My name is Tony, I am 88, registered with OpenSight and a member of the Farnborough Macular Support Group which is affiliated to OpenSight.
In July 2019, I was diagnosed by the eye clinic at Frimley Park Hospital with wet AMD plus cataracts on both eyes. In 2020, I was certified by the NHS as ‘severely sight impaired’. Both events came as a huge shock to me, and my initial fear was that I may become totally blind at 82.
A major problem was that I was completely unaware of what help and advice I could obtain and to compound my worries, this event occurred at the onset of covid and lockdown. Hence face-to-face contact was nigh impossible.
It was a great relief to be taken onboard by OpenSight who could not have been more understanding and helped me come to terms with the fact that AMD was here to stay. They gace me confidence that I was with a team of professionals with knowledge and accumulated experience of others with identical problems. They prioritised my needs and have me every possible help to address the most urgent ones. Progressively, OpenSight worked through a list of what I should do next, even filling in complex forms for me over the telephone and then posting them to me for signature. This calmed most of my initial fears.
With professional guidance from OpenSight team I gained confidence and the help I needed, including financial advice in such areas as Attendance Allowance, the importance of registering my disability with the county council, obtaining a Blue Badge, and so forth.
I am approaching 89 and apart from my lack of vision, my general health is poor. My modified PC allows me to stay connected with friends and family. I mention this as. very recently, wonderful IT specialists at OpenSight gave me instructions on how to enlarge the address books and their fonts on my PC so that emails now reach the intended addresses! I include this example as OpenSight is not merely there to help you at the start of your new journey, it remains with you when you have needs along the way.
I have difficulty finding adequate words to praise the work of OpenSight and not just for what they have done and continue to do for me. I am a regular attendee at my macular support group where I meet other people with macular problems of a different nature, and they too sing the praises of OpenSight.
If you, or anyone you know shares a similar story to Tony and would like to hear how we can help, email info@opensight.org.uk or call 02380 641 244.
