Eye Health Movement

In early 2004, I walked into an eye doctor’s office for the first time in my life expecting to walk out with a cute pair of red cat eye frames. Instead, I learned I suffered from Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare blinding eye disease that  had already stole my night vision, was eating away at my peripheral vision, and would eventually take the rest.

It took nine years of fading eyesight — combined with a continued “ho hope” prognosis from retinal specialists — for me to finally decide to take charge of my eye health and do everything in my power to fight for my sight. In February 2013,  I kicked off a personal quest to maintain and improve my eyesight through a whole-body health approach that integrates diet, lifestyle, emotional health, physical exercise, eye exercises and acupuncture. And what I’ve discovered is that while there is no magic pill or cure, there is plenty I can do on my own to save my eyesight.

Today, nearly three years into my eyesight healing quest, my eyesight is actually a little better than it was when I started. I now feel confident in my ability to retain the eyesight I have left and no longer battle depression worrying about my future. Instead, I’m busy making plans for it, starting with annual trips to different parts of the world with my husband and two daughters that will kick off the summer of 2016.

Through my Determined to See blog, Facebook group and live workshops and presentations, I’m now on a quest to help others dealing with RP or other blinding eye diseases to  say NO to NO HOPE and  take charge of their eye health by taking charge of their whole health.