My Vision Loss & Career Story

It began in 2005 when I was a senior in high school. I went into a local eye clinic to get contacts for playing basketball. During the exam, my eyes were dilated, and a spot was discovered in my right eye, which necessitated a trip to a retina specialist, where I was diagnosed with a rare eye disease called Coat’s Disease. 

The retina specialist doctor immediately began treatment to stop exudate (fluid) from leaking in my eye. Without treatment, the fluid would pool and eventually detach my retina. Treatments included cryotherapy, laser, and injections, which continued for over five years. During this time, the vision in my right eye deteriorated significantly. And with this vision loss, my eyes no longer focus together, leading to constant double vision. When I look at an object, I see one clear object and one very blurry object up and to the right of that object. 

My experience with vision loss and the struggles that come with it has directed my career path for the last ten years. I knew early on in my journey that I wanted to help others struggling with vision loss. I have had several jobs over the years in the blindness field. These include leading exercise/activity classes, providing job coaching and job development, and being a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS). 

This story is only a quick synopsis of my vision loss and career up to this point. I’m excited about new opportunities, including returning to school to get another certification as a Vision Rehab Therapist (VRT) and starting my own company Blind on the Move LLC. Thanks so much for reading! Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions.