Living with Glaucoma: My Journey Through Challenges and Hope
Hi, I’m a 30-year-old woman from Nha Trang, and I want to share my story of living with glaucoma. It’s a condition that has not only taken away much of my sight but has also drastically changed how I live my daily life. I hope my journey resonates with those facing similar struggles and brings awareness to what it’s like to navigate the world with limited vision.
The Beginning of My Struggles
About a year ago, I started noticing that my vision was becoming increasingly blurry. At first, it was small things—misreading labels, stumbling on uneven steps—but soon, even recognizing the faces of people close to me became a challenge. My right eye was the worst. By November 2021, I could only see shapes if they were extremely close (counting fingers at 0.2 meters). My left eye wasn’t much better.
Simple tasks became overwhelming. I couldn’t navigate my home without bumping into furniture, and walking outside felt like an obstacle course. I stopped going out alone because I was afraid of tripping or stepping into traffic. The world felt like it was closing in, and I relied heavily on my family to help with even the most basic errands.
The First Surgery
When I visited my doctor, I learned that my left eye had dangerously high pressure—over 30 mmHg. They told me that without surgery, I could lose what little sight I had left. I was terrified but hopeful that the trabeculectomy they recommended would help.
The surgery went well, and my eye pressure dropped significantly, but my vision didn’t improve. Everyday life was still incredibly challenging. I couldn’t see well enough to cook safely—I’d burn myself trying to handle hot pans or spill water while pouring. Reading was out of the question, so I had to rely on audio tools for everything. Even walking in dim lighting was a nightmare. I clung to the hope that stabilizing the pressure in one eye would at least stop things from getting worse.
The Second Surgery
My right eye was still struggling. By December, the pressure had climbed again despite using multiple eye drops every day. I started feeling strain and discomfort, and my vision was so poor that I couldn’t even distinguish objects unless they were very close. By this point, I was practically blind in that eye. The doctors recommended a second trabeculectomy for my right eye, and I agreed, even though I knew the surgery wouldn’t restore my vision.
The recovery process was frustrating. While the pressure in my right eye improved after the surgery, my vision remained the same—blurry, foggy, and unreliable. Even navigating familiar spaces felt like a gamble, as I couldn’t see obstacles in my way. Crossing the street alone was out of the question, and I stopped venturing out altogether unless someone was with me.
Everyday Limitations
Living with glaucoma has made me realize how much I took my vision for granted. Things that used to be second nature are now nearly impossible.
• Walking and Navigating: I’ve become overly cautious, even at home. I bump into doorframes or misjudge steps. Outside, I’m too afraid to cross streets because I can’t see vehicles clearly until they’re too close.
• Cooking and Cleaning: Preparing meals feels risky. I’ve burned my fingers because I couldn’t see how close they were to the flame or spilled boiling water while trying to pour. Cleaning is exhausting because I often miss spots or knock things over.
• Socializing: Recognizing faces is one of the hardest parts. Meeting friends or family in public is embarrassing because I can’t see them well enough to greet them properly. It’s isolating, and I feel like I’m losing the ability to connect with others.
• Reading and Technology: I can’t read books or even text messages. Everything I do now requires audio assistance, which makes me feel less independent.
• Emotional Impact: The worst part is the constant reliance on others. I feel like a burden, and the loss of independence has taken a toll on my confidence.
30 Grad visual field testFirst Therapy: July 2022 (Baseline Visual Field) |
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Right eye |
Left eye |
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At baseline, Khanh’s visual field showed severe defects in both eyes: - Improved awareness of her surroundings reduced her dependency on others for daily mobility. |
Second Therapy: June 2023 (11 Months After Baseline) |
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Right eye |
Left eye |
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By the next evaluation, significant improvements were noted: |
Third Therapy: October 2024 (16 Months After Second Therapy)
Right eye |
Left eye |
By the final evaluation, stabilization was evident: |
Right Eye (RE) At baseline, the right eye demonstrated severe, widespread visual field defects, with extensive scotomas spanning both the central and peripheral regions. The functional visual field was critically impaired, with only fragmented areas of retained sensitivity. Over the evaluation period, incremental improvements were observed. Functional gains were most notable in the central visual field, accompanied by minor enhancements in the superior and inferior regions. Despite these improvements, large portions of the VF remain severely affected, with persistent scotomas limiting overall vision.
These findings suggest that the therapy provided a stabilizing effect, slowing the progression of glaucomatous damage while facilitating partial recovery of visual function. However, the remaining defects underline the advanced state of optic nerve damage in the right eye, which continues to impose significant limitations on the patient’s vision.
Left Eye (LE) The left eye presented with a similarly compromised visual field at baseline, characterized by diffuse loss and prominent blind spots. Both the central and peripheral regions were significantly affected, though the initial functional capacity was slightly better than the right eye. Over time, marked improvements were recorded, particularly in the central and inferior visual fields, which showed enhanced sensitivity and reduced defect density. The superior and peripheral areas, however, remained largely unchanged, reflecting the limitations of recovery in these regions. By the end of the observation period, the visual field in the left eye had stabilized, with no evidence of further deterioration.
These findings indicate a substantial therapeutic effect in the left eye, with notable recovery in key functional regions. The improvements align with expectations for glaucoma treatment, emphasizing the preservation of remaining vision and the stabilization of further decline.
At Fedorov Restore Vision Clinic, we believe that vision loss doesn’t have to define your future. Our clinic is internationally recognized for pioneering a groundbreaking approach to glaucoma treatment, offering hope to patients who have struggled with the limitations of traditional care.
Glaucoma is a progressive condition that causes damage to the optic nerve, often leading to irreversible vision loss. While conventional treatments typically focus on lowering intraocular pressure to slow the disease’s progression, they rarely address the possibility of restoring lost vision. That’s where our innovative approach sets us apart.
Our clinic specializes in advanced, non-invasive neuromodulation therapies designed to go beyond simply managing glaucoma. By stimulating the optic nerve and the brain’s visual pathways, we aim to slow the progression of the disease while reactivating dormant neurons. This groundbreaking technique holds the potential to restore lost visual function, enhancing clarity, field of vision, and contrast sensitivity. Each treatment plan is carefully tailored to meet the unique needs of our patients, ensuring the best possible outcomes.
Led by world-renowned specialists in vision restoration, Fedorov Restore Vision Clinic has become a trusted destination for those seeking more than traditional care. We are deeply committed to understanding every patient’s unique condition and delivering compassionate, effective treatment. Our patients often report significant improvements in their vision, providing renewed hope and a better quality of life.
“I have known Dr. Anton Fedorov for many years and his reputation as a specialist in field of vision restoration. He is pioneer in the area of non invasive electrical stimulation therapy. For more than 20 years, he has successfully used Restoration Therapy to help patients regain vision-loss from ‘untreatable’ conditions. We provide long lasting collaboration with him in regard to execute follow up evaluation for our mutual patients and help him exam his potential here in London if they can be qualified to receive treatment in Berlin Germany."
Fedorov Restore Vision Clinic
Prenzlauer Allee 90
10409 Berlin (Germany)