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Coping with Your Emotions When You Lose Your Vision

The impact of blindness or low vision can sometimes seem greater when you experience it as an adult. If you've been able to see for much of your life, it's understandable to feel overwhelmed, sad, depressed, overly dependent on others, or even angry when your doctor tells you that you have an incurable eye disease or disorder. Many people experience similar feelings, especially during the early stages of vision loss. You may also have many questions without easy answers, such as

  • How can I continue to enjoy my life?
  • How can I avoid becoming dependent on other people?
  • How can I continue to perform basic daily living tasks?
  • Is it safe to live alone?
  • Will I have to move into an assisted living facility or nursing home?
  • How can I find other people to talk with about my vision problems?
  • How can I find someone who will understand how I feel about my vision loss?

These questions and concerns can cause even the most resilient person to feel sadness and grief and experience reduced self-confidence and self-esteem; and lose the sense of control over his or her life. When you're first diagnosed with vision problems, it may be difficult to believe you'll ever be able to enjoy life to the fullest again, or cope independently with everyday living. However, if you, your family members, and your friends persevere and learn to seek the information, support, and resources you need, you'll discover that your joy of living, quality of life, self-confidence, and self-esteem, can - and will - return.

Dr. Lyas MogkLylas G. Mogk, MD, a renowned expert on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Director of the Visual Rehabilitation and Research Centers, Henry Ford Health System, and co-author of Macular Degeneration: The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight, explains:

"Individuals with new vision loss are at high risk for depression. It is important to recognize, however, that the depression with vision loss does not correlate to how much vision is lost. Instead, it correlates to how many daily activities are affected. This means that as soon as you are having trouble doing any of your daily activities, it's essential not to give them up but rather to find out about the strategies, adaptations, devices and resources of vision rehabilitation that will empower you to doing your activities. Learning what you need to know to stay active is your best defense against depression and depression is the real enemy. You can learn to live fully with vision loss but you cannot live fully with depression.

Staying active with vision loss means learning new skills and it also means taking a few social risks and cultivating your sense of humor. My father, who had advanced wet AMD, occasionally asked a mannequin in the department store for directions, took the wrong bus, walked past a friend without recognizing him, or hugged a stranger, but that didn't cost him his dignity or his friends. A woman in his support group who was a great cook told about serving a cherry pie to dinner guests which turned out to be made out of kidney beans because she had mixed up the cans. 'We all had a good laugh about that,' she said, and her friends didn't love her any less for it. Remember that you are much more than just your eyes. Your family and friends don't love you simply because of your eyesight, and your value to them, to your community, and to yourself does not fade with fading sight. You're worth the effort it takes to learn about the skills and resources of vision rehabilitation that will allow you to continue to live fully in spite of vision loss, and the sponsors of this wonderful web site are here to help you do that."

Asking for Help with Daily Living

Although having to ask for help can be a new and uncomfortable experience, it’s sometimes necessary to reach out for assistance to accomplish daily living tasks or ensure your personal safety. Most people want to help if you’re clear about “how much” and “what kind” of assistance you need. Remember, too, that you’ve probably assisted many other people throughout the years – now it’s time to let others return the favor.

Vision Loss Support Groups and Self-Study

You may find it helpful to share your feelings with a close family member or friend, a professional counselor, your family doctor, or a religious or spiritual leader. You can also reach out to a vision loss support group, explore vision rehabilitation self-study courses, or speak with a professional staff member at a vision rehabilitation agency.

Additional Information and Resources for Self-Help and Self-Study To Help Cope with Vision Loss

For more information about any of these options, see Find Services on this web site.

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Visitor – May 28, 2006 – 15:42