* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    South Park Is In Trouble And Needs To Change Course, Fast – yahoo.com

    South Park Faces Major Challenges and Must Adapt Fast to Survive

    ‘Netflix House’ entertainment complexes are coming. Here’s when they open – Los Angeles Times

    Exciting News: Netflix’s House Entertainment Complexes Are Opening Soon!

    ‘Big Brother’s’ Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy – El Paso Inc.

    Big Brother’s Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy

    ‘SNL’ Parts Ways With Emil Wakim Amid Rumored Season 51 Cast Shakeup – yahoo.com

    SNL Shakes Up Season 51 Cast with Emil Wakim’s Surprising Exit

    Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of Taylor Swift? – YouGov

    Do You Love Taylor Swift or Not? Share Your Thoughts!

    Upload Season 4 Review – yahoo.com

    Upload Season 4 Review: A Thrilling New Chapter Unveiled

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    13 Top Technology Trends (2025) – Exploding Topics

    13 Game-Changing Technology Trends to Watch in 2025

    Japan’s legacy LCD and chip technology find new home in India – Nikkei Asia

    How Japan’s Breakthrough LCD and Chip Technologies Are Driving Innovation in India

    ITSWC 2025: Thursday sessions guide – Traffic Technology Today

    Your Ultimate Guide to Thursday Sessions at ITSWC 2025

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Showcases Manufacturing Innovations – Modern Machine Shop

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Unveils Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Innovations

    US-ROK Technology Cooperation Faces Rising Tensions – The National Interest

    Rising Tensions Put US-South Korea Technology Partnership to the Test

    The Role of AI and Technology in Shaping the Future of Interactive Entertainment – Technology Org

    How AI and Technology Are Transforming the Future of Interactive Entertainment

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    South Park Is In Trouble And Needs To Change Course, Fast – yahoo.com

    South Park Faces Major Challenges and Must Adapt Fast to Survive

    ‘Netflix House’ entertainment complexes are coming. Here’s when they open – Los Angeles Times

    Exciting News: Netflix’s House Entertainment Complexes Are Opening Soon!

    ‘Big Brother’s’ Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy – El Paso Inc.

    Big Brother’s Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy

    ‘SNL’ Parts Ways With Emil Wakim Amid Rumored Season 51 Cast Shakeup – yahoo.com

    SNL Shakes Up Season 51 Cast with Emil Wakim’s Surprising Exit

    Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of Taylor Swift? – YouGov

    Do You Love Taylor Swift or Not? Share Your Thoughts!

    Upload Season 4 Review – yahoo.com

    Upload Season 4 Review: A Thrilling New Chapter Unveiled

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    13 Top Technology Trends (2025) – Exploding Topics

    13 Game-Changing Technology Trends to Watch in 2025

    Japan’s legacy LCD and chip technology find new home in India – Nikkei Asia

    How Japan’s Breakthrough LCD and Chip Technologies Are Driving Innovation in India

    ITSWC 2025: Thursday sessions guide – Traffic Technology Today

    Your Ultimate Guide to Thursday Sessions at ITSWC 2025

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Showcases Manufacturing Innovations – Modern Machine Shop

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Unveils Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Innovations

    US-ROK Technology Cooperation Faces Rising Tensions – The National Interest

    Rising Tensions Put US-South Korea Technology Partnership to the Test

    The Role of AI and Technology in Shaping the Future of Interactive Entertainment – Technology Org

    How AI and Technology Are Transforming the Future of Interactive Entertainment

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

My Life With Geographic Atrophy

November 26, 2023
in Health
My Life With Geographic Atrophy
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

photo of senior woman resting on park bench

By Margret Krakauer, as told to Keri Wiginton 

I’ve recently switched hobbies from painting to writing. One of the first things I wrote for my memoir was: It’s a race between losing my vision and my hearing.

