Author: One Vision

An honest, warts & all sightloss blog about living with a rare genetic eye condition, Macular Dystrophy, Stargardt's Disease. To track how this progresses in myself. Hopefully help others & bring awareness. Let's see what happens next...
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Visually impaired and travelling

Posted on by One Vision

I’ve been away for a few nights with my buddies and we all had a fab time. Well needed and a long time coming for me, as I hadn’t been to foreign climbs for 15 years! Due to one thing or another.

Certainly different from the seeing world I was in last time I went. I had 20/20 vision back then. Unbeknownst to me, the genetic condition I had lurking inside me. Ready to show itself 5 years later on.

With careful walking and being mindful, (I did notice steps in the part of Tenerife I was in didn’t have any markers or contrasting colours at all to make it easier for visually impaired people to walk down them safely, but there usually was a useful handrail) it was all good and far less stressful in all than I thought it would be.

It also helped that my friend read bits of menu to me, mainly the seafood, tapas section although a breakfast was lovely for a change. The ladies also helped me with the coins in my change, reading prices for things, explained what items were etc.

Euro notes are also so much easier for me to read because the numbers are so big. Bigger than the UKs numbers on our notes anyway.

I also knew that if I came a cropper they would help. Which made the whole thing alot more relaxing for me.

Still alot more concentration, taking time to grasp what was in front of me and trying to process everything from all angles at a steady pace, whilst looking at the floor is an art in itself. I’ve learnt to just give myself a chance and be patient. I can’t rush, as that’s when accidents happen. A far cry from the carefree days of not having to think about all this, but to look at me now you wouldn’t even know I was doing all this just by looking at me. Like a swan gliding along, with the little legs going underneath ☺️.

I know I should get my phone out for reading stuff by myself, my magnifier, or use the Be my eyes app. I did a few times take a photo or a screenshot and zoom for reading a receipt, working our bills out. I should do this all the time. I just used everyone else’s eyes instead as I also trusted them all to be truthful with the amount it stated on the bill.

Now the one thing I always moan on about is my Photophobic eyes.

My sunglasses, coupled with wearing a hat, saved eye pain and glare. A few times I stupidly took them off for a bit in the shade and later on they were hurting, but they honestly saved me this holiday. They aren’t something I would ever wear before, but now I HAVE to. Even in the shaded areas.

I bought a beaded chain for my sunglasses as when we went shopping they were on off, on off, and saved me carrying them and at risk of popping them down and losing them completely. I wouldn’t be able to replace them, as ordinary sunglasses just wouldn’t have the correct protection.

They are essential to me and one of the most important things I own now. No doubt about it. I always have to have them with me.

Has anyone got anymore tips for traveling?

A pair of black Cocoon sunglasses placed on a grey mesh sunlounger from the top view. They have a multicoloured string of beads attached to the ends of them to wear around the neck.
PD 1 A pair of black Cocoon sunglasses placed on a grey mesh sunlounger from the top view. They have a multicoloured string of beads attached to the ends of them to wear around the neck.
An orange sunset over the mountains in the background. The lights of Los Christianos, Playa de Las Americas, Costa Adeja are all lit up. Steps leading down into the street, the way into the town in the foreground.
PD 2 An orange sunset over the mountains in the background. The lights of Los Christianos, Playa de Las Americas, Costa Adeja are all lit up. Steps leading down into the street, the way into the town in the foreground.
A selfie photograph of myself, facing towards the camera. I'm a white woman with long blonde hair. A black bucket hat on my head. A pair of black cocoon sunglasses on my face. Chairs and tables are behind me.
PD 3 A selfie photograph of myself, facing towards the camera. I’m a white woman with long blonde hair. A black bucket hat on my head. A pair of black cocoon sunglasses on my face. Chairs and tables are behind me.
A photograph of a receipt I took so I could zoom in and work out the amounts we each spent. The printed text on the receipt is in Spanish and is for A cheese and ham baguette, 3 breakfasts and 4 Lattes in Playa de Las Americas.
PD 4 A photograph of a receipt I took so I could zoom in and work out the amounts we each spent. The printed text on the receipt is in Spanish and is for A cheese, ham and onion baguette, 3 breakfasts and 4 Lattes in Playa de Las Americas.
Posted in Funny Stories

Action Figure

Posted on by One Vision

I always like making the graphics for my blog as it keeps me being as creative as I can with no pressure, only to myself. They aren’t perfect anymore, but I hope you’ll excuse me as they get slightly more fuzzy and slanted as time goes on. I do think it would be a good record for the future though. It’s easier to write about my cartoon character, as it separates myself from the realities.

I don’t usually follow any trends (I hate that word) on social media, but I wanted to have a go at this as I’ve enjoyed seeing them all from the blind community.

This is how ChatGPT sees One Vision Blog after a few pointers from myself. 😁
#ActionFigure
#ActionFigureTrend
#ChatGPT
#DuranDuran
#Trend
#Trending
#SightlossWarrior
#AdidasBold
#PinaColada

A blonde action figure winking with a smile, wearing a Duran Duran Rio t shirt, blue jeans, green and pink Adidas trainers. Beside her on the box is a business card with www.onevisionblog.com written on it. A pina colada cocktail and a laptop. The words sightloss Awareness Warrior. On a green box background at the top are the words One Vision Blog in black letters.
PICTURE DESCRIPTION A blonde action figure winking with a smile, wearing a Duran Duran Rio t shirt, blue jeans, green and pink Adidas trainers. Beside her on the box is a business card with http://www.onevisionblog.com written on it. A pina colada cocktail and a laptop. The words sightloss Awareness Warrior. On a green box background at the top are the words One Vision Blog in black letters.

Posted in Useful Information

Screenshotting

Posted on by One Vision

The lads (my Son and my second Son/Nephew) took me and my sister out for a meal before Mother’s day.

Very kind of them both and it was lovely for us all to get together.

To take out the stress and getting tech or other people to read me the menu, I found the menu online beforehand and screenshotted my choice.

So I could relax and just have my phone to hand to read it out. Big enough to see with or without glasses.

It has taken a long time to get used to this and think on to do this.

It’s not always practical but ideal for if you know in advance and booked in where you’re going.

A mobile phone next to a black menu on a marble table. The phone has a, screenshot of a choice from the menu zoomed in with large text.
PICTURE DESCRIPTION A mobile phone next to a black menu on a marble table. The phone has a, screenshot of a choice from the menu zoomed in with large text.