THE MACULAR
DEGENERATION COMMUNITY

Name
Karley Kitchen

Born
05/17/85

Home
Greenville, Ohio

Diagnosis
Stargardt's disease

Eyes Affected
Both

Eye Color
Brown

Age at Diagnosis
18

Visual Acuity
20/200 maybe worst now

Treatment
None

Prognosis or Current State of Vision
I got diagnosed last year and in the past year I have noticed it progressivly getting worse.

Family History
I know of no one in my family that has any eye diseases.

Impact on My Life
It has changed my life a great deal I am only 19 years old and I can no longer drive myself to the places I want to go. I cannot read like I once did, I cannot recognize people who wave to me, or even recognize my own mother in a store (far away). I can not watch a regular baseball game or see my 10-year-old brother's Christmas play because they are so far away.

Positive Effects
The positive effects of this disease are that I now realize that if I want something I can do it and nothing can get in my way I am now more determined. I am getting help to pay for college and I do not have to work.

Adaptations

I have to adapt to using tools to see. Magnifying glasses to read, and I have to look around my blind spot. It is hard, but if I do not do it, I will not see or achieve my goals.