One Vision Blog

Stargardt’s what we see

Posted on 22nd May 202222nd May 2022 by One Vision

Stargardt Disease. The most common out of the Macular Dystrophy spectrum of conditions. Because of this, It’s most likely I have this problem.

I haven’t been genetically tested yet for which gene is causing my eyesight loss.

They know it’s Macular Dystrophy, but is yet unclear what sort.

This is a depiction of how the brothers see. Some people have grey/black blobs masking their vision, blind spots and floaters.

Link to Two Blind Brothers Facebook page

Sometimes you may see me tilting the phone or whatever I’m looking at. This is because of the tiny blind spots.

This is called eccentric viewing which came naturally to me early on.

You can have lessons in this from the low vision clinic or the Macular Society offer it too.

The eyes try to fill the blind spots so words or pictures are sometimes hard to make out or become the wrong word or image, with interesting results now and again.

I’ve wrote about this. If you go to my websites search box on desktop, you can search for anything you like including eccentric viewing.

Below is a quick link to the search box function.

Link to my search box

How I'm Adapting

Bright eyes

Posted on 18th May 202218th May 2022 by One Vision

Also… I’ve been to the local sight charities group today. For a chat over coffee and biccies.

Met alot of lovely new people and some familiar faces. (once I’d stared at them for abit 🤭)

Young, old and in between.

But… I’ve realised. I’m even trying to hide this… In a sight loss group! 🤷‍♀️

Don’t know if I’m just that used to trying to disguise it, it comes naturally, or if I’m just denying it all to myself. Like I won’t give in to it, as it just makes everything too real for me.

Tonight I’m going to listen to podcasts, or youtube programmes.

Make them all good for tomorrow.

So. If anyone messages me for few days, I’m sorry, I’m going to have to voicey you back instead of write anything.

Just wanted to update the blog before I give my poorly peepers a rest.

Sat inside with the bright artificial light. Stubbornly wouldn’t pop my sunglasses on. There even were people there wearing sunglasses themselves. Me being me, sat there. Didn’t put them on until I went outside #standard

I’ve got light sensitivity and photophobia. So it’s my own fault.

Knew my eyes were struggling, but blimey, do they hurt now!

No… I don’t get it either!

PICTURE DESCRIPTION
Cartoon depiction of myself facing front, with red hair covering my eyes with my hands. With purple t-shirt on.

Useful Information

UK Braille Bank Notes

Posted on 18th May 202218th Jun 2022 by One Vision

Something I learnt on my vision loss course is that the UK now has dots on the polymer bank notes to distinguish them.

The Bank of England has worked closely with RNIB to ensure that these notes are accessible to blind and partially sighted people. To make life a little easier.

I can still see them at the moment. Not so much coins though. Unless I have alot of patience to look at them.

Hence why I usually just hand a note over or pay by card instead.

The polymer bank notes started being introduced in 2016 in the UK.

The £10 note has two clusters of raised dots in the top left hand corner. Although they are often called and to referred to as braille notes, there is no braille on it, but raised dots. They don’t mean anything. They are just meant to make the note easily identifiable.