Read by Mandy Kaplan

I have pretty eyes, or at least that is what many people through the years have told me. Blue eyes and red hair is a rather nice combination. Yes, my eyes are pretty, but they do not work well. This point was spotlighted for me a few years ago when my eye doctor told me that I had developed macular degeneration. The macula lets us read. It allows us to watch television. We recognize our grandchild's faces by using our macula; we order off the menu using it. When it doesn't work, or if it works poorly, we have to give up our cars and possibly lose our independence, and worse yet, it could keep us from living in our own home. A degenerating macula is not a good thing! I didn't know much about the disease then, but now I feel that I am almost an expert. If you are newly diagnosed and would like to understand what you and your eyes can expect over the next weeks, months and years, pour yourself some coffee, pull up a chair and get started reading my story. Through intellectualizing this disease, I want you to be able to live your life to the fullest while having macular degeneration

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