by Muhammad Hassan Rasheed
Diagnosis
I’ve had an eye problem since birth. When I was around four months old, my family noticed something wasn’t right. When I used to crawl, I would bump into things, which made them think I might have a vision issue. They took me to the doctor, and that’s when we found out that I had a serious eye condition.
Emotional Reaction
Because I’ve had this condition since childhood, I slowly got used to it. As I grew older and realized that my eyesight wasn’t as good as others, I accepted it. It didn’t make me very upset because I had never seen the world in any other way. I just told myself, “This is part of my life,” and kept going with a positive mindset.
Telling Others
When I was born two months early, people around us were unsure if I would even survive. My family was worried, and they took me to many doctors. Eventually, they found a well-known eye specialist who checks babies’ eyes under anesthesia. That’s when my regular eye treatments and checkups started. It was tough for my family, but they stood by me from the beginning.
Daily Life / Coping
There are definitely challenges in my daily life. I can’t go out or travel alone, and shopping in crowded places is hard for me. To manage this, I mostly order things online and get them delivered to my home. For doctor visits or anything outside, my family and friends always help me.
As for work, I do freelancing from home. It’s difficult for me to do a regular on-site job, so I chose online work where I can stay independent and safe. It wasn’t easy at first, but I adjusted, and now I’m able to work in a way that fits my life.
Message for Others
My message is simple: if you have an eye condition like mine, accept it and learn to live with it. Worrying or feeling sad all the time won’t help—it just makes things harder for you and your loved ones. Accepting your condition gives you peace and strength.
Make sure you keep going for regular checkups. Understand that this disease usually affects night vision first, then side vision, so be prepared and take care of your eyes as much as you can.
And for those who don’t have this condition—please take your eye health seriously. Everyone should get their eyes checked regularly, especially after age 40 or 50. Early action can save your vision.