I’m 79 and had cataract surgery a decade ago. That’s when my doctor diagnosed me with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). I started to show signs of geographic atrophy (GA) probably 5 years later.

I’ve been legally blind in my left eye since childhood, which has nothing to do with GA. But I learned to adapt to vision loss early on. I always wonder if my early sight struggles helped me adapt to living with AMD.   

But I think I reacted to my diagnosis like anyone else: I was shocked. I was scared. I didn’t understand it. 

I still get anxious about vision loss, but I’m doing well. I feel mentally prepared for the future, one that until recently didn’t include GA treatment. And maybe something will come along in my lifetime that’ll be even better than this newly approved drug or the ones that may soon follow. 

Plus, people who lose central vision in both eyes can still travel, work, bicycle, and maintain independent lives. Just knowing that other folks with GA do all those things is reassuring. 

And who knows what’ll happen for me in the years to come. I might not go back to painting, which I used to do for hours, but maybe I’ll return to sculpting. It just feels good to be able to have that to think about.

Life Through My Eyes 

I have no problems cooking on my own. Menus can be tricky, though I haven’t eaten in a restaurant at night since before the pandemic. But I can enlarge to-go menus on the computer or ask my husband to tell me the choices. 

I can read most things with my regular glasses. I’m learning about non-fiction and fiction mysteries in a 10-week lifelong learning course. I found all the books but one electronically.

And while I prefer e-books, I can still read print articles. I’ll just need a lot of light.

I find it hard to see in any low-light situation, inside or outside. We’ve started brightening up the house, especially in the areas where I spend a lot of time. But I don’t drive after the sun goes down. That’s because it’s dark but also because of how glare from other light sources hits my eyes.

I’ve slowly started losing my ability to discern between certain colors. For instance, not all yellows are a problem. But pale yellow looks white to me.

Sometimes letters disappear on the right side of my field of vision if I’m reading or watching TV. I guess that’s because I have more damage in that part of my macula. Sometimes, if I blink or move my head, letters will reappear. But that’s a little disconcerting to know I have holes in my vision.

And when I look at the Amsler grid — an eye chart I use at home to test vision changes caused by AMD — I can see wavy lines.  

Many people with wet or dry AMD talk about seeing dark blobs. I see something similar if I’m in a room and the TV is on but the overhead lights are off. I’ll see a cloud of electrical noise or tiny dots that move a little.

But like everyone, I have good days and bad days. And my eyes get tired a lot faster than they used to. Some days I can’t read at night, so instead, I watch some dumb thing on TV. And that’s fine. 

Where I Find Support

I’ve been married for 53 years, and my husband helps me in all sorts of ways. 

For example, I wear hearing aids. He’ll clean them or change the filters for me because I can’t see fine details enough to do it without a magnifier. Maybe that’s lazy of me, but he doesn’t complain. 

He’ll thread needles for me because even though my acuity is 20/30, which is pretty good, small things are hard to see. The eye chart they use at the doctor’s office isn’t a good gauge of how I see everyday life with AMD or GA. 

When we walk outside, my husband will point out steps, stones, or other things I might not notice. And he always holds onto me in the dark. 

We also have this unusual flashlight that we use. It has several lightbulbs that shine a wide angle of light. We keep it in the car so we can grab it if we walk somewhere at night. 

I also feel comfortable asking my doctor about GA or any low-vision services I might need. Though he’s not one for chitchat. And I’m OK with that because I can come home and connect with people through my Facebook community. 

I’m part of a group called Our Macular Degeneration Journey. People are kind as can be. And I’ve learned all sorts of things about the world of GA in discussions with other members, which includes low-vision specialists like optometrists or occupational therapists.

Facebook is where I first heard that new drugs were coming down the line. And like other people in the GA community, that news felt monumental. I know there’s no way to reverse my vision loss, but knowing there’s a new treatment out there has given me a new lease on life.

