macular degeneration, macular, diagnosis Low Vision Pet Peeves – My Macular Degeneration Journey/Journal

Low Vision Pet Peeves

Hey! Pet peeves about low vision. I just spent 10 minutes looking for something that was in the first place I had looked. Poor contrast. What are your pet peeves?

I found someone who is blind – as opposed to low vision –  who had written his pet peeves with sighted people and posted it online. Now as a former, fully sighted person, I have to be a little defensive about some things on the his list. Things like extending a hand to shake are pretty much habit. Being afraid to say something like “ya see what I mean?” is trying to be P.C. It is not not trying. It is trying too hard.

I agree with him that people asking if you want to feel their faces is just plain weird. Fortunately that one has not happened to me. I also agree that games like “tease the blind guy” are cruel and should merit corporal punishment. Likewise, I agree we are losing our sight and not our hearing or out wits. People don’t have to shout or use single syllable words. (In fact we just met a retired lawyer, well into his 80s, at a concert. I believed he enjoyed my friend and me immensely. Why? Because when he verbally drew his sword, we drew our own and parried. As a former trial lawyer, he misses the good fight.

I don’t need good vision to ‘sword fight’ like that. It was a hoot! Low vision does not mean no brains!)

I am with the pet peeves guy on people who just come up and start talking. Happened yesterday at yoga. She just came up and started talking. I blurted out “I can’t see you.” No sorry or by your leave. Just came out. I thought I was a bit rude. Did not mean to be, but it happened. Turns out I do know her and she knows I am low vision. I’ll put the blame on her.? Could never be my fault! ?

The one peeve I have seen on other lists about the sighted (apparently sighted people are horrible. I never realized that when I was fully sighted) and appeared here as well was pity.  I will agree with that.  People who tell me they would rather have their painful illness than my vision loss because my life must be horrible get me.

A blurry hole in my visual field as opposed to pain so bad you can’t stand up or sit down or get comfortable to even sleep? Bring on the AMD! At least it lets me sleep at night.

Then there is the ever popular: “you don’t have to help. I know things are hard for you.” Granted, I can’t do everything I used to, but I would like to help. Give me something I am capable of doing. Let me chose my task. Sitting there twiddling my thumbs and smiling is not good for my self-esteem and to top it off, it is BORING.

This did not start out as a missive about those pesky fully sighted people but that article got me started. I love my people. Out of the blue an acquaintance I see a couple of times a year offered to come and drive me to ‘Mom Prom’ (over 21, female only, buy a gown at Sal Val and go dancing. Actual motherhood optional) in April. Why? Because she knows I love to dance. My friend today drove 40 miles to go with me to a concert. Bless my people! I would be lost without them.

That said, sometimes the things people do and say get to you. And the little irritations of low vision get to you, too. And that, my dears, was where I was planning to go when I started this piece. So, discussion starter: what are your pet peeves about low vision?

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