there is such a diverse range of what “low vision” or “partial sight” can mean. i see like an out-of-focus picture, with more limited peripheral vision, whereas i have a friend whose central vision is impacted, but she has more clear peripheral vision.
emotionally, how did you cope with all these changes?
initially, i was just stepping over all the emotions that i had related to sight loss. work was really busy, so i was focusing on that and ignoring any of the grief and the stages of grief associated with sight loss and the loss of independence, as well.
i chose, powerfully, to stop driving when my license was up for renewal. actually, handing that license over, although i hadn’t driven in a couple of years … i just started crying at the service counter. the poor clerk asked if i was ok. i wasn’t expecting to have that rush of emotion at that point. i had had left my corporate job too, and i realized i needed to take some time, process the emotions and go through it.
i also needed to reach out and get additional support in going through that process. just acknowledging the loss of independence and mourning the small things in life, like sitting around a table with your family and not being able to see their faces clearly. i’m immune to my mother’s raised eyebrow. i miss different expressions on the faces of my family because i just am not able to see them.
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