I’m not saying I ever gave up on living well with low vision. But I did give in to the idea that my sight would only worsen. Maybe now there’s a good chance I’ll have good eyesight for the rest of my healthy life.

Hope for the Future

My retina specialist thinks I’m a good candidate for pegcetacoplan (Syfovre) injection, the new drug approved to treat GA. I’m eager to start getting the shots quickly because I’ve noticed more blind spots that come and go in my left eye. 

I’m also excited to start treatment soon because I’m almost 80, and I know people my age are more likely to progress faster than younger folks. I don’t know if that’s just because of GA or because the aging process causes us to lose more rods and cones. 

I want to slow vision loss as fast as possible because it’s not like I have two “good” eyes. And I’ll be much more handicapped if I lose more sight in my right eye. But I’m much more hopeful about my future with GA. I feel this way not only because this new treatment exists, but because I know many researchers are studying this disease. 

Photo Credit: fstop123 / Getty Images

SOURCE:

Margret Krakauer, 79, age-related macular degeneration advocate, Wayland, MA.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/macular-degeneration/features/my-life-with-geographic-atrophy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tags: AtrophyGeographichealth
Previous Post

WHO sounds alarm on mpox cases in DR Congo

Next Post

Caring for Your Mental, Social, and Emotional Well-being With Geographic Atrophy

Hottest engine in the world reveals weirdness of microscopic physics – New Scientist

The World’s Hottest Engine Unveils the Strange Secrets of Microscopic Physics

August 29, 2025
Secretary Greg Reed: ‘If we’re going to grow the economy, we must be able to grow the workforce’ – Yellowhammer News

Secretary Greg Reed: Expanding the Economy Starts with Growing the Workforce

August 29, 2025
South Park Is In Trouble And Needs To Change Course, Fast – yahoo.com

South Park Faces Major Challenges and Must Adapt Fast to Survive

August 29, 2025
RFK Jr. praises Texas for implementing his health vision – The Texas Tribune

RFK Jr. Applauds Texas for Leading the Way in His Bold Health Vision

August 29, 2025
Former special counsel Jack Smith responds to federal investigation against him about his prosecution of Donald Trump – CNN

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Breaks Silence on Federal Investigation Into His Trump Prosecution

August 29, 2025
Lake Tanganyika cichlids partition habitat by time – Nature

How Lake Tanganyika Cichlids Share Their Habitat by Time to Thrive

August 29, 2025
Ancient Life “Wakes Up” After 100 Million Years Under the Seafloor – IFLScience

Ancient Life Resurfaces After 100 Million Years Hidden Beneath the Seafloor

August 29, 2025
Golden Apple: Seward science teacher helps students soar – KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln, NE

Golden Apple Award: Seward Science Teacher Inspires Students to Soar

August 29, 2025
Maverick Lifestyle Inc.’s Beta Climbs After Market Volatility getLinesFromResByArray error: size == 0 – thegnnews.com

Maverick Lifestyle Inc.’s Beta Climbs After Market Volatility getLinesFromResByArray error: size == 0 – thegnnews.com

August 29, 2025
13 Top Technology Trends (2025) – Exploding Topics

13 Game-Changing Technology Trends to Watch in 2025

August 29, 2025

Categories

Archives

August 2025
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (796)
  • Economy (816)
  • Entertainment (21,695)
  • General (16,744)
  • Health (9,857)
  • Lifestyle (829)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (816)
  • Politics (823)
  • Science (16,025)
  • Sports (21,314)
  • Technology (15,796)
  • World (798)

Recent News

Hottest engine in the world reveals weirdness of microscopic physics – New Scientist

The World’s Hottest Engine Unveils the Strange Secrets of Microscopic Physics

August 29, 2025
Secretary Greg Reed: ‘If we’re going to grow the economy, we must be able to grow the workforce’ – Yellowhammer News

Secretary Greg Reed: Expanding the Economy Starts with Growing the Workforce

August 29, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version