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Original poster

To question my husband being blind?

68 replies

Spencer0220 · 26/02/2024 20:30

Posting here for traffic. I don't actually know where to start with this.

When I met my husband 5 years ago, he had various medical problems.

Since a baby, he had hydrocephalus. One side effect of the surgery he had was a presumed blindness in his right eye. He couldn't see anything at all out of it, even light.

Over the years, he started commenting that he could see light. (We have a very bright bedroom.) About 2 years ago, he started to see shadows and could judge where the wall was on that side. His walking massively improved.

Today, he covered his left eye, and told me the could see the colour of the mattress and blinds.

Where do we go from here? He'd like to get to the bottom of what's going on and get the best vision he can.

But he doesn't want to waste anyone's time when he's not sure what he can see in that eye.

Equally, he uses a symbol cane to get around and he's terrified of being seen as a fraudster.

I just want to help him get the best from life.

OP posts:
horseymum · 26/02/2024 20:33

He's not a fraudster to use a cane if he has a vision impairment whatever the level. Exciting if there may be some improvement though, needs to see a medical professional. Maybe some pressure somewhere in his brain has eased?

Jandob · 26/02/2024 20:47

Many people who are blind can see a bit such as shadows, light and dark. If his brain has improved in function, it's possible. Be glad it's improved. He can see a neurologist or an eye specialist.

Station11 · 26/02/2024 20:58

He’ll be able to get a good idea of the vision in his poor eye just by having a regular eye test.

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 26/02/2024 21:14

He wants to get himself to an ophthalmologist and get an eye test as a first step. They'll be able to suggest further steps depending on what they find. How exciting! No idea why either of you are having trouble with the idea. Go pay for an eye test, you're not wasting anyone's time - except his by not getting it looked at.

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 26/02/2024 21:46

Thanks everyone! I'm going to get him to phone for a test tomorrow

OP posts:
PumpkinPie2016 · 26/02/2024 21:52

It's great if he is getting some, even limited, sight back.

Definitely start with an optician appointment.

He isn't a fraudster at all - he has genuine visual impairment.
He may see shape and colour but not much else.

My auntie lost her sight in one eye following a horrific car crash (years ago - she is 72 now and was about 20 at the time). She is visually impaired - she can see shape and some colour from the eye but can't tell you what the shapes are/can't see text to read/identify people with just that eye etc.

Zonder · 26/02/2024 23:54

I think I'd be going to the GP for a referral to the hospital to see what is happening.

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 27/02/2024 00:07

We thought that might be overkill @Zonder

Surely optician can refer too? Or advise him to visit gp?

OP posts:
Mossstitch · 27/02/2024 00:24

Opticians can refer straight into ophthalmology clinics you don't need to see GP. One of my sons works in an out patient opthalmology clinic at the hospital and triages patients referred from opticians or GPs then makes them appointments at the appropriate clinic.

starfishmummy · 27/02/2024 01:09

Spencer0220 · 26/02/2024 20:30

Posting here for traffic. I don't actually know where to start with this.

When I met my husband 5 years ago, he had various medical problems.

Since a baby, he had hydrocephalus. One side effect of the surgery he had was a presumed blindness in his right eye. He couldn't see anything at all out of it, even light.

Over the years, he started commenting that he could see light. (We have a very bright bedroom.) About 2 years ago, he started to see shadows and could judge where the wall was on that side. His walking massively improved.

Today, he covered his left eye, and told me the could see the colour of the mattress and blinds.

Where do we go from here? He'd like to get to the bottom of what's going on and get the best vision he can.

But he doesn't want to waste anyone's time when he's not sure what he can see in that eye.

Equally, he uses a symbol cane to get around and he's terrified of being seen as a fraudster.

I just want to help him get the best from life.

I'm not an expert, just mum to someone with hydro.

Visual problems are often caused by pressure on the optical nerve and are not necessarily permanent. Ideally he should be having annual eye tests anyway because an optician can pick up whether there is an increased pressure when they look at the back of the eye so maybe they can see if something is going on. (Assuming they have a baseline).

