December 11 - Turn on the Lights

I don’t see in the dark. Nor do I see well in glaring sunlight. Shadows and moving light can also be a problem.  It’s strange how the absence or presence of light can so hugely affect my vision.

I know that light can be a factor for many people with limited or no sight. When Gerry lost his sight and could no longer tell the difference between light and dark, he had problems with sorting out night and day. I gathered that this phenomenon isn’t unusual for people who transitioned from partial sight to none at all. Conversely, Harold who was completely blind, had a minor surgery which restored his ability to distinguish between light and dark. Even this small distinction in an otherwise gray world made a big difference for him.

For most of us there is little we can do to adjust the light around us. In our house, I am constantly turning on lights – even during the day. Because I don’t see in the dark, I use a night light at night. This is a bit of a compromise between Lyle and myself. Lyle claims that he has thin eyelids and sleeps better in a completely dark space. We have made the adjustment at home but when we stay overnight somewhere else, we spend quite a bit of time adjusting blinds and perhaps bathroom lights and doors to suit us both before we actually are able to sleep.

Outside during the day, I will wear shaded glasses to cut the glare of the sunlight. We should likely all be wearing glasses that cut the ultra violet rays of the sun. However, I find this difficult when going in and out of bright sunlight to shaded areas.  My pupils don’t dilate and contract quickly enough to adjust to the changing light. This is when using my mobility cane is most helpful. It detects the ground in front of me even when I am unable to see it myself.

Then there are those places where I have no control of the lighting. Dimly lit restaurants rank near the top of my list. Candlelight dinners are out for me! There are other public places where lights are dimmed to suit a mood or occasion and those of us with poor night vision need to adjust and compromise. Sometimes I feel like asking out loud, “Could we please just turn on the lights!”