Nurses with Low Vision/Glaucoma?

[kukukajoo, LPN]

Are there any nurses out there that have glaucoma or low vision problems? I am wondering a few things:

What adjustments do you have to make for work?

What barriers have you faced and how have you over come them?

How are your eyes doing and what does the future hold? Have you been preparing for the possibility of blindness in the future?

background- about 3 yrs ago I was dx with acute glaucoma. Minimal damage to nerves, but I had the trableculoplasty surgery where they drill holes in your iris to help drainage. It helped some but not enoughevidently.

Fast forward to today- went 2 yrs no exams (or insurance) and have quite a bit of damage and having some problems with it. I am concerend as to what the future holds and how well I could perform my job. Yes I know I could work for an insurance co or do desk nursing but that is not why I want to be in this field.

I am facing a situation where I may have to drop out of the program so I can get a full-time job with benefits if I need surgery. A little drastic, but I have to save my sight or else I will never be a nurse.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Gosh, I'm so sorry. I have eye issues too and have usable vision in only one eye, so I know the panic about losing vision. Have you discussed this with your ophthalmologist? He would be your best bet.

I am in my late 40's and I use reading glasses. I always have two pair at work - one with me in my front pocket and one in my locker (in case I lose the first pair - lol). That's how I deal with it. I do have a visual field deficit and I have compensated for that just fine too.

[kukukajoo, LPN]

Yes, I under a docs care. I guess I am looking for people's opinions and experiences that have actually had to deal with it. I have found that sometimes personal experiences are way more informative than a doc telling you that I may experience X, or have to do Y.

[steelcityrn, RN]

About 15 years ago I was in a bad accident that caused one of the worst post traumatic cataracts ever seen, as per the opthamologist. Last month I finally was able to have it removed, they waited because of my age and risks associated with it. I have worked with vision/color problems for years, and no one ever knew who I worked with. You manage. Thats about all I can say is you will find some way to manage it. Now, my color has been restored, but need a trifocol for my left eye, which no one would know I had it on unless I said something. The brain takes as long if not longer to adapt to vision changes, I am finally able to read a newspaper now. Good luck to you, and no, this should not stop you from acheiving your goal. One thing you may want to do. It never hurts to try something different in regards to not having insurance. Speak to a large opthamology group about your delemma and your plans for becoming a nurse. You may just tug at a heart string, and that makes a great write off for them during tax time.

best of luck:)