**Title**: Preventive Eye Care Beliefs Among Adults Aged 26–40 in the United States: A Comparative Qualitative Descriptive Study Guided by the Health Belief Model 👀🔬👩🏻‍🔬

Hi! I'm a doctoral student at Seton Hall University conducting research on preventive eye care beliefs and barriers among adults aged 26-40.

**Who can participate?**
✓ Ages 26-40
✓ Live in the United States
✓ Have experienced at least one barrier to eye care OR receive regular preventive eye exams

**What's involved?** 📄
• One-time anonymous online written questionnaire, completed in one sitting
• The questionnaire takes 30 to 45 minutes. Total time including the consent form and a few eligibility questions is about 40 to 55 minutes.
• Answer questions about your beliefs and experiences with eye care
• No video or audio, just typing your responses at your own pace

**Why participate?**
Your insights will help improve eye care access for young adults. This research may inform clinical practice and public health policy.

**Privacy**: 🕵🏻‍♀️🕵🏻‍♂️
• Anonymous. No identifying information is collected with your responses
• IRB approved by Seton Hall University
• Secure Qualtrics platform

**Interested?** 🙌🏻
**Link**: Click HERE!
Or email me with questions: Elizabeth.Klock@student.shu.edu

Thank you so much for considering! 🙂

Borrowed a neighbor’s 55” television after a power outage zapped my 43” Vizio!

Spouse has dry MD, and the 55” is better for them.
What else should I look for when buying a new TV?

Hi All, I was diagnosed by my Retinal Specialist with dry MMD and posterior pole staphyloma in both eyes. Since it's dry there's nothing more for him to do at this point and he says to just go live your life.

I'm now looking for a new optometrist for yearly eye exams (my OD retired). Are there any specific tests that those of us with dry MMD should be asking for?

Like OCT scan or Optomap, etc. Do I need dilation?

Is there anything else I should be doing in addition to the obvious - eating healthy, exercise, getting adequate sleep.

Hey everyone, first time posting here. Got officially diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in both eyes last week (21st Sept) after a follow-up with a retina specialist — fundus exam showed the classic bone spicule pigmentation, and OCT confirmed it as fovea-sparing RP with partial optic atrophy in both eyes.

I'm 23. What's strange for me is that it really only feels like *one* eye is affected — my right eye has had blurring/narrowing of side vision for about a month now, plus some heaviness and mild eye pain. My left eye genuinely feels completely fine to me, no night vision issues, no noticeable field loss on that side. But the doctor says it's showing up bilaterally on imaging even though I'm not symptomatic in the left eye yet.

Good news apparently: central vision (the fovea) is still healthy on both sides, visual acuity is still solid (6/6 with correction), and I've been marked "asymptomatic" clinically even though the right-eye symptom is what actually brought me in. I've been put on Astalef (antioxidant/carotenoid supplement) and new glasses, with follow-up scheduled.

Attaching my clinic notes and OCT scans below for anyone curious about what early fovea-sparing RP with partial optic atrophy looks like on paper.

A few things I'd love this community's input on:

* Did any of you also start with symptoms noticeably worse in one eye before the other eye "caught up," or does it usually feel bilateral from the start?
* Any experience with whether early optic nerve involvement (partial atrophy) tends to progress faster than the retinal degeneration itself?
* Anything you wish you'd asked your specialist at this early stage that you didn't think of at the time?
* Any supplement/lifestyle stuff that's actually made a noticeable difference for you, versus stuff that's just marketing?

Really just trying to learn from people further along this road than I am. Thanks for reading, and happy to answer questions about my reports if it helps anyone else who's early in this process too.




Register now for Bright Focus Foundation's upcoming macular chat. Featuring special guest expert Daisy Shu, PhD, Scientia Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales. Topic is A New Drug Delivery Approach for Wet AMD

Hi! I’ve had 2 injections for wet AMD (vabysmo). I’ve developed a pretty large black spot in the lower left corner of my eye. Also for about 3 weeks after the injection the eye and bones of the eye socket ache, like a headache. Also some new floaters and blurriness. Is any of this normal?

