I’d rather stick pins in my eyes…until I actually had to…

There is that saying, “I’d rather stick pins in my eyes”. Sadly that is now the reality for those people diagnosed with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Here is my journey..

I am 63 years of age – in good health, fit and active and engaged in the community.

In February 2013, I went to the optometrist for a routine eye check (and new reading glasses); the checks showed that I had early signs of AMD. I asked the optometrist if I should see an eye specialist. “Oh no, there is nothing that can be done but maybe you could take some Macu Vision tablets”. Okay, no worries. In March this year I went back for another check – the AMD has progressed  a bit. Should I see an eye specialist? Again, “Oh no, nothing can be done”. My new reading glasses arrived and there was no improvement so my eyes were tested again and a new script done, the new glasses arrived about a week later – still not right. By this time I was tired of being patted on the head and told, you just need to get used to them.  Feeling totally pinged off, I came home, thought about it and went back to the optometrist and demanded a referral to the eye specialist. I had to wait for 6 weeks for the appointment.

June 12. 10:40 am: some dates stay with you (it also happened to be the day a good friend died). All the tests were done and I could hardly see because of my dilated pupils and the specialists looked at the scans and were shocked. Wet AMD in my left eye, cataracts in both (these were barely mentioned by the optometrist) and an optic nerve that looks a bit suspicious for glaucoma. Now, I have always been the girl who wanted everything but this was ridiculous!

He explained the procedure and it was made quite clear that treatment would be starting now. When someone says, yes it can be treated but with a needle in the eye every 4 weeks for the rest of your life, it is a bit daunting. However it really wasn’t that bad. I had my second injection in July and the scans showed that there was significant improvement. Off for my third shot tomorrow.

I’m a bit angry with the optometrist for not automatically referring me and we have spoken to them about this. My feelings are that people with signs of AMD should be automatically referred, as optometrists do not have the equipment that can differentiate between wet AMD and dry AMD (for which there is no treatment but trials are in progress).

So folks, if you have been told you do have signs of AMD, trot yourself off to an eye specialist quick smart. I’m lucky I can still drive, play bowls, read and get on with my life and it is not a life-threatening disease.