When You Can't Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery

One reviewer summed it up. This book has to be read to the unsighted or read by family and friends in hopes of understanding.This book did not especially pertain to my situation.I became blind in one eye because of an infection by bacteria in eye surgery operating room. To some, and even those who have said directly to me, I covered my eye up for awhile and I could still see pretty well. Try it for 24/7 for life. Monovision may not seem that traumatic to some but the stages of grief are still there. And there still is a learning curve, ie depth perception.

The content itself is informative and helpful. But actually handling the book and trying to read it is ridiculous. If you’re publishing a book for people with vision challenges, PUBLISH IT IN LARGE PRINT AND/OR BOLD FONT! Many of us have to use a magnifier to read the book but the size and spine of the book (it does not open flat) makes it impossible to hold the book down and use your other hand to hold the magnifier. When I turned each page I had to put the magnifier down and then bend the spine backwards to try to get a page to lay flat, and then pick up the magnifier again. And then turn the page, put the magnifier down, crack the spine, smooth down the page, pick up the magnifier…over and over again. If the book is going to be this large in height and width, I just don’t get how it was published in tiny font and not large print. I recommend the content but unless you’re going to have someone read it to you, or you have your sight, save yourself the hassle of using this book.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a "must read" to anyone losing vision, or to anyone whose loved one is experiencing this loss. This book tackles the most personally devastating yet least spoken about elements of sight loss. It is deeply compassionate, practical, and (sometimes) laugh-out-loud funny (check out the first paragraph of Chapter 10, if you don’t believe me). It provides the warm yet wise guiding voice you need in facing the new world of uncertainties that can accompany low vision, and I couldn't recommend a better companion for individuals coping with sight loss.Although resources do exist for those seeking guidance on performing everyday activities with sight loss, it is nearly impossible to find texts that move beyond these to address the "whole" person. The struggles of sight loss stretch well beyond cooking and making your way about town. How do you cope with the devastating anxiety and depression that clobber people early in the process? How do you maintain independence in your relationship with your family when you now depend on them for so much? How do you navigate social situations when you no longer really feel like yourself? This book covers it all, from how to put toothpaste on your toothbrush, to navigating unfamiliar sidewalks, to coping with emotional consequences of vision loss, to advice on operating in a (now) unseen social world. The author takes us on this journey with vivid examples and a down-to-earth writing style, drawing on stories as both someone who directly experienced sight loss herself, as well as her decades of experience as a teacher of the visually impaired.Although this is one of the most comprehensive guides out there for folks experiencing vision loss, it's primary aim is not to address challenges specifically associated with the workplace. If you are looking mainly for vocational advice, this book is likely not the right match for you—though there is some discussion of working. But this is a minor complaint, and the compassion and wisdom of the author shone throughout. This book is a treasure I look forward to reading and re-reading in future years. Everyone dealing with vision loss—as well as their friends and family—should read this book!

Hannah Fairbairn has written a superb book with countless tips on how to navigate the world of vision loss. The book addresses the subject with empathy throughout. It is a conversational book that is very well organized. The reader can approach the book from several vantage points: Read it as a self-help book; gain a sympathetic ear since Hannah is writing from her own experiences as well as those of a Home and Personal Management Teacher; or read it to look up a particular area of interest.I have been blind since birth and still learned a few tips from this book. Since I spent ten years working with adults who were new to vision loss, I had to learn to teach what I knew to people who were in a new world and needed to find the courage to learn every-day tasks in a new way. The empathy and knowledge required to make the transition from grief to action was masterfully approached in this book.I would strongly encourage you to buy this book if you know that impending vision loss might be in your future or if you know someone for whom this is a possibility. If you would like to read a narrative about how to traverse a new landscape that may be totally unfamiliar to you, you will certainly learn a good deal. This should be a “mustread” for employers. Librarians should also consider purchasing it for your patrons. It would also be an excellent resource for senior centers.Those of us who are blind or visually impaired have several different ways to read the book at no cost which means that a significant number of people who are benefiting from Hannah’s book do not have to purchase it. Please encourage your friends and family to purchase this book. It is an extensive resource and guide as well as a sensitively-written narrative.Kate Crohan