Gransnetters share the difficulties they have experienced as their eyesight has deteriorated

I have AMD (wet) in its later stages.
Have been having Avastin injections in my eyes for the past 10 years.

In addition, the opthalmologist has diagnosed Sorsby's Fundus Dystrophy.
I've had one cataract removed and the 2nd will be done when it becomes more opaque. I also have incipient glaucoma.
Since the age of 12 have worn glasses for astigmatism.

Obviously I don't do things by halves! .

I have learned to use light and shade, contrast, sounds and smells - touch and my computer's ability to talk to me.

I can't see my mobile phone now but when I could, used the audio facility to speak texts via Siri.

I have never had a TV because reading was my main leisure interest and pleasure (and part of my job as a writer and researcher).

I could, in my prime, read 2 books a day.
Now I can't read anything: text undulates and part of each letter is 'missing'. So I am confined to audio books.

This is fine and I'm deeply grateful but 99% of audio is fiction, 1% none-fictions (see, I'm good at maths! )

This precludes me from reading what I most enjoyed: biological and medical research, books on art, science and technology, photography, cookery, crafts and much more.

I am ineligible for this prize unfortunately as I am not in England but on the plus side, the decade of care I have received for free in this country, would have been so expensive in the UK that I would have been condemned to blindness long before this.

About three years ago I found it very difficult to cope with bright sunlight and driving became difficult. I am very short sighted in my left eye had little sight so I did not notice a black blob in the centre. This was diagnosed as wet macular degeneration. This means a bleed from a blood vessel which caused scarring, taking away my central vision. I was regularly monitored and six months later developed MD in my right eye. I have injections regularly into my eye which has improved my eyesight, I am no longer short sighted but long sighted needing 3+ lenses. I will continue to lose vision in future years. I no longer drive as colours and perspective are not true, someone wearing t6black I would not see.
The condition is age related. Wearing good sunglasses with side protection whenever there is any glare can help to protect your sight. Eating dark green veg rich in luten or taking supplements containing it is recommended.

I have just been told by my optician that I have cataracts starting. I wear contact lenses most of the time with one eye for reading and the other for distance. I struggle to read small print, and we really need to buy a larger TV as neither my husband nor myself can read subtitles. My husband has had cataracts removed from both eyes, and his focal length is fixed at 13 feet, which he doesn't find very useful for anything. I hate having to wear glasses because they steam up in wet weather and when I'm cooking. I'm not sure if the best way to go when the cataracts are removed.

I am short sighted but my near vision has steadily deteriorated over the last few years my TV’s have got bigger over the years ha ha too easier to see!

I forgot to add that I have an appointment fairly soon with the chap who first told me that I possibly had glaucoma as well. He’s now the head of the glaucoma unit.

My experience was also very similar to [M0nica’s] apart from the added complication that I was told about 20 years ago that I possibly had glaucoma. When I was first diagnosed with the start of cataracts, the glaucoma was sort of brushed aside as in “don’t worry about that”.
I’ve just had my second cataract done and to be honest, I’m not very happy about it. The operations both went smoothly and my distance vision is as good as it could be. BUT, and it is a very big but, reading is a big problem. I can get used to donning specs to read with, serves me right for feeling slightly smug as all my friends and even my children started to. It is not being able to comfortably read in bed that drives me mad. Snuggled down and just one more chapter before I turn the light off, is a luxury that I appreciate all the more now it is so uncomfortable. Maybe when I invest in prescription lenses, I will have one pair a nifty monocle. I have seen some at the local pharmacy in a dashing scarlet.

My mother had glaucoma so I've always had annual eye tests.
I was in my early 20s when my eyesight started to deteriorate.
Over the years I needed stronger glasses...first only for reading, then bifocals, then varifocals.
At one point I always seemed to be searching for the 'right' pair!
Then, in my 60s, I had lazer eye treatment. I also had cataracts treated at the same time. What a transformation!
I'm now mid 70s and need only over the counter reading glasses for close work.
I use an anglepoise light and have never heard of Serious Readers. They do sound good though, if pricey. More than happy to be a 'tester' and provide feedback

Been short sighted for years, but only wear my glasses to watch television, or see the number of a bus.
Have no problem with reading.

