Last week, Glenn mentioned in passing that he was having trouble seeing people’s faces. Having spent way too much of my life in ophthalmologist offices, I knew immediately what the most likely cause is – macular degeneration.
The macula is the central vision of your eye – it has a high density of light receptors that are where you have your “fine” vision reception. Outside the macula is where you see black/white images and peripheral vision. If your macula “goes”, you lose your ability to read books, drive a car and do lots of important things. You aren’t completely “blind”, but it severely limits what you’re able to do.
Monday, they spent most of the second hour joking how Glenn had “blown off” going to the eye doctor and making fun of the diagnosis, which hasn’t yet been confirmed by a specialist.
There are two types of macular degeneration – “wet” or “dry”, and the macula can also be damaged by other processes, like a detached retina, or this could be an early sign of a brain tumor or a stroke. The eyes and optic nerves are basically part of the brain itself…. the eyes are where problems often show up first.
Assuming it is just run of the mill macular degeneration (which would be unusual given his relatively young age), there is no “cure”. There are treatments to prevent further deterioration. Paul Harvey used to peddle an over-the-counter medicine which may or may not have had any value.
If you’re anywhere near Glenn or have influence, PLEASE impress on him the importance of getting this pinned down. Right now, he’s in denial hoping this will go away. There is no “up side” to waiting, and a huge down side to avoiding an accurate diagnosis.
