Articles

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...

Since I began working as an advocate and writer for the Macular Degeneration community, I have blithely written about the progressive nature of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). I say "blithely"...

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...

When I had my last dogs, we were walking and the coyotes were howling on the hillside. When the coyotes started excitedly barking and yipping, my dogs both did a...

Ask questions — lots of questions. Never be reluctant to share your experiences about age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or to voice your fears and concerns. This lesson was reinforced by...

In 2017, I went to my optometrist for my annual exam. I wasn’t experiencing any symptoms. After peering into my eyes, he said he saw something that didn’t look normal...

"No one ever injured their eyesight by looking at the bright side of things.” - The Celtic Sage Grey Wolf (UK) Macular degeneration is a lot of things. It is...

At a very early age, I knew that I saw things differently than most. I vividly remember going to the school nurse’s office each year to complete the vision test...