I thought I needed a new glasses prescription. Within weeks, I had lost most of my sight.
The seriousness of the situation became clear when I attended my daughter’s dance show. Despite sitting only three rows away, I couldn’t see her on the stage.
In this role-reversal episode, my friend and ODGE MEDIA’s Ollie Needham interviews me about my sudden sight loss, my diagnosis of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, also known as LHON, and why I created The AGB Show.
I talk about the confusion of those first few weeks, undergoing hospital tests and learning that a condition I believed could no longer affect me had developed.
I also share my experience of accessing treatment that wasn’t initially available through the NHS in England, accepting that my sight may not return and learning to approach life differently.
During our conversation, we discuss:
Using a cane and rebuilding my independence
Accessible commentary at football grounds
Audio description at the cinema
Using AI and assistive technology
Continuing to build LEGO and enjoy family activities
Campaigning for better accessibility
Finding a new purpose through sharing my experiences
I also explain why I created The AGB Show and how I hope these conversations will help other people facing adversity in their own lives.
The AGB Show is hosted by me, Joe Edwards, produced by ODGE MEDIA and sponsored by Intec Office Systems.
Follow and find out more:
ODGE MEDIA https://odgemedia.com/
Intec Office Systems https://intecoffice.co.uk/
About Going Blind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aboutgoingblind/
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