Macular Degeneration: Vision Loss Does Not Have to Cloud Your Vision for Success

by Nancy Shugart

One afternoon I was watching the Oprah show and her guest that day was Erik Weihenmayer. He was talking about his climb to the top of Mount Everest.

He said that during the climb, his climbing partner, Chris, asked him if he could really see himself standing on top of that mountain.

Erik responded, "No, not really."

Chris then answered, "Then you never will."

Erik said it was at that moment that he realized that all the years and years of training he had put into preparing for that climb were Worthless unless he could believe with his entire heart and mind that he would achieve his dream.

On May 25, 2001, Erik Weihenmayer became the first person who is blind to summit Mount Everest.

Can a person who cannot see have a clear vision of what they want to achieve? You bet we can!

Erik Weihenmayer is proof of this and so am I along with thousands of other people who have lost their sight but refuse to lose their vision for their life.

What is your vision? Has it been clouded with a visual impairment due to Macular Degeneration or another eye condition? There is no need for vision loss to cloud your vision for your life.

With the incredible technology available today, there is no reason for anyone to worry for one second that vision loss is going to rob them of living an exciting life or, more importantly, of living their dream.

"Your vision is your promise of what you shall one day be." -James Allen

Your mind's eye can still see even if those two beautiful eyes of yours cannot. So what do you envision yourself doing?

Fine tune your vision. Put as much detail in it as possible. Set out to discover the answers to any questions that you may be having.

You cannot wait until you have all of the answers before you get started. The answers are out there. You will find them.

Think about it this way, if you wanted to drive across the town or city where you live, would you wait until all the traffic lights were green before you began your journey? Of course not.

Now, if you have a visual impairment then get out of the driver's seat!

On a serious note, know that vision loss does not mean losing the vision you have for your life.

I lost most of my eyesight at age eight but that did not keep me from living my dream as a public school teacher for 21 years.

Today I am the owner of Amazing Video Magnifiers. Telesensory video magnifiers made it possible for me to live my dream as a teacher and today as a businesswoman.

You, too, can live your dream! Let's go!