So an eye test won't hurt. But perhaps, as his walking has improved as well, seeing the neuro team would be a good idea as it sounds like something has changed. So I'd say see the GP to do a referral. (And as GPs are rarely experts in hydro he should probably be politely insistent!!).

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 27/02/2024 02:21

Thank you @starfishmummy

We suspect his walking improvement is due to his eyesight. Timing wise it all correlates with his starting to use the symbol cane.

He also had a new shunt in 2020, where surgeon suggested his last shunt may never have worked properly.

So definitely something to look into

OP posts:
Rewis · 27/02/2024 03:03

What is all of this fraudster and not wasting resources stuff? Legally blind man getting his vision back should definitely be a call to the doctor. I imagine he already has a doctor? Also unless he can safely navigate having some vision (like majority white cane users have) doesn't make him fraudster.

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 27/02/2024 05:52

@Rewis, he's worried he won't be taken seriously because it's only very, very minimal.

I told him I think he needs to see the optician as a starting point, to maximise using any vision he does get in that 1 eye.

I hope they are positive.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spencer0220 · 27/02/2024 05:53

Also nowhere have I said he's legally blind. He isn't. He's blind in 1 eye.

OP posts:
LightSwerve · 27/02/2024 05:55

He's not a fraudster. He's not wasting time.

He can see the GP for a referral.

Rewis · 27/02/2024 06:58

Spencer0220 · 27/02/2024 05:53

Also nowhere have I said he's legally blind. He isn't. He's blind in 1 eye.

I stand corrected. I made an assumption.

Stupidliefromfriend · 27/02/2024 07:12

This thread has cheered my heart. How exciting OP. I wish your husband all the best.

Daffodilsandtuplips · 27/02/2024 07:13

Spencer0220 · 27/02/2024 00:07

We thought that might be overkill @Zonder

Surely optician can refer too? Or advise him to visit gp?

Yes an optician can and will refer to hospital. An optician has equipment a GP doesn’t have such as cameras, a scanner to see at the back of the eye, eye pressure testing. I’ve been referred twice from visits to my optician.

Original poster
Spencer0220 · 27/02/2024 07:29

Stupidliefromfriend · 27/02/2024 07:12

This thread has cheered my heart. How exciting OP. I wish your husband all the best.

Thank you so much. This is brilliant news. I'm so happy for him.

It will make his life so much easier if he's correct in his assumptions.

OP posts:
Zonder · 27/02/2024 07:30

Spencer0220 · 27/02/2024 00:07

We thought that might be overkill @Zonder

Surely optician can refer too? Or advise him to visit gp?

I was thinking along the same lines as @starfishmummy that the GP would also be able to refer to neuro to see what was going on. But maybe the optician can also do that.

Anyway it's very exciting.

SometimesIchangemyname · 27/02/2024 07:37

Sounds encouraging OP.
I have to say your thread title had me wondering all sorts of scenarios. Like you’d married a blind man and caught him out driving or watching porn or something 😁.

SavetheNHS · 27/02/2024 07:41

Great news that he is seeing a bit more in his affected eye.
Does he have normal vision in the other eye?

JADS · 27/02/2024 07:47

If he had a new shunt in 2020, it does sound somewhat plausible. Does he have any follow up with that team at the hospital?

My Dad had his eye encleated due to cancer. Even though he had lost the sight in the eye, he could still perceive light. Once he had the surgery, he always said the world seemed a little dimmer.

Please get him to see the optician. He isn't wasting anyone's time x

Suchagroovyguy · 27/02/2024 09:06

From the title I thought we were going to have a saga about a husband pretending to be blind…

Great news his vision is returning. He needs a scan though.

beenwhereyouare · 27/02/2024 09:13

Spencer0220 · 27/02/2024 05:53

Also nowhere have I said he's legally blind. He isn't. He's blind in 1 eye.

The title of the post is why people are misunderstanding. It's misleading; it implies complete blindness, rather than being blind in one eye. Also, I actually thought this was going to be one of those "is he faking it?" stories, when actually he has partial blindness and is concerned to avoid wasting healthcare resources. I hope his vision continues to improve.

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