One day, at the age of 58, I found my vision strange and thought I needed new glasses so took myself off to see an optician. Having arrived in England from South Africa some six months prior I had not had an eye test in this country yet.
I was informed at the consultation to go to the Eye clinic of a local hospital within 1 week. I was not told the reason and immediate went to the internet to do some research on eye cancer! When I eventually walked into the eye consultant’s office and after the examination I was diagnosed with AMD. I dislike the term Age related Macular Degeneration as I am very young to be afflicted with this disability.
I was given some reading literature and told to come back in a year’s time. My vision was like seeing the world through emmental cheese but struggled on with my job as I have to work being the sole bread winner and as I am not registered as partially sighted yet, do not qualify for benefits. Two or more years passed and the sight deteriorated further. I noticed it difficult to see in various lighting situations and was unable to read a menu in a restaurant. As a matter of fact it was about two years ago that I was having difficulty in reading road signs, train station signs, time table boards and name plats on buses. Driving has become more difficult and I am very careful about the light in which I drive and never drive at night any longer. I have always been a very active person all my life playing sport such as tennis and golf.
I can no longer see the golf ball at a distance and hold up everyone on the golf course getting my partner and four ball churnned up with having to wait for me to find the ball. Putting became impossible so I gave up golf and took up walking. Problem with this is I misjudge the height of pavements and run the risk of tripping. I love bike riding as well and even this is becoming dangerous – even crossing a road is rather dicey as I misjudge oncoming traffic & must always use the green man if there is one about – if not, I take a chance. Hence my hearing is becoming very good indeed.
I am still employed as a property manager for a very good housing association and work on site managing 62 retirement flats with 55 elderly residents including the maintenance and repairs of the property. I really love my work and would like to be able to work until the age of 70 if possible as my pension will be very small so I worry about my retirement. Reading a book or newspaper is impossible and has become very difficult even with aids such as magnifiers & special day light lamps. I really need a blind reader but they are expensive so unable to afford this luxury. So I would like to become involved in the MD research program but unsure how to go about it. I suppose I should just write to Moorfield Eye hospital and hope for the best.
My next big challenge is cooking which I love and have always been a foodie & great cook. I have enjoyed creative cooking up till now but this is becoming laborious & far too time consuming even with my day lamp which I use for peeling onions & other vegetables. The best kitchen investment is a small Russell Hobbs mini food processor which does all the chopping for me and is invaluable under the circumcision. If anyone could point me in the right direction as far as becoming a guinea pig is concerned please don’t hesitate to contact me. Now at the age of 63 I still have a long way to go so feel that there could be merit in my willingness to do clinical & medical trials for stem cell & other drug or surgical remedial procedures.
Today I have just returned from a routine eye test with my spectacle practitioner who has told me that they are unable to improve on any magnification – sorry nothing we can do, I was told… this is now the third year on that they are unable to do anything to help my reading or magnification. So I feel that I could possibly contribute to further research in a very positive way if I was given the opportunity.
However, even though easy daily tasks take three times as long to complete as they used to, the frustration is very difficult to live with but I am very grateful and do have a positive attitude of gratitude for my life which I love and live to the full as much as possible. There are millions worse off than I but I still would love a shot at being used for clinical or surgical trials.
Hope someone out there can help me.
Look forward to hearing from someone very soon
Kind regards and take care.
Yours sincerely
Lynette Bardeleben
