"I Have Good News and Bad News. Which Do You Want First?"

I have had everything you can get with eye issues... glaucoma, torn retina, cataracts, dry eye, and last — but probably the worst — AMD.

My AMD diagnosis

My AMD diagnosis showed up when I had my cataract surgery. The doctor said, "I have good news and bad... I got you 20/20 vision, which is great. But I also found you have AMD."

Shocked, I said, "I get my eyes checked all the time. Why didn’t anyone ever tell me?

His answer: "Because it was hiding behind your cataracts, and once they were removed, it was found. And it's both eyes."

My retina specialist is the greatest

It was dry AMD, and I still am in that stage. I was told to see a retina specialist, which I did, and she and I have a marriage. LOL. She is the greatest.

I went from mild to moderate, and then finally, I hit severe. But it took a long time and a lot of keeping an eye on it.

Injection treatment results

Now I am getting the eye injections every 8 weeks, and so far so good. I had another 8-week visit yesterday for an injection in my left eye. Next week I go back for the injection in my right eye.

However, she was very impressed yesterday and said, "Your last visit you did just ok with the eye chart. Today you did excellent, with 20/25 in both eyes."

I did not expect that, and I am thrilled and hope we are onto something.

I am blessed to have a wonderful doctor

So, as I said, she and I have a marriage now, and it's a good one. I am facing this as best I can at 89 years old now. So it's been a while — 16 years since my original diagnosis. It took that long for me to go from mild to severe.

Back then, when it was discovered, there was nothing to treat dry AMD. It was a waiting and a praying game. But here I am, trying to do what I can to keep the 20/25 vision I have and am blessed with, and with my wonderful doctor. I get Izervay injections, and so far no problems with it. I'm cautiously optimistic.