Loss of eyesight challenges a person across the board, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
It happened to me over 30 years ago. I was vacationing at a destination resort near Santa Fe, New Mexico. I asked for a wake-up call at 6 a.m. my last morning at the resort. When that wake-up call rang, I thought it was in the middle of the night; it was pitch black. I later learned that actually, the sun already was up. But it wasn’t up for me.
My comments in this blog hopefully will provide encouragement to those who are traveling the same road I have traveled for the past thirty two years, regardless of their range of limited vision, be it just some impairment or even no vision at all.
In addition to my own experiences of living without sight, I have interviewed and counseled a large number of other people who have serious eyesight limitations.
For those with loss of vision and those who are personally close to a person who has a loss of vision, I do not sugar coat what lies ahead. But I do reassure those with whom I share my experiences that a full and rewarding life does not end when eyesight impairment begins.
The progress that has been made in medical eye treatments and rehabilitation in the past several decades is phenomenal. Yet loss of vision still occurs, even with all the new state-of-the-art treatments and technologies.
I am not an eye doctor.
My area of work in the blind community is in the area of how to go forward with a meaningful, independent and successful life style, notwithstanding a loss of vision.
I lost vision in my right eye at the age of 42. Then twelve years later, at the age of 54, I lost vision in my left eye as well.
Following multiple surgeries I did obtain a small field of vision in my right eye that lasted for 18 years. Then, three years ago, even that small field of vision was lost.
By relating my own experiences and by communicating what I have learned from others with impaired vision, I hope to provide some guidance to those who are starting to travel the same road.
Regardless of the level of eye problem severity, there are things a person can do to modify their life style and personal habits so they can live independently, continue to work to support themselves and their family, continue to socialize and interact with friends and others, continue to travel, continue their education and continue to maintain a physically active life style.
So if you are interested I invite you to follow this blog on this website for a few sessions during the year. Little step by little step, I will explain how I have traveled this road of limited vision for over 30 years, and still have a zest for life and a faith and hope that things will get even better.
The first few steps will be described when Blog O2 appears — so cheers.
– Art Schreiber
Some of my experiences and recommendations are contained in my recently published and award winning book, Out of Sight, Blind and Doing All Right, by Art Schreiber, as told to Hal Simmons.
