What to Expect When You Are Adjusting to Vision Loss
When you lose vision after a lifetime of good vision, it’s common to feel sad, discouraged, angry, or lost. You can feel as if you no longer fit into the world in the same way. Adjustment to vision loss takes time. As you learn new ways to complete tasks, you regain confidence which can help you begin to feel better.
Family members also experience a period of adjustment. They may feel similar sadness and loss as roles change in the home.
It is OK to feel sad, but it is important to find ways to avoid getting stuck at this stressful point in the adjustment process. Things can get better!
Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Learn what you want to know at your own pace from Hadley.
- Connect with local services. A rehabilitation professional can help make a plan that leads to more independence.
- Join a community support group for people with vision loss. Check out our national resources for consumer advocacy groups and local and virtual connection.
- Hold a family meeting and redistribute household responsibilities so that you can more easily contribute. As new skills are learned, the responsibilities may continue to be adjusted.
- Be patient. It takes time to adjust and learn adaptive skills. Over time there should start to be more good days than bad days.
- If emotional adjustment is severe or prolonged, seek counseling.