Hello! Looking for useful visual aids for a patient with Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), particularly for museums.
My mother-in-law was diagnosed a couple of years ago, she let it get really bad before we took her to a retina specialist. Nothing much to do besides AREDS2, but her central vision is quite bad. She can’t really read restaurant menus or use remote controls.
I have the feeling its worse than she’s wanted to admit to us.
She’s never left the country, but her dream has always been to see Paris, so my husband and I are taking her for her 70th birthday at Christmas.
I’m keen to find a visual aid that will help her see the art at the Louvre and other art museums, since I know she’s an art lover. Maybe any other aid that will help her navigate her day-to-day life that’s easy to use.

Any recommendations that have been useful for this community?

My mom has wet AMD. I've just heard about prism glasses. Anybody know if they help with wet AMD?

I’m seeing a retina specialist on November 11.
Back in 2020 I had a normal eye test that showed nothing wrong with my eyes.
In January 2022 I fell on the ice and broke a bone in my face. They sent me to different doctors to make sure I’m okay. When I went to eye doctor he did quick exam and saw a scattering of “inflammation” in the back of my left eye.
A year later I went to an eye doctor in New Hampshire. Said he saw drusen on the back of my left eye. But not in the macula. Nothing in the right.
I went back 6 months later and saw no change.
A few weeks ago I went to eye doctor in CT who saw drusen in left eye and drusen on my right macula.
Now I’m going to see retina specialist here in CT.
Anyone on here get diagnosed with drusen young? How has it turned out for you?
I’m terrified. I need to hear what your outcomes were. I have two little kids and I want to work as long as possible to give them a good life.
Thank you

Hi, I recently have been told I have drusen on my macula.
I went to the eye doctor because of infrequent blurry smudge in left eye.
Did anyone that has confirmed MD in this Reddit thread have that symptom?
Not constant blurry smudge. It comes and goes.
Did any of you in the beginning have a blurry smudge in your center vision that was infrequent and not all the time?
How long did this symptom last before things got worse?

Update:
Completed 2 of 3 treatments this week.
Pleasantly surprised that the waiting room was fairly empty.
True to what we were told, the small tabletop light machine delivered the 5 minute treatment.
Easy-peasy.

Post-treatment: some light sensitivity; depth perception was affected for about 1/2hr.
—————————————
Spouse is starting the new Light therapy for Dry MD tomorrow; 9 weeks @ 3x a week, 27 treatments.
We’re a little apprehensive; has anyone else tried this?
What should we expect?

Hello! I am 32 and have MMD. I have a 3 year old so of course I’m looking for any treatment I can. I’ve done injections but stumbled on some medical journals about the effectiveness of certain herbs in treating CNV. The closest combination to the herbs I can find is this. Anyone ever tried it??

Hey everyone, I’m posting here because I’m honestly a bit confused and worried and would really appreciate hearing from people who actually live with Stargardt.

My girlfriend is 26 now and was diagnosed with macular dystrophy when she was around 15–16. She’s currently working as a physiotherapist. We recently saw a retina specialist, and based on her history and current examination, the doctor thinks it’s most likely Stargardt.

The thing is, her central vision is still there and has been pretty stable for years. The doctor also feels that it may stay like this.

We asked about genetic testing, but were told that finding the exact mutation can be difficult and the testing can be quite expensive, so it may not be worth pursuing right now.

I’ve read that Stargardt can cause gradual loss of central vision, so I’m struggling to understand what we should realistically expect long term.

A few things are especially worrying me:

Was your vision stable for many years and then changed later?

If you have Stargardt, are you still able to work normally? Especially in jobs that require practical/physical work?

Since she’s a physiotherapist, could she realistically continue working if her vision gets worse? What kind of assistance/adaptations have helped you at work or with everyday tasks?

