Just found this site and thought I would sign up and get acquainted with it. Glad it's here, although I'm hesitant to read much as my nerves can't handle much right now.
I'm 50, and have always had very poor eyesight. Hard to say when it started, but probably a couple of years ago I started noticing some vague and slight fuzziness on occasion. I thought maybe some muscle strain in my neck was causing it. Or perhaps I had diabetes and didn't know it, and I didn't want to know it, so I worked on having a healthier diet and losing some weight. I finally went to an optometrist last January for an exam and new glasses. (It had been 3 years since my previous exam.) I had actually forgotten about the occasional fussiness when I went in for this exam and didn't even mention it to the doc. Well the doc (an older and very experienced lady) discovered that my right eye is blurred and she could not fully correct it on any setting of magnification. She checked for a cataract and found nothing. Then she did a simple light test and told me my right eye is well on its way to MD. She then told me the bad news about MD. My heart sank and I felt like the whole room went dark. She told me that the only thing I can do right now is try to slow it down by taking a supplement (areds or occuvite). She told me my vision may change some with the supplement so I should come back in three months and get checked again and she would give me a new prescription at that time
Well three months has come and passed. I know it's pathetic and stupid but I've just not gotten up the courage to go back. I've never dealt with medical issues well. I just get such an intense fear and panic. Hoped it would get better with age but it's just gotten worse. Meanwhile, my left eye is just fine, and most of the time, using both my eyes, I see pretty well and don't notice vision problems. So it's been easy to put off. But I really must go back. Keeps nagging me. But I'm so fearful of what will happen next. I can hardly bear the thought of sitting in that chair and being examined and hearing what she has to say.
Meanwhile, I sense that the problem is getting worse, but I don't know. Maybe the supplement has changed my prescription needs a bit. Maybe it's the age of my current glasses and all the scratches. Or maybe it's the anxiety. Funny thing is, the more I think about this problem, the worse my vision seems. I become obsessive and find myself continually comparing how well each eye can read various signs and text. But when my mind is on other things I really don't notice much of a problem.
I know I'm being a baby about it all and there only one thing to do - quite whining and go back to the doc. But thought it might help to at least talk about my fears somewhere. I've never told anyone I know. So thanks for this forum.
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oneby
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Hi Oneby, I found this site over 7 weeks ago when I was first diagnosed with myopic CNV. Like you I have had bad eyesight all my life but one day I woke up and noticed blurred vision , lines were not straight. I wear contact lenses so I phoned my optician and asked their opinion, they said to come in the next day. I've had same optician for about 30 yrs and I trust them. They photographed back of eye and referred me to my local hospital, which happens to have a specialist eye department.
I waited 5 weeks for appointment in that 5 weeks I would cover good eye , continually check vision , thinking all things and I knew it was deteriorating. When I got the diagnosis , panic, fear everything set in , I'm an Electrical Engineer, I was thinking work what will I do if I can't work, I'm only 52 !! but I'm fortunate to have found this forum and the people on here have been through similar feelings and issues and they gave me great advice and mostly support through understanding what I was going through also the macula society who sent me some leaflets.
I'm now two injections into my treatment , and I have to say they are ok , I've had no issues . Second injection was last Tuesday I never felt a thing, no after affect , they are really good at the Hairmyres Hospital. I'm also also taking Areds2 suggested by somebody on here and I haven't looked back.
Three weeks after the first injection I had to get a new pair of glasses as old ones were out of date due to the fact I mostly wear contact lenses. Anyway I persuaded my optician to retest my eyes although they were not keen so soon after the injection. To my surprise and delight my 'bad eye' was reading one line better on the chart from diagnosis, I was amazed and pleased but will remain open minded as I still have 3rd injection then another Scan to review .
Please go and see your optician and get a scan done as it sounds like you could need treatment sooner rather than later and time matters when it comes to problems with eyesight.
I think problems with our eyes make us all fearful and no you are not being a "baby" ,we have all been there.
Go back , ask the questions and accept the treatments that may be necessary . I think once you have all the information it will make it easier to deal with. Hug.
Hi oneby, firstly sending you a big hug X Diagnosis is always a shock. I assume from what you've said that you have the dry md. which is very slow acting. You don't mention your doc giving you an amsler grid. Print one off the internet. This is the thing to check weekly. It will show you whether or not your md eye is worse. If you see wavy lines that would indicate it may have changed to the wet form which needs prompt treatment.
I know it's hard to face these things and also how easy it is to obsess but I promise you that you will feel better by taking control of things. Monitor your eye with the amsler, go back to the doc for the review, and keep to future reviews on time etc.
Let go of what you can't change but do everything you can to bring positivity into the situation.
Everyone here understands and you will find support whenever you need it.
Your feelings after your diagnosis are quite natural.
Your worry about the future, anger; 'why me' and what can I do about it?
The Macular Society have a free telephone counselling service and a net work of support groups in the UK, some for younger 'working age' people, where you can meet others and share your concerns and issues.
Please see our booklet called 'The Emotional Impact of Sight Loss' at the following link;
Your fear is understandible. We have all been there. Slow down and take a deep breath. When we are panicking, our minds may go off the rails a bit and we may at times no longer be sure of what is real and what is not. Like you, at the beginning of my diagnosis, I checked my eyes about every 5 minutes to see if anything had changed. It became a real obsession. Now, 18 months on and 7 injections later, I no longer feel that obsessive need, though there is never room for complacency. Please, do not distress yourself with imaginings. Take one day at the time. And remember, not everyone with dry MD will go on to develop the wet type. Only 10 to 15%. But even if it does happen, it is not the end of the world. Treatment is available and often quite successful. Remember, you are not alone; we, despite all our different eye conditions, all sing from the same hymn sheet. We are here to listen and to support you whenever you need advice and encouragement. A big hug!
I've been through the same fear. I've just turned 33 recently and I was diagnosed with AS with CNV left eye. I've cried a lot for the past week. I cried because I don't know how long I will be able to work or drive. I cried because I feel very bad for my wife who will have to go through this with me at such a young age. I don't know if I will be able to recover from this feeling.
So sorry to hear that. Really sorry. Wish there was something helpful to say. All I know is that, given time, people usually find the capacity to cope. But we have to go through phases of dealing with difficult news or a difficult diagnosis. Also, finding others with the same problem is helpful. You aren't alone in this. And although I'm new on this forum myself, it seems like a pretty good place to vent.
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