Welcome
to my Macular Degeneration"Hope" Page
...dedicated to providing hope and helpful information for
Macular Degeneration Newbies.
Hi, I'm Linda, from Vancouver
and this is my
"You've got to be kidding!"
expression...
Table of Contents
for Easy Site Navigation
What is Macular Degeneration?
Note: The links in this website spawn baby pages.
To return to this page, just close the new window.
As it happens, Dr. M. was not kidding when he told me the reason I suddenly couldn't see was that I was suffering from Macular Degeneration, a disease of the retina which attacks some people slowly and insidiously, and others, like myself, with absolutely no warning.
On Friday the 13th of November, 1998, as I was quietly typing, I suddenly could not see well enough to read. The reason? I had lost the central vision in my left eye. It had gone from 20/20 to 20/400+ quite literally "in the blink of an eye".
looks like to me.
For a sample of what some
other MD People see,
click here.
Second, I was lucky enough to be treated immediately - the surgery took place exactly 10 days after the symptoms were discovered. I was told it would be months before the outcome of the surgery would be known, but the chances for success were about 65%.
Third, desperate for information about MD in general, and my surgery in particular, I waded through internet. There I found a lot of dire and hopeless news - which I knew to be obsolete because I'd already had the surgery that all those articles said was not available!
Finally, I fell over the MD People Website and support group.
Here, at last, was a resource enthusiastically providing the most current, comprehensive,
clear and positive information, and lots of good advice, but also warmth, kindness, and
hope.
Reading correspondence from other "Macular Degenerates", I was appalled at how little help is being offered to people when they are diagnosed with this very frightening disease, especially those whose symptoms sound similar to my own. While submacular surgery is not suitable for everyone, if it could help, it should be made an option! And if surgery is not the answer, there are other new treatments. There are new techniques, new tools, new research...
My heart goes out to the Newbies who come to these pages in search of answers. My advice to the Newbies: There are answers out there, and in here. Just keep asking. Never give up.
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Eat your spinach! Find out why. Click here to visit the Lutein Information Bureau website. |
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Take eye-targetting vitamins with anti-oxidants and carotenoids |
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Always protect your eyes from both the UV and Blue light ranges of the spectrum |
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Avoid smoke and pollution. It's a pretty sure bet that smoking contributed to my vision loss. |
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Don't try to go it alone. Join a support group - It's comforting to share with others who understand exactly what you see, but more importantly, how you feel. |
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Knowledge is Power! Learn as much as you can about this disease. Ask questions. Read as much as you can on the subject. If you can't read anymore, ask your loved ones to read to you. |
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Twilight:
Losing Sight, Gaining Insight, |
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Overcoming
Macular Degeneration: A Guide to Seeing Beyond the Clouds, |
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Macular
Degeneration: The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight, |
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Macular
Degeneration: Living Positively with Vision Loss, |
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Save
Your Sight! Natural Ways to Prevent and Reverse Macular Degeneration, |
All of these books available through the LowVis Bookstore at Amazon.com. MD Support will receive a commission on all purchases made through this page. Thank you for supporting our important public awareness efforts by shopping at the LowVis Book Store.
Click on the MD Support logo to go to the MD Support page. I promise you, this is your connection to the best MD People you'll ever find. Also, a phenomenal resource for information and links.
Bonus link 1:
MD People
Gathered in NYC June 5 - 7, 1999
Bonus link 2:
Paris with Karine and Gaetan, September 13, 2000
Click on the Macular Degeneration Partnership Logo to visit the MacD.net, an absolutely fabulous resource.
Click on the Retinal Ribbon to visit the Macular Degeneration Foundation homepage.
Lighthouse International is a not-for-profit organization providing a phenomenal collection information and resources for the blind or partially sighted. Make a point to visit also the Lighthouse Catalogue.
The Low Vision Gateway is your starting point to access the low vision resources of the world.
This website is dedicated to providing information and support to, foremost, those afflicted by Histoplasmosis, and also to the general public to heighten awareness about the disease
Logo to come
Olympian Marla Runyan is a superb role model, for the fully-sighted as well as for the visually challenged. Read her story. She's a hero.
includes a comprehensive collection of very interesting information, especially on research and treatments.
Judy tells you her story from newbie to now, candidly and perceptively, to provide other newbies with the benefit of her experience, and her advice for holding on to those Jolts of Hope.
Excellent source of information about lutein and nutrients for eye health. Some interactive bonuses - you can also test your lutein intake, calculate your risk, and test your vision.
ZeaVision™ is a patent-protected dosage of zeaxanthin believed by a growing number of scientists to be an essential nutritional component in the eye.
Shop online for brand name vision-oriented vitamins.
ScienceBased Health develops and markets innovative nutritional supplements focused exclusively on promoting healthy eyes.
Age at diagnosis:
Occupation:
Citizenship:
Guaranteed to make you smile:
Interests:
Please note: Credit for the animated cat graphics goes to Valerie. I've been a shameless plagiarizer! So,"Thanks, Valerie! - I especially love these animated cats."
Macular
"Degenerates" Survey
Are you a Macular "Degenerate"?
Click here to try out this Survey!
Click to see the current Survey results.
Survey brought to you by:
Any opinions, questions, thoughts?
Unfortunately, Yahoo has discontinued offering Message Boards
so mine just disappeared (Aw, Shucks!),
but you could...
You might also want to read through the entries in my old Guestbook.
Thanks
for stopping in. You're guest number 
.
Last updated June 1, 2005.
