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Rainy days and Photophbia

Posted on by One Vision

Whilst waiting in the bus station on one of our coldest, wettest days of the year so far (I think so anyway) I thought I would write a little blog about how the wet weather and rain affects my vision and my photophobia in particular.

Photophobia isn’t just about the suns glare. It’s any glare. Light, water and otherwise too. I’ve even had it from glass and coins. I’ve found coins because of it though 😉
My bus back home has missed yet again and because of the weather the Uber fares are quite expensive, so I’m sitting it out until the next bus. Fingers crossed everyone that that one comes.

I made a graphic last night to explain this. A real photograph of my trip into my home city the other late afternoon and a doctored one to get the nearest depiction of what glare does to my eyesight.

I do get glare through the day, any day, not just summer sun. The light and glare can bounce of cars, appears brightly around corners. Especially if sat in a moving vehicle which I try to catch as I’m now very used to avoiding bright light and where it appears from.

In the late afternoon and evening, this also happens as the light drops into darkness from traffic lights, shop lighting and wet surfaces, puddles etc.

This is nearly exactly what I see.

It hinders my confidence getting around in the low light. It also makes things seem alot blurrier. Which I’m blurry anyway without this adding to the effect.

The pavements seem to shine. Reflect back at me.

I cannot wear my usual trusty sunglasses I have through the day all year, as they make it too dark to see at all.

It’s very hard to explain what I see. Especially as I seem to get around sort of ok with no white cane as yet, to help. This is something I’m going to have to sort out though.

You just can’t see the cogs whirring inside my brain checking out all the possible dangers. It is abit like a duck or a swan gliding around.

I wear grippy boots because I’m frightened of falling again if it’s dark and wet.

You just cannot see my frantic feet peddling away getting me around.

It does help knowing extremely well, my route around the city I’ve been visiting all my life.

Anywhere I don’t know, I wouldn’t march around so quickly.

A late afternoon darkness descends on a city. Traffic lights are at red and the wet precinct gradually goes down the hill. The sky is a darkening blue colour. The shop lights are on brightly as its just near closing time.
PD 1 A late afternoon darkness descends on a city. Traffic lights are at red and the wet precinct gradually goes down the hill. The sky is a darkening blue colour. The shop lights are on brightly as its just near closing time.
The same photograph as PD 1. The view is blurrier. The red traffic lights are elongated and brighter. Stretching towards the foreground. The shop lights are very bright now. They take up some of the pavement. The pavement shines because of the wet weather.
PD 2 The same photograph as PD 1. The view is blurrier. The red traffic lights are elongated and brighter. Stretching towards the foreground. The shop lights are very bright now. They take up some of the pavement. The pavement shines because of the wet weather.
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Large Print and Braille menus

Posted on by One Vision

After a very productive day of abit gardening by Richard and I. A brickie doing some work in my house this morning due to my ongoing renovations to my little house 🤗. We thought we would meet up with my sister for a well deserved meal locally.

I was looking at the menu on my phone as it’s easier for me than reading the menu. Or so I thought.

A lovely fella came up and said they had a large print menu which we could use which also had a Braille menu on the other side.

Well done Brewers Fayre and the Rhubarb Triangle Pub!

We’ve never been offered a large print menu and it made it so much easier for me to read today. And it was also nice to sit and just enjoy reading a menu, page by page for once.

Richard, who has an eye condition called Choroideremia, can read the menu as his central vision is sort of 20/20. His vision is very different to mine and about as hard to explain! He uses a white long cane to get around safely as his distance vision is patchy.

At least we can help each other.

A colourful ring bound book of photographs of lots of plates of food on the cover. The text reads Large Print Menu.
PD 1 A colourful ring bound book of photographs of lots of plates of food on the cover. The text reads Large Print Menu.
A colourful ring bound book of photographs of lots of plates of food on the cover. The text reads Braille Menu.
PD 2 A colourful ring bound book of photographs of lots of plates of food on the cover. The text reads Braille Menu.
A close up photograph of a white page with Braille text
PD 3 A close up photograph of a white page with Braille text
A white contents page with large black text. Different types of food listed with page numbers
PD 4 A white contents page with large black text. Different types of food listed with page numbers
Richard. A white male with shaved head. Wears a colourful turquoise and orange jersey and beige jeans. He also is wearing Ray-Ban meta glasses. He holds a hedge trimmer whilst cutting a green foliaged hedge nearby.
PD 5 Richard. A white male with shaved head. Wears a colourful turquoise and orange jersey and beige jeans. He also is wearing Ray-Ban meta glasses. He holds a hedge trimmer whilst cutting a green foliaged hedge nearby.
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Eye Clinic Referral

Posted on by One Vision

I spoke to a doctor some time ago this year about my unresolved appointments and tests I had quite a while ago now for my eye condition.

Since those 4 tests, the most recent in September 2022, which I still didn’t even know the results from that either. It was decided to be popped back on the waiting list as it seems I’ve gone by the wayside.

I got an email in June to say I’ve been referred. Since then I’ve recently filled in a form I received through patients knows best, to say I still want to stay on the list. A segment of the email is included in this post.

I can understand that through Covid-19 in 2020 I wouldn’t have been an emergency to receive any results as there isn’t anything anyone can do, as yet, to improve the Macular Dystrophy I have.

I wouldn’t want to be put before anyone with eye problems that have to be urgently seen to or operated on. So I’ve just lost myself too abit with this really and gave up.

Sometimes if there’s nothing that can be done, you think, what’s the point don’t you?

But due to last year bumbling about falling on the floor hurting myself, a noticible difference in my sight now (For a week I didn’t see a window above the bed on my holidays. It just appeared) and also, if I’m honest, my mental health wasn’t good at all. I eventually had a diagnosis for that which was quite hard to understand, but made alot of sense to me. I saw someone regularly about it for the last few years, it changed my life really. I’m in a much much better head space to sort life stuff out now which includes, going to see the eye consultant.

There’s also the thoughts on cane training. It’s taken a long time to face up to the fact that it maybe useful to be popped on that list, train and then when my eyesight gets progressively worsened, I’ll be ready.

Everyone reacts differently to their progression.

Everyone’s progression is different.

Ten years in and there’s still elements of this condition I cannot completely except. But I’m getting there.

Your referral has been sent Dear Ms Catherine (Redacted) You were recently referred to a specialist by your local healthcare provider. The office of the specialist will contact you. You do not need to do anything at this stage, but to view and track this referral, please log into your NHS account with your NHS login email and password.
PD Text reads from email. Your referral has been sent
Dear Ms Catherine (Redacted)

You were recently referred to a specialist by your local healthcare provider.

The office of the specialist will contact you.

You do not need to do anything at this stage, but to view and track this referral, please log into your NHS account with your NHS login email and password.