I am long sighted but now need two sets of glasses, one for driving and one for reading/computer work. I am retired so only use the computer a few hours per day.
I had a eye test in January 2019, so not due one for another year. I don`t get on well with bi-focals they give me a headache so I just stick to glasses.
Not tried contacts and have no particular wish too but I like to have nice frames.

I wouldn`t get lasar eye treatment as my sister did and within a short time she needed glasses again.

I’ve been shortsighted and worn glasses since the age of 12 or 13, and during my adult years they stayed about the same at -6 & -7.5. Bad, but not impossible.

About 10 years ago I went to see about having laser eye treatment but they said that my eyes weren’t suitable.

My partner started commenting on my driving a couple of years ago, so I went for an eye test and they had worsened considerably to -7 & -9.

I now have thinner lenses, occasionally contacts but find it hard to focus on the computer screen at work now, I have to look at it for sometimes 20 seconds before I can see it properly - then I have to look down at paperwork and back to start focusing on the screen again! ?‍♀️

Luckily I don’t do loads of computer work, but do have to check/write emails throughout the day so it’s not ideal.

On a positive note, now I have the right prescription my drivings improved!!! ?

I have been short sighted since I was about 12--couldn't see the black boardfrom the back! I am now 88 nearly 89, andhave worn vision aids since then. First glasses, then from about 19, contacts. T heywere large and moulds of the eye were taken and the lenses made for ones own eyes. Contact lenses evolved and I with them, until eventually the daily soft ones. About 20 years ago Ihad a detached retina in my left eye, followed with a disastrous operation, followed bylaser treatments etc. I have cut a very long story short, and suffice it to say I have virtually no sight in my left eye. Have had an IOL replacement in my R eye, and with the aid of glasses can read with that eye and although I can discern some light with my L eye I cannot read at all with it. Serious light sounds as though it would be of tremendous help. I no longre drive, and night vision is rather poor.

I was short sighted from about 11 years old and wore glasses until I was about 18 when I decided I would wear contact lenses. As I got older opticians advised me to stop wearing them as the lens of my eye was very dry so at 48 I went back to glasses eventually leading to varifocals. 8 years ago about 4 months after I retired I woke up one morning and I couldn’t see properly out of my left eye so I made an opticians appointment. I had no idea what could be wrong as it had literally happened overnight. My friends who are nurses (like myself) said it must be a cataract but I couldn’t see how it could be. Anyway it was, a fast developing cataract which is very rare apparently. I saw a consultant in less than a week (it was classed as needing an urgent referral) and he said there was a cataract in the other eye as well. 3 weeks later the cataract was removed and a month after that the other one was also removed. I now only need reading glasses. Surprisingly the prescription for my reading glasses is improving. Not sure why though.

My experience was similar to monica up thread. I opted to have lenses which give me good distance vision but use inexpensive over-the-counter readers for close work and reading. Optician agrees that they are fine.
Unlike others I had the cataracts removed as soon as they were diagnosed (NHS Scotland) and hope the op is still available for others elsewhere.
My ophthalmologist does not accept that cataracts have to be serious or ''ripe' before removal.
Have not heard of Serious Readers but probably wouldn't invest in expensive lights as I have virtually no problems.

I'm very short sighted and I've worn rigid contacts since I was 15 (I'm 63), and in the last 10 years I've worn reading glasses as well. My contacts have alway been interchangeable as the prescription was the same in each until my most recent test, when my left eye has deteriorated more. I also failed the perriferal vision test in my left eye, but a scan revealed nothing sinister. I wear my contacts less and less now, as my eyes start to itch after a couple of hours. I can now read without contacts or glasses if I hold book/kindle in just the right position. Could never do that when I was younger!

