Macular degeneration is a common condition that affects the central vision. It’s a leading cause of sight loss for those in their 50s and 60s, causing visual distortion and blurriness. Symptoms can come on gradually over a few years, or very quickly over a few weeks. In Valerie’s case, the onset was rapid and unexpected, and a lack of treatment means her condition is irreversible. 

Valerie is a truly inspiring woman. Facing up to adversity and sexism throughout her working life, she remained resilient, not letting her gender hold her back from her dreams. Her recent struggle with macular degeneration has been tough, losing a lot of the independence she prided herself on. But, with her persistent ‘can-do’ attitude as well as the ongoing support from Berkshire Vision, Valerie is now on her way back to living a full and tenacious life! 

A retired engineer, Valerie developed a passion for mathematics through evenings of card games with her family. An expert in Cribbage, she knew that numbers were her strong suit, and became determined to follow in a career that played to her proficiencies. She struggled to find work in the male-dominated field of engineering, but Valerie knew that her intelligence would get her somewhere great. Receiving rejection after rejection, she was persistent in the face of adversity, and eventually her determination paid off when she landed a role as a senior engineer.  

Her work took her all over the world, giving her the chance to experience new cultures. Valerie took a step out of her comfort zone at any moment she could, particularly when it came to food. She would often ask chefs for their secret recipes and would experiment with cooking when she came back home- with her husband as the test subject! 

Valerie’s go-getting attitude and her ‘try anything once’ mentality reflects in her determination to not let sight loss hold her back from life. 

Valerie started noticing that her vision was not quite right during the Covid pandemic, and a miscommunication with doctors meant that she had already lost a lot of her sight by the time she received treatment. Diagnosed with macular degeneration, the treatment improved her peripheral vision but most of her central vision remains foggy. 

Sight loss was a major blow to Valerie’s independence. Going from driving herself around, hosting dinner parties, and working her way up to a well-respected position at work to now relying on her family to navigate everyday life. 

Things got even harder when her loving husband passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Luckily, Valerie had the support of her family to get her through this tragic time, and she decided to adopt her ‘can-do’ mentality again. 

Valerie was introduced to Berkshire Vision by a Doctor in 2023, and was immediately intrigued by the services that could help her adjust to her visual impairment. 

Embracing Technology

The Equipment and Resources team at Berkshire Vision introduced Valerie to a myriad of technology, which she has taken to with a brilliant aptitude. She uses magnifiers and text-to-speech apps to help her read, allowing her to access daily life once again. AI technology is an exciting advancement for those with visual impairments, and Valerie is particularly thrilled with the possibilities that this tech can bring; all she needs to do is take an image on her iPad, and the app reads an audio description of the image’s subject! 

“Phil and Diane at Berkshire Vision are absolutely brilliant. Gave me a real boost of confidence.” 

Valerie is a particular fan of her PenFriend audio labeller, which she uses to make cooking more accessible. When placed onto a sticker on her ingredient of choice, the device reads an audio description of the item, allowing her to follow recipes and experiment with new combinations. Tools like these mean Valerie isn’t restricted by her sight loss, and she is able to continue to do the things she loves- departing on her culinary adventures once more! 

Valerie is also a painter, taking up the hobby during lockdown. Her sight loss hasn’t stopped her from this new passion, but she has found it a lot harder to navigate. Berkshire Vision has recently introduced her to the ProCreate app and Touch to See Craft packs, and she’s excited to explore these new mediums to help get more detail into her works.  

Connecting with others 

Even with all the help from technology, Sight loss can be an extremely isolating experience. Being a retiree and a widow, this loneliness strikes even harder for Valerie. But, with the help of the Berkshire Vision’s Telephone Befriending service, this feeling is alleviated, and Valerie has the chance to chat with someone on a regular basis. She is also a regular attendee of Berkshire Vision’s Bracknell-based social club, as well as outings such as theatre trips, allowing her to nurture her craving for new experiences, and to make friends with people in similar situations to herself.  

Valerie recently attended a Living Well with Sight Loss course run by Berkshire Vision. This course provides a wide range of practical information to help people through their sight loss journey as well as allowing people to share experiences. Courses such as these are essential for people like Valerie- who have recently developed a visual impairment- empowering them to regain their independence and gain practical advice on the help that’s out there to support them. 

Valerie has lived an adventurous and ambitious life, and she’s certainly not stopping any time soon. Her next goal is to travel down to Australia to see her daughter. She’s looking forward to having a proper catch up (in the same time zone!) and is determined to navigate her journey solo- not restricted by her impairment.