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THE MACULAR
DEGENERATION COMMUNITY

Jim


 

Name
Jim Gamble

Born
1947

Home
Lewistown, Montana

Diagnosis
Wet MMD / Pathological Myopia

Eyes Affected
Both

Eye Color
Blue

Age at Diagnosis
(6) Extreme Myopia, (57) PMD

Acuity
20/200+ Left, 20/80 Right and deteriorating

Treatment
PDT - 06/04, 08/04 & 12/04 in Left eye, 1568 hot laser shots to seal five holes and tears in right eye - 08/05 (damaged nerve that controls the pupil). Largest hole was right above the nerve.

Prognosis or Current State of Vision
The right eye was fairly stable until May 2007 with onset of distortion. RS said the vitreous gel was pulling in or tugging on the retina causing swelling and distortion ("wait and see"). Distortion continued intermittently until the day after Christmas. I woke up with pain in the "good" eye and more distortion. Today is February 3, 2008. Over the past five weeks my vision in the right has gone from 20/40 to 20/80. Optometrist checked eye on Friday and found a hemorrhage. Will see RS sometime this week, but vision is going fast/font>

Family History
Uncle (mother's brother) had similar problems, suspected passed down from maternal great grandmother. Strangely enough, we have three children, and the oldest girl is slightly near sighted. The younger boy and girl are both far sighted, thank God!

Impact on My Life
Huge impact this past six months. I had to stop working in August due to the distortion and stress. Blood pressure went sky high. I have to take off my glasses to read a book, newspaper and computer from an inch away. Then my right eye blurs out after a short time. Central vision in the left eye has been gone for a long time now. I'm new to this. It sucks, but I will go on the best I can. I am upgrading my computer so I can use JAWS. I guess I need advice on many things. I will have to consult the low vision people. I wish there was some miracle cure.

Positive Effects
When I was a boy, I used to watch Oral Roberts "curing" people on TV. I prayed and prayed that God would heal my eyes and give me normal vision. I guess He said "No." Now I just thank Him that I have had 60 years of a fairly normal life. I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles and been to 47 states, Canada, and Mexico. I have four wonderful children and seven grandchildren. My son, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Notre Dame, is a Major in the USAF with a Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering. My "baby" girl is one of the youngest female bank presidents in the U.S. at 29. She was nominated for the JFK Award of Academic Excellence at the University of Massachusetts a few years ago and received her MBA from Arizona State last year. How could one ask for more?

Adaptations
I'm in the process. I don't know yet quite what to do. I may not be driving long. That will be the toughest adjustment. It's happening right now, so I'll have to let you all know how it works out. I know I will need help, probably magnifiers or whatever. I'm open to any and all advice. It's kind of difficult when one lives "somewhere in the middle of Montana". . where do you go and what do you do . . . ?

Employment
I stopped working last August (07) as a manager at a local supermarket. I've been in the insurance and financial planning business for 31 years, but sort of semi-retired in the nineties. I still keep my license and do my CE, but haven't done much business the past year. It's a real pain when you can't see.

More About Me
I went back to college eleven years ago at age 49 and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2000 with a B.S. Degree in Business and Marketing. Last, but certainly not least, is my beautiful wife. She has been my "rock" for more than 34 years. Thank you, Honey!



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