Mick a 60 year old father of four started to lose his peripheral vision approximately 15 years ago. Every year he attended an annual eye check-up as his older brother had lost his sight due to Glaucoma. It was always the same story for Mick, the visual fields were clearly getting worse. He was seen by the Optometrist at the local hospital and referred to Moorfield’s Eye Hospital in London. Here various tests were completed and he was told that the muscles behind the eyes were weakening along with the nerves. After CT scans he was told that a lesion was on the brain but not causing any problems and it was likely that he was born with this.
His eyes were continually monitored and annual visits to the opticians, Optometrists and Moorefield’s continued. Three years ago he suffered fogginess/cloudiness in both eyes and had to have cataracts removed. After this his distance vision seemed to improve slightly; until just before his 60 birthday, when he described that his vision was like looking through net curtains. A visit to the hospital was scheduled where he was given laser treatment on his eyes. This was when the pain and sensitivity to light became apparent.
Several weeks later at the opticians they referred Mick to the hospital where they confirmed his peripheral vision up and down had gone. Leaving him with tunnel vision; the hospital referred him back to Moorefield’s and registered him as partially sighted. Since then more test have taken place and lots of waiting results. In the meantime he has spoken with the RNIB who have helped him come to terms with his vision loss.
Since registering his eye sight with Essex Social Services and Essex Sensory Community (ECL) Mick has had several visits supporting his sensory needs. This has opened up his world and has shown him how to cope within his physical surroundings, and made him realise he is not alone with this problem. Mick started to talk about his sight loss and how to cope with the world around him.
Physically he is training with a long cane and is being assessed for a guide dog. Socially he was put in touch with BASIS. This has enabled him to talk with others and understand how they cope in today’s society.
BASIS enabled him to understand and this has given Mick the confidence to continue the journey through life. He has started to venture out on his own with the short cane and go to BASIS alone. He could not have done this without the support of others. He is so grateful for all the support he is receiving and really looks forward to his meetings at BASIS; talking about his condition, listening to others and sharing his experiences, has really supported his own emotional journey.
