MD Logo

THE MACULAR
DEGENERATION COMMUNITY

Steve


 

Name
Steve Sleigh

Born
May 8, 1958

Home
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Diagnosis
Stargardt disease

Eyes Affected
Both

Eye Color
Blue

Age at Diagnosis
20

Acuity
less than 20/200

Treatment
None

Prognosis or Current State of Vision
It appears to be stable at this point in my life.

Family History
One of my younger sisters, who lives in Vancouver, also has Stargardt disease.

Impact on My Life
Stargardt's was a major impact on my life. I had applied to be a pilot in the Canadian armed forces and had past all the criteria and tests leading up to my eye examination. It was at this time that I was diagnosed with Stargardt's. Additionally, I had also been invited to try out for the national hockey league as a refereee. My world changed completely when the ophthalmalogist told me that I had Stargardt's. I was confused, bitter, and totally dumbfounded by the whole exercise. It was like turning off a light switch.

Positive Effects
Hmmm, not sure on how to respond to this one.

Adaptations
I've learned to adapt over the years through education and the use of specialized text to speech software.

Employment
I'm currently working for the federal government here in Ottawa, Ontario.

More About Me
I'm a huge sports fan, love the NFL, NHL and MLB. I'm a huge Neil Young fan and have had the pleasure of seeing him live three times. I spend a fair amount of time listening to talking books and can be swept away by a good movie.



MD Support Home Page
Back to The Macular Degeneration Community