When Anita Chamberlain went in for what she thought would be a routine eye exam in March 2019, she didn’t expect her life to change in an instant. The specialist told her that she had dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and that she would need to come in regularly for injections.

“I was stunned,” Anita recalled. “I was the only person in my family that never had to wear glasses growing up. My mom, my brother, my dad — they all wore glasses. I always had good vision. … So yeah, that was a little shocking.”

A wife, mom, grandmother, and nurse, Anita had always been busy caring for others. Suddenly, she had to come to terms with caring for her own eye health — and her fears about the future. “I was kind of a wreck … and I thought, ‘Good lord, I’m too young for this,’” she said.

Facing the Unknown

Anita quickly learned that AMD can be unpredictable. “You don’t know when big changes can happen,” she said. “Some people’s macular degeneration progresses quickly, and in some people it takes years. And I’m sure there’s everything in between. I’m an in-betweener right now myself, but I’m also not crazy enough to think that it couldn’t speed up. But I don’t dwell on it.”

She admits the fear of losing vision is real — but she refuses to let it take over. “Fear is not your friend; it’s nobody’s friend,” Anita said. “We have those fearful feelings for a reason, but they’re not to live in us. They’ll hopefully help guide us toward something that makes more sense, that’s better for us.”

Taking Action and Staying Positive

Since her diagnosis, Anita has been paying closer attention to her vision. “Almost daily, I find myself closing one eye and looking around to see how things look, and then I’ll close the other eye and look around to see how things look,” she said.

She follows research updates closely: “I go on the internet and I’m looking at treatments all the time and what kind of progress is being made. … So I’m paying attention to as much of it as I can.”

Although she experiences moments of frustration — needing to grab her glasses or adjust the lighting — she tries to keep things in perspective. “I just try to keep a positive attitude about it.”

Living With Gratitude

Anita focuses on what she can control and cherishes each day she can see clearly. “I’m thankful for every single day I can see. I’m thankful for the years I’ve been alive that I’ve been able to see,” she said.

Her faith helps her let go of what she can’t control: “Things happen. You can’t always control ’em. You do the best you can. And beyond that, let it go.”

Her advice to others living with AMD is simple: “Live your life. Enjoy your life. Enjoy the vision that you have. And don’t stress — take it one day at a time. You got this. And there’s a lot of support on myAMDteam.”

Connect With Others Who Understand

On myAMDteam, people share their experiences with age-related macular degeneration, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

How do you cope with fears about vision loss? Let others know in the comments below.