# What type of blindness do I have?

Category: Health and Wellness

## Post 1 by TheBlindPianist (Veteran Zoner) on Wednesday, 30-Jul-2014 22:10:03

Hi guys,
I was recently asked what type of blindness I have. However, I do not know. My mom says I have retina prematurity, but one of my friends says I have retinitis pigmentosa.
I was born 4 months early, if that helps. Ahh, might as well say more.
I was born 4 months early. I was one pound, one ounce. It is said that my mom did drugs when she was pregnant. Don't judge please. I was about four inches, (could fit in my mom's hand).
Hope that helps a lot.
Also, if anyone wants to know what kind of blindness they have, post here. I'm sure someone can help.

## Post 2 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Wednesday, 30-Jul-2014 22:15:45

Hi there.
Wow, you were a tiny little thing.
It is most likely that you have Retinopathy of Prematurity, or ROP for short. ROP basically, it is thought that the retinal cells are damaged by too much oxygen in incubaters. However, I read a while back that there is a new school of thought about how ROP develops but I don't know enough about it to make an educated statement.
Retinitis Pigmentosa is a hereditary condition in which you would have gradually lost vision during your teens and young adult years. People with RP generally develop tunnel vision and the tunnel just gets smaller and smaller as they age.
Next time you visit an eye doctor, he or she should be able to tell you more specifically about your individual condition. You would want to see a Retina specialist though as most regular eye doctors don't have a clue about actual blindness. Last time I went to a regular eye doc in the box, I actually had to educate him on my condition.
Good luck to you in your quest for answers.

## Post 3 by TheBlindPianist (Veteran Zoner) on Wednesday, 30-Jul-2014 22:26:43

O. and i can see light, if that helps.
If I cover the left eye, the right eye can't see very much. If I cover the right eye, the left eye sees quite a bit.

## Post 4 by TheBlindPianist (Veteran Zoner) on Wednesday, 30-Jul-2014 22:31:09

Ast time I went to the eye doctor, my aunt forgot to tell them I was blind. So the doctor goes:
"Ok, can you see this?"
and snaps his fingers by my right eye.
"No," I said, "but i can hear it."
He laughed and waved, knowmg I could see that better. Still, nothing very good. So he did the same with the left eye.
Waving, I mean.
And that one, I could see.
When he examined my right eye with the light, while my chin was on the stand thing, it didn't bother me.
When he examned it with my left eye, I wanted to blinch back, it was so bright.
Also, at times, the light hurts my eyes. A lot, actually.

## Post 5 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Wednesday, 30-Jul-2014 22:36:54

ROP, not RP, is probably what you have. however, none of us are doctors, here, so if you're curious, asking a medical professional is your best bet.

## Post 6 by TheBlindPianist (Veteran Zoner) on Wednesday, 06-Aug-2014 11:41:17

Next time I go to the eye doctor, (whenever that will be), I'll ask them.
I do need to go. My eyes don't hurt any more, but that is just because I am inside all the time. When school starts again, this will not be pleasant.

## Post 7 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Saturday, 11-Oct-2014 6:19:23

Yes I have to agree with the rest on here that it is best you seek advise from the professionals but I applaud your efforts in wanting to know more about your eyes but as all eye conditions are different it is hard to say whether yours is one or the other but I wish you luck in finding out the condition for your blindness.

## Post 8 by ADVOCATOR! (Finally getting on board!) on Friday, 20-Feb-2015 7:25:40

I know not many have posted on this. But, if you don't know why you can't see, don't feel bad. It took 22 years for me to find out. And, because it took so long, I fell hard, through many cracks.
This, is a thing I'm trying to remmody; with some success. Not much, some.
God Bless!
Sarah

## Post 9 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Friday, 06-Mar-2015 9:44:52

agree with others who have said it's best if you get a professional's opinion on your eye condition. Given the low birthweight and the four-week premature birth, I'd say it's retinopathy of prematurity, but not sure about the severity if you can still see light out of one eye. maybe try wearing some dark glasses when you go outside so the light isn't so bright?

## Post 10 by ADVOCATOR! (Finally getting on board!) on Friday, 06-Mar-2015 14:52:31

Question:
Would you rather know? Or not? I know I didn't know for 22 years of my life, and I wish I had.