[nfbmi-talk] Newbie...

[Raymond Juliano]

Hello,

I am new to this site and to the possibility of total blindness.  Two years
ago I sustained a CRVO of my left eye which has left me legally blind in my
left eye.  I recently visited the Mayo Clinic where a retinal specialist
took photos of my right eye and determined that I had atherosclerotic
changes in my right eye that may result in the same thing happening in my
good right eye in the future.  I am taking blood thinners...low dose aspirin
and fish oil to keep my blood thin to hopefully prevent that in my good
right eye.  I have had numerous eye operations and procedures in my left eye
over the past two years and am scheduled to have a silicone oil bubble
placed in my left eye on Dec. 3rd. for 6-12 mos. or indefinitely depending
on how I tolerate it to control the bleeds that I've been having in my left
eye which keep me from seeing anything at all out of my left eye.  The CRVO
has gone from non ischemic to ischemic and has resulted in neovascular
glaucoma for which I am also being treated.

I decided to get involved in the NFB now to prepare for what might happen
with my good right eye in the future.  At this time there is no known long
term cure or treatment for CRVO short of a stem cell retinal implant, which
my doctor thinks may be a possibility yet in my lifetime, but I am not that
optimistic, and am doubtful if my vision will ever return to what it was
prior to the CRVO.  I plan on learning braille as well since I love to read,
write, play chess, and do so many other things that require sight, but I am
not willing to give them up if I can learn to deal with potential
blindness.  I am 68 years of age and the thought of losing all of my vision
is almost impossible to deal with at this point in time, but I need to
prepare for that possibilitiy.  Any correspondence from anyone would be very
much appreciated.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Ray Juliano