Living with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

For the past two years, I have been diagnosed with an eye condition. A very common condition after a certain age, as I have learned. My eyes have age-related macular degeneration, which means I lack central vision and must find the right spot to see anything. I am undergoing treatment with injections and regularly monitor my condition with my doctor, who unfortunately said that I need to learn to live with it.

However, living with age-related macular degeneration is very challenging for me. At first, I struggled a bit more, but now I’m tired of it and have set aside activities I used to enjoy, like reading the newspaper or one of the crime novels I love. The worst part is that I can no longer look at my favorite photos. I am a very emotional person, and I have always loved collecting photo albums. Especially after the loss of my wife, the photos have been a great comfort for me.

My grandson, who is very into computers, told me that he found a lot of information about age-related macular degeneration online, as well as solutions beyond just using glasses. He mentioned a store in downtown Athens that specializes in conditions like mine and has a wide range of products that could help me.

Although I was somewhat hesitant at first since my doctor said nothing better could be done, we eventually made an appointment in Mavili Square to try out low vision aids.

Low Vision Aids at “The Optical Center”

The store is large with a nice atmosphere, and there are young, kind people who made me feel comfortable right away, not like someone with a problem. We sat at a nice table and discussed my condition and what I want to do again. As they had asked me to do over the phone, I brought an album to see practically how I could be helped. First, we conducted an eye exam, and then they suggested some products for me to try.

We looked at many products recommended for people with age-related macular degeneration. There were magnifying lenses with various magnifications, some for the desk and others handheld. Some even had lights to further enhance vision. I tried these in combination with my reading glasses. I also tried a telescopic system that resembled glasses, but it wasn’t powerful enough.

After realizing that the previous products didn’t meet my desired level, they recommended an electronic aid that looks like a small digital camera. It has the ability to digitally magnify up to 28 times, which was much more than any of the simple lenses we looked at initially. It is very user-friendly, with three large, colorful buttons that are easy to distinguish even if you have a significant level of vision difficulty.

It only requires a bit of extra practice from me since I am not familiar with electronics. However, it helped me see my photos much more comfortably, which motivated me to keep trying. My spirits lifted immediately. The only drawback might be its price, which is higher than that of simple lenses, but for the capabilities it offers, I guarantee it’s well worth it.

I have had it at home for a month now, and with a little help from my grandson and a lot of determination from me, I can look at my albums again. I focus where I want and magnify as much as I want, even seeing details of faces. Now, little by little, I plan to start a new novel that I received as a gift for my celebration.

All this happened with a bit more searching beyond what my doctor said, with a lot of determination, and with great help from the wonderful staff at the Optical Center. There are solutions for age-related macular degeneration.

Mihalis K.

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