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Overcoming adversity personal essays
Overcoming adversity personal essays
Overcoming adversity personal essays
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"How did you do that? Do it again,". This essay would not be complete if I did not mention the strabismus in my left eye. I developed this condition when I was born, and over time I have learned how to make the best out of the situation. I'm very interested in my eye's condition and so are many other people who question how I can cross and uncross a single eye, but yet all I can tell them is that I don't really understand it either. I was born this way (Lady Gaga song title intended). I have had opportunities presented to me by optometrists to have strabismus surgery done, but I have not taken that step to correct my eye. This is because I am not willing to take the risks of the surgery and if done correctly I would feel as if I had lost a …show more content…
part of myself that I’ve had for my entire life. It is one of my favorite things to make people laugh, and through my eye I can do just that in a unique and intriguing way. I wasn't always okay with having a crossed eye because I did not like wearing glasses due to my lenses being so thick that people would comment on the size of them. The most FAQ's I received were either, "how can you see without them," or, "what is wrong with your eyes,". The hardest part about these questions for me was that they began at a young age. Since I was young, I wasn’t really certain how to handle the questions as either making fun of my eyes or if they were genuinely interested. At this time, not very many people knew about my strabismus because I was cautious about who I shared it with since I was pretty uncomfortable with my eyes. I was uncertain that if I shared it to people then they may have either thought of me as weird or if they would just look past it and not have a reaction. As I became older the questions decreased, as did the size of my lenses which caused me to become more comfortable with my eyes. Nowadays, anybody that truly knows me is aware of my strabismus.
I don’t keep it a secret anymore, instead I like to show it off. Showing it off consists of me either taking my glasses off or tilting them down my nose, then I force my eye in and out of focus (causing my eye to go back and forth), and lastly the observers give the typical intrigued yet confused laugh. My favorite person to do this to is my six-year-old little sister because her expression is always priceless. When I say it causes her mouth to drop, I am being completely truthful because it actually does. I will stare at her and cross my eyes, then her mouth drops and she may say either “huh,” or “what”. It is through people’s laughter and confusion like my sister’s and many of my friends that have helped me become more comfortable with my eye condition over time.
I see that this well-known saying perfectly fits my situation, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Strabismus may be limiting for some things, but it is not a condition that completely disrupts everyday life. There are many more conditions that others have to deal with that are much worse than the one I was put in so I don’t see myself to be in a position to complain about mine. This is why I made the decision to take the lemons and begin making some
lemonade.
In the essay, “Beauty: When the Other Dancer is the Self,” Alice Walker writes about how she lost her eyesight in one eye due to a childhood accident. Alice communicates to the reader how, when losing an eye, she cared much less about the