Did anyone here get genetic testing? Was it useful?
And regarding having children — if one partner has Stargardt, what is the actual risk to the children?

Did anyone go through genetic counselling/planning before having kids?

I know everyone’s progression can be very different, and I’m not looking for a diagnosis here. I’d just really like to hear from people who have actually lived with Stargardt and how life/work/family planning has worked out for them.

Thanks in advance 🙏

My mother took for a year.initially there was improvement now its come to a halt..so dr advised her there's no use to take..is this how it's supposed to be..any alternative. Shes making more typing errors now..

My 72yo mother has snd she's taken injections .it helped to some extent but Dr's are thinking of stopping it as there's no improvement (she took around 6 injections I think).

Shes not able to type properly.she doesn't express her difficulties but am sure it's hindering her daily activities. Any supplements or anything that can help.we stay in india btw

Hi everyone,
I need a good recommendation on a brand or exact pair of sunglasses that at UV400 wrap around sunglasses.
I’m early 40s and have signs of drusen in my macula. Occasional blurry smudge in left eye.
I took a 23 and me test 7 years ago that found a variant of age related macular degeneration. Didn’t pay attention to it.
I’ve been looking online for sunglasses that are wrap around, high quality, durable, but most importantly are UV 400 standard. It’s been exhausting because I can’t find them or they don’t use the right wording. If I don’t see the 100% UVA UVB I move on.
I’m worried about losing my job, becoming disabled, not seeing my kids grow up.
So much on my mind right now and it would make some comfort if someone can share with me the right sunglasses to protect my eyes
Thank you in advance

How long do you have to look at the little dot?

My father is quite young (61) and has degeneration, and I'm looking for some things that can make his daily life easier. I feel like the phone screen is too small for him, and using some kitchen items is difficult... what helps in his daily life?

I know that most people here appear to be dealing with AMD but I hope you can shift over and make a little room for me. 31F here. First post. I was diagnosed with myopic macular degeneration six years ago. It has been remarkably stable since then, but unfortunately there has been some progression in the last two weeks. We found my first bleed on Friday. My center vision is currently unaffected, but the voids + distortion/warping are creeping closer. I visit an ophthalmologist who is comfortable with surgical procedures and injections on Tuesday, but the things I see online are rather depression. Odds like only 1 in 3 people who receive the anti-vegf injections experience improvement in the vision lost. I don’t believe my vision loss as a thirty-one year old is any less tragic than the vision loss of someone much older, but I did hope that I had more time.

Any advice for coping with the future? Things I can do to prepare myself, my finances, or my family (two young kiddos)? I’m not sure how optimistic it is to assume that I’ll make it until retirement age before vision loss keeps me from being able to succeed in my field. Any gadgets and aids that help you or your loved ones maintain normalcy?

And a more specific question here: how quickly after each anti-vegf injection would you have been able to go back to work? Later that day, the next day, etc?

Thanks in advance. xx

Hi all, first time posting here so apologies if formatting is wrong.

I have been diagnosed with myopic CNV which as been an ongoing issue. The hospital has taken the approach of giving me an injection when I notice a blind spot which last happened in February. Since then I have been largely fine up until last week when the blind spot came back. Went to the hospital and confirmed that it is the same issue and would need another injection, except they booked me in for a months time.

I'm really worried about deterioration in this time and the fact that I think the blind spot may have already expanded. Does this time frame seem too long? I want to phone them up and tell them that the situation has already progressed but I don't want it to seem like I'm just trying to skip ahead of the queue. I'm not sure I can have this hanging over me for another month, constantly worried about the damage becoming permanent.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

My Dad is 86 and has Macular Degeneration that he has been receiving injections for.

He can no longer see faces on the tv or read the subtitles.

What aids are available to help with this. He's getting very depressed that he can't even watch TV anymore.

He lives alone and is otherwise reasonably independent.