Moment of Truth

I have been putting this off for quite some time, but I thought I should get myself together and go to my optometrist to have a check up to see where my eyes are at. I also needed a new pair of glasses as the pair I currently wear are broken - I sat on them and my Dad did a botch glue job to 'fix' them and they are now wonky. So all in a all a visit to the optometrist was overdue.


I felt quite nervous because I didn't want to hear bad news. I had been feeling as though my eyes were deteriorating, that I couldn't see as well and things were getting harder. Going to the optometrist was a big deal for me. 


My lovely Mum came along with me for moral support as I am known to have a breakdown or two, and she came in with me to do the testing. I really REALLY hate doing the eyes tests. I can never see anything and I get really frustrated trying to read the letters. Without my glasses the massive two letters on the first row are a big, blurry mess. So the test stresses me out a bit as I want so badly to be able to read the lines when I can't.  My optometrist discovered that my eyes have become more shortsighted,  so he was able to give me a stronger prescription to help me see in the distance slightly sharper and clearer, which I am excited about.


The great news is my eyes have not deteriorated in the last three years since I have seen him, which I am very lucky and thankful for. The only dampener was that my eyes really are rubbish and I am almost classified as legally blind, but if this is going to be it I sure can live with this and soldier on!


We had a big talk about the reality - driving, work in the future and possible pensions. The last thing I want is to be on a disability pension. I love my work and could not think of a day not being able to work. So I will cross that bridge later when I get to it, but I think its important that I am aware of what help is out there and have an understanding so if the need arose I would know what I have to do.


The main highlight of my visit was getting new glasses! I am so excited to get them! I purchased a new set of Oroton frames that I am in love with that are slightly bigger than your normal sized frames (yes I'm following the fashion trend) and I had an old Guess pair that I'm putting frames in as well.


I am very lucky to now know that my eyes are stable and fingers crossed they stay that way. At least I don't have to go back for testing for another few years!

Zoomtext!

My Zoom Text finally arrived today!!! I am very excited to get it to work tomorrow and load it up! I have been waiting for this software for such a long time so it is a great relief that I finally have it in my hot little hands!


I must thank Quantum for their help, they have been really helpful and so quick to respond to all my queries. Once I purchased the software they sent it straight away. 


I'll keep you all posted on how it goes when I get it into work! I can't wait to read my computer screen with ease!


Check out Quantum, I strongly recommend them for all technology you might need!


Quantum

Bookworm

I really enjoy reading, especially before bed, and have a recent goal of collecting many books to make a mini library. In the past few months, I have realised that it has become harder to read books, and I can no longer put the book closer to my face as it is already touching my nose. So I stopped reading and started watching more tv.


Not long later I signed up at my local library and discovered there was a "large print" section. I was so excited I could start reading again without having to strain my eyes. I started browsing through the shelves trying to find something interesting, but everything seemed like an old, romantic novel and nothing I was interested in. All the books seemed to be targeted at an older age group. What about me?! I have poor vision too and want to read! So I was left disappointed. 


I then decided to do some googling to see if I could find anybody selling large font books. I looked up the major websites and found, once again, that almost all the books were aimed at the older generations. I was actually quite surprised I thought that at least the major novels would be printed in large font, but no.


Options to help reading would include reading on the computer where there is adaptive software to enlarge, or a screen reader, but this doesn't enable me to read in bed or lay in the sun and read. I thought possibly I could purchase an iPad and download books on there to enlarge, yet this is an expensive investment considering there are other things that I need as well. 


I hope to find a place or a shop online that sells large text font in books that I'm interested and if anybody has a secret about this please share! 


I am also seriously considering getting an iPad not only to help me read but also so I could play all my favourite games that I'm starting to struggle playing on my iPhone. 


Until then, I will be tuned in to my tv (mind you it's 60 inches and I still can't see the thing properly!!).

Update on the Bionic Eye

I have posted previously about the bionic eye and have some exciting updates. 


A new microchip has been produced which will speed up the process toward the bionic eye, and I'm proud to say it's an Aussie organization leading the way - Bionic Vision Australia.


On the website, they also explain how the bionic eye will work:


"The high-acuity bionic eye will consist of a camera, attached to a pair of glasses which capture images and send them directly to a retinal implant, containing a microchip. The information is decoded by the microchip and informs the electrical stimulation of the retina. These signals are then passed along the optic nerve to the brain where they are interpreted as vision."


This is amazing stuff and will not only benefit Stargardt's patients but other more common eye conditions like macular degeneration. 


I've been pondering this idea of becoming bionic woman for a while, although I never really understood how it would work. I kept telling people "it's something to do with a microchip in your eye" which actually sounds quite weird. Now I understand that it will incorporate glasses, hopefully a pair that you wear every day and not big, thick lensed goofy looking glasses! I'm guessing there will still involve some sorts of surgery to implant the microchip and then to connect it to the nerves. Medicine truly is amazing.


This is a diagram from the Bionic Vision Australia website explaining how the device will work.

Check out their website for more information and to see the picture clearer!


Bionic Vision Australia

Grandma Glasses

I was walking outside today in the beautiful sun since we've had terrible weather in Sydney the past week, and I got a few funny looks from some young nurses. I realized that my small reading glasses were tinted so dark I looked like I had a pair of disgusting old fashioned sunglasses on.

Normally I'd get embarrassed about them because I think I look like my grandma in them and no one my age has to wear tinted glasses!! But I realized who cares? This is one of the only things I was told that could protect my eyes - keeping the sun from them. So I've decided I'm going to bring the daggy style in fashion!! Anybody want to help?!?!

Thank You

I just want to say a big thank you to everybody who has contacted me and supports this blog. I can not explain how much I appreciate your kind words and encouragement. I will do my best to gather information and get Stargardt's out there so hopefully in the near future we can have a treatment that is available to all of us.

You are all my inspiration just as much as I might be yours! Never give up on your dreams and what you have always wanted in life because this isn't going to stop you but rather make you even more determined to succeed!

Thank you again!!!!

Finally!

I have FINALLY received my magnifier! I purchased it from Quantum Reading Learning Vision in Sydney and I received it within a day! I am loving having my own Compact Plus I have been using at work and at home. I think a lot of people around the office are jealous of my new gadget! It has heaped me greatly with my everyday work so now I can read paper documents a lot easier. 


It was hard to get use to at first as you have to move it across the page but once I got the hang of it I was loving it! My neck is thanking me as I no longer have to bend over to read things. I can not wait to get the rest of my stuff. It has taken a while but I have finally made progress!


This is me playing with my magnifier at work!