My Own Story of Living with Macular Degeneration

by J. Earl Leatherwood
(Lubbock, Texas USA)

In 2004, at age 60, my wife and I had gone to Florida to sell roofing to those who had lost their roofs to hurricane Ivan.

While we were there, I noticed the light poles had a u-shape bend to them. I got on the computer and self-diagnosed myself with macular degeneration. We came back in February.

In about September, I went to see Dr. Michael Shami here in Lubbock, and he did diagnose me with wet macular degeneration in both eyes. He started giving me injections of Avastin in both eyes.

Now, in October, 2011, I am still receiving injections, but now, he has changed to Lucentis, as of about 6 months ago, as my eyes got to the point to where they did not respond to the Avastin.

I am still working and driving, as of right now. I am so glad to have such an aggressive and concerned doctor treating me. Otherwise I may have already lost my eyesight.