Coping With Retinal Degeneration

Abstract

We have been asked to write a chapter on coping with retinal degeneration (RD) from the point of view of the patient. James Cape, my co-author, has macular degeneration (MD) and I have retinitis pigmentosa ([RP]; dominant inheritance RP13). Because our two different retinal conditions create different experiences and viewpoints, we decided to use a common structure, but to write it from our own perspective. Our viewpoints are different because a picture always looks different if you can only see the middle bits (RP) or only the part around the outside (MD). However, as James and I often jokingly say, together we believe we have 20/20 vision. In this chapter, we will attempt to provide an all-round 20/20 view of the problems of coping with RD. I list here the broad subjects that we have tried to cover. I think you will find that we have not necessarily covered them in sequence, and that both of us sees these subjects from a different view. However, we hope that you will see a common thread running through the chapter.