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Jack's reading, driving and
watching TV vision was affected. His
independence was threatened.
He sat back and asked, "Was
if from too much reading?"
I answered, no; the eyes do
not degenerate from reading, driving or
watching TV.
His next question was, "Why
me, then?"
I told him that macular
degeneration increases with age, is more
frequent in patients with blue eyes, and
increases with sun (ultraviolet light)
exposure. We do not know the exact cause, but
it is like "hardening of the arteries" in the
exact central vision.
Jack asked the big question
next: "Will I go blind?"
I was able to tell him that
the vision damage is usually localized to the
central vision, and that people do not go
blind. The side vision remains normal around
the central blurriness. In fact, most people
will keep their reading and driving vision
with precautions, medical exams and treatment.
Jack was lucky.
Special photographs
identified the damage, and special laser
treatment stopped it-prevented further
damage-and helped restore his vision to
qualify for driving again.
To prevent further damage,
I recommended antioxidant vitamins and
ultraviolet protection sunglasses for Jack and
his blue-eyed children.
I will always remember
those piercing blue eyes and be grateful that
Jack got his eyes examined and treated in
time. |
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how blue they were. Jack was 80 years old and
an active golfer and swimmer. He had fought
for six years in World War II, married his
high-school sweetheart, raised five kids - and
still was nearly sharp enough to qualify for
the TV show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?".
