Collecting with vision issues

[dschumann]

Well, I haven't posted or even logged in for awhile, because I've been diagnosed with macular degeneration, and it appears to be of the non-treatable kind.

 

I understand it will take some time to lose however much of my vision I will lose, I've  spent the last few months questioning my desire to even start collecting.

 

I suppose I can use magnifiers, and ever increasing amounts of light to get some enjoyment from the hobby, but I'm facing a moral dilemma here. I'm interested in anyone else dealing with vision issues and how they've coped and continued to collect.

 

Of course, I can always just buy a sword cane and wander Japan defending peasants and hot young girls, but I am not Zatoichi....

[Ken-Hawaii]

Drew, I've had Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) for more than five years, & I have no trouble studying my blades. If your Retinologist hasn't already gotten you started, go buy some Ocuvite! The Lutein & Zeaxanthin will greatly slow your dry AMD, & there are some promising treatments down the road. I'm following them, & will let you know when they are available, at least in a clinical trial.

 

Keep the faith!

[Baba Yaga]

This brings me to a debate I had with several advanced collectors a few decades ago. How well was the vision of smiths 500-900 years ago?

IMO opinion was not well, because of the obvious reasons.  

[Ken-Hawaii]

That should be a separate thread, as your question takes this one off-topic.

[swordnoob]

Not related to collecting, but I do know someone with macular degeneration who's at the point where they can't see clearly more than a foot or two away. In good lighting conditions, you should still be able to view things fairly clearly at a really close distance. If you reach that stage of MD, when looking at a sword, I assume you would have issues viewing the full suguta or hamon, but should still be able to view parts of the blade at a time (and see the finer details like hada). That said, your case may not reach that point of severity that it impacts appreciation and evaluation.

 

As a side note, at the aforementioned point of severity, you can can still read up close as long as you have a magnifier (albeit slowly), are not legally allowed to drive, can recognize people by voice faster than you can by sight, will need to watch your step in case you stumble on something, and will struggle with zippers.

[Matsunoki]

Drew, sorry that you are facing this health challenge, I hope the degeneration progresses slowly. I feel you should answer a simple question…”will collecting give me pleasure that outweighs the frustration?”. Sometimes I think it’s best to look for reasons to do things rather than not do them. You don’t have to acquire loads of pieces….maybe just a few that you really like. Sometimes even one lovely thing is enough. I speak from a position of experience (not with MD)……..Plus I’ve  just emerged from a near death experience in hospital with severe food poisoning……made me even more determined to squeeze as much as possible out of life. I wish you well. Colin. Ps stay away from takeaway chicken noodles. 

[Alex A]

Seen an advert on TV about a product called Orcam

 

With regards reading books, sounds like a great invention. 

https://explore.orcam.com/en/read/orcam-read-for-people-with-reading-difficulties-uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Read_GA_UK_Branded_Phrase_MatchRead_GA_UK_Branded_Only&utm_term=orcam&hsa_acc=5047145566&hsa_cam=14492486335&hsa_grp=135432929276&hsa_ad=592300010119&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-342461005379&hsa_kw=orcam&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI57Kqssue-gIVToFQBh0taQ0JEAAYASAAEgJwEfD_BwE

[dschumann]

That is all terrific advice. 

 

We won't know a final diagnosis until Tuesday, when I see the retina specialist.

 

I've already decided to have a small collection, if I decide to move forward with this. I think I will start with one blade and go from there.

[1kinko]

There are many vitamin formuli for AMD treatment. Preservision is what my wife was recommended. Your ophthalmologist should be up to date on the best for you (there are certain conditions that guide which formula to use). Preservision cost @ $36/210 soft gems at Costco last I bought them. Other brands are less I think.

[1kinko]

You can check your progress with an Amsler grid. 

[Franco]

On 9/17/2022 at 9:55 PM, dschumann said:

Well, I haven't posted or even logged in for awhile, because I've been diagnosed with macular degeneration, and it appears to be of the non-treatable kind.

 

 

It is essential in a polluted world that we pay careful attention to our health. The body has the ability to heal itself to a certain extent, or at least not degenerate as quickly, if and when provided the proper nutrition.

EWG's 2022 dirty dozen list ... https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

 

Kind Regards,

Franco

 

[Edward Mahle]

@dschumann so sorry to hear of your condition. On a positive note, I do believe Nihonto have a lot to offer in the touch department. With the white inspection gloves one could get satisfaction just from the feel of a Nihonto in hand. 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Ed, white gloves won't give the collector any real information on key features like hada & hamon, & even the sugata would be hard to determine if vision loss is severe.

 

My father's AMD got so severe, that I set him up with a scanner, & a wide-screen TV, that he used for reading, & studying his knife collection. It was still quite a hassle, but the best I could do 25 years ago. Today there are treatments, but I have no experience with how they will affect Nihonto collection & appreciation.

 

The Amsler grid is an excellent idea, & I have them posted all over the house. If you see ANY distortion, or "holes," get back to your Retinologist immediately! This is one time when hours may count, if your retina or macula is tearing loose.

[dschumann]

I had an appointment with a retina specialist today and he is relatively positive about my AMD. It is of the dry type, and isn't very advanced.

 

I don't have many of the risk factors for it, except a diet rich in saturated fats, (which I've changed) so he thinks I have a good chance of either having the slowly developing kind, and possibly never developing significant vision loss.

 

I am currently taking an AREDS 2 supplement and have a follow up appointment scheduled in six months. Also have an Amsler Grid installed on the refrigerator.

 

So I am going to go forward with my plans regardless of my vision, for now. Thanks for all the advice!

 

 

 

 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Sounds very promising. One thing to check is cataracts. Most Retinologists tend to ignore them, so be sure to let your Ophthalmologist know you have quiescent Dry AMD, & ask if cataract surgery is in your ner future.

[Alex A]

Whilst its nice owning swords i find it much easier to look at the excellent images that you can find on line where you can ZOOM in. That's for looking at tiny details like tight hada or hataraki.

 

This thread has brought home something i learned many years ago.

 

Sight is so precious, used to take it for granted but certainly don't nowadays.

 

 

 

[dschumann]

14 hours ago, Ken-Hawaii said:

Sounds very promising. One thing to check is cataracts. Most Retinologists tend to ignore them, so be sure to let your Ophthalmologist know you have quiescent Dry AMD, & ask if cataract surgery is in your ner future.

 

My retina guy did a very thorough exam (my wife used to be an eye doctor's assistant, so she monitored it) so I think I am good. The front part of my eye is very healthy.

 

10 hours ago, Alex A said:

Whilst its nice owning swords i find it much easier to look at the excellent images that you can find on line where you can ZOOM in. That's for looking at tiny details like tight hada or hataraki.

 

This thread as brought home something i learned many years ago.

 

Sight is so precious, used to take it for granted but certainly don't nowadays.

 

 

 

 

This is what I've been doing so far, out of a) lack of funds until literally yesterday and b) fear of making a mistake in purchasing and c) not being able to decide what kind of collection I want.

 

I feel a little guilty doing this, though, as I don't have any skin in the game. Now that I have a truly disposable income for literally the first time in my life, I may have to cautiously rectify this deficiency.