money and raising a child. We relied on the bus...

Growing up, I was the only person in my family who was visually impaired. At a very young age, I tried hard to assimilate. I did not want to inconvenience...

For hours I’d been searching for my sunglasses. I was determined not to give up, as they were my most expensive pair. They are a wrap-around kind and protect my...

In my early 60s, I shared caregiving for my mom with my sister. Mom had wet macular degeneration requiring monthly injections. My caregiving involved taking care of my mom’s bills...

The great American poet Robert Frost made the following remark in an interview in 1954 with a Mr. Ray Joseph of The Cincinnati Enquirer: “In three words, I can sum...

“Would you rather lose your sight or hearing?” is how it would start. It was usually late at night, in someone’s dorm room, when we should have been working on...

If you have been diagnosed with dry macular degeneration, you may be experiencing a range of emotions that include anxiety, confusion, sadness, or disappointment. You may be wondering what your...

I have had dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) for 8 years now.  In the early years after diagnosis, there was very little effect on my daily life.  Four years ago...

Never could I imagine EVER thinking a diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) would be GOOD news... until my friend called with this exciting news following an exam by a retina...

One of my favorite mantras in life is, “It is important to finish what I start.” I use that phrase literally and figuratively in all aspects of my life, whether...

They say "timing is everything," but with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), nothing is certain. There are many decisions to make, and it’s difficult to get the timing right. One decision...

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them." - The Dalai Lama Lately I have become more...

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over age 55. There are 2 types: wet and dry. The dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)...

Essence Johnson, OD, FAAO, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. Inside and outside of the office, Dr. Johnson...

Confession time. I buy and eat processed foods. You know, the easy-to-microwave stuff that puts dinner on the table in 5 minutes. I buy them because I know there will...