National sight loss charity the Macular Society is marking its awareness week this week. Mother of one Katie Berrill, aged 32, was diagnosed with macular disease last year. Here are 5 things she’d like people to know about the condition....
Good nutrition is important for eye health
It is the most common cause of blindness in the UK.
One in three people know someone with macular disease and it is the biggest cause of blindness in the UK. But, awareness of it remains low. When I was diagnosed I had not heard of macular disease and neither had any of my friends or family.
It is scary, even if you can still see.
I was only diagnosed with Stargardt, a rare form if macular disease last year and I am only in the early stages. However, I still have blind spots and can struggle to see certain things. I am fearful of my future and many people struggle to understand this. Because you don’t get ill from macular disease it is hard for people to comprehend. But the stress that comes from it is not considered. It is the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about at night. I wonder how long my sight will stay as it is. It is a degenerative condition, so I know my sight will get worse it is just a question of when and how long it will take. It is very frightening.
Good nutrition is important for eye health
When I was diagnosed I was told there was no cure, but that there were things I could do to maintain good eye health and help slow the progression of the disease. This included eating fresh foods, which are rich in nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin. I was told these could be found in brightly coloured vegetables and also green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and broccoli.
Regular eye tests are important for everyone, even if you think your sight is fine
My mum has always taken me for regular eye tests so it has always been normal for me. I had no reason to think there was anything wrong until I went to the opticians. The earlier you know about your condition the more chance you have of getting the right support. Thanks to my diagnosis I was able to get the support of the Macular Society and received the counselling I needed.
It makes you appreciate what you have
I have always appreciated nature but now when I take the dog out for a walk I take a bit more time to look around me. I enjoy reading to my son at night now, because I can and when I speak to people I make sure I look at them properly and take them in. I am just making the most of everything while I can still do it. I am trying to appreciate the things I know I’m going to lose.