When I was about 11 I started to wear glasses for short sightedness. It got worse until when I was told I would need to wear glasses all the time, I got soft contact lenses at the age of 18. Usual problems with dust, lost lenses etc. When I was 25 I suffered detached retinas in both eyes due to being short sighted. The operation was successful but the vision in my right eye isn’t perfect. Wavy lines and reduced field of vision. However ok to drive. About 15 years ago got my eyes lasered which cured my myopia. I still have a very slight prescription though and wear glasses for driving. Especially at night or in low light. About 10 years ago-I’m 54 now, I started to wear glasses for reading. I definitely need bright light to see which is why I tend to use a kindle for reading
I would definitely be interested in the Serious Reader as I hadn’t heard of them. I’ve actually found it interesting reading about other people’s problems with their eyes and quite useful writing my own. I never take my eyes for granted now.

The usual small print & poor light problems. I use my left eye for reading & the right for distance. Was told 4 years ago I had the beginnings of cataracts and at present am in the testing part for an op to remove the fully grown cataract in my left eye. I thought my eyesight was just getting worse in my left eye (fighting back from laser treatment in 2005!) but it was the cataract. Sadly, I can't see well enough to do jigsaw puzzles or crochet/embroidery, though extra light helps a bit. Am hoping the NHS will still be doing cataract ops in March or thereabouts.

I have annual eye checks because my father had glaucoma; luckily so far I have tested negative for glaucoma myself. I started to need reading glasses in my 50s, then another pair for the computer. When, a year ago, I was told I would need a third pair for driving I took the plunge and went for varifocals.
I was told that I have the start of a cataract in my right eye and then last spring I noticed a black dot in the vision of my left eye, which turned out to be a floater. It is still there but I have learned to live with it. In bright conditions the floater is more noticeable and lights can dazzle my right eye, but I do need good task lighting for sewing and reading.
I had never heard of Serious Readers before but it sounds useful.

I have had myopia and astigmatism from a young age, always worn glasses and had a couple of minor floaters. One day I saw flies crawling along the wall, my first floater episode and I have since had a couple more and worse, never to have clear eyesight ever again. The brain adapts unless I think about it

I get the extra 3D retina scan at the opticians, the first time was a shock, seeing the deterioration and being told I had a little AMD, which btw is perfectly normal as we age. It was never noticed without the 3D scan. That was the starting point for me downsizing and moving for just in case. I am now near buses and shops for later in life, if my sight deteriorates

I own serious readers, two of them, each by a favourite armchair. I do need that bright light when I read or knit. Expensive but very good

Moocow I also have to remove my glasses if doing close intricate work. Fact of life and changing eyesight

Pittcity that's a combination that works for me too - contacts with reading glasses on top

I am short sighted. The combination of contact lenses to see far, with reading glasses on top work very well for me. I have the usual problems with lost contacts or when they tear or fold in half, but not too often. My script hasn't changed for 20 years.

Contacts have improved so much nowadays, and continue to evolve I'm very pleased that I mastered them.

I know about Serious Readers because my friend who does a lot of needlework has recently bought one. I need a better light for my crafting, for example I don't work with dark colours (black or navy) when there is no daylight over my shoulder. Like Pittcity above I need a good light when reading or doing fine work.

I am short sighted with astigmatism and wear contact lenses with reading glasses or varifocals. I started having problems in my 20s.
I need good light to read and prefer a Kindle as you can adjust the light and the size of the print.
I've never heard of Serious Readers.

Have to wear glasses in my teens at school for reading blackboard & so on. In my late 50's had to change to varifocal lenses that difficult to master I found. Would be interested to find out some more regarding serious readers.

Don't reallly want to go into personal details so will just say, at times it surprises and worries me. Opticians don't seem to think there is a problem that is cause for concern other than selling varifocals but sometimes I have to take them off to see better it all gets confusing. Think I've heard of serious readers about a year ago and searched them and found to be very expensive for something that may or may not really help.

One blessing is that I can't see dust/dirt .

I am short sighted. I can see to read. I wear specs, have done since I was 16 . Without I can’t see hardly anything. All blurry.
I get my specs from spec savers and I like the choice. I do get a strong prescription now and have compressed lenses.
I do read easily under a good light.
I hadn’t heard of serious readers

And if I tell you, will you post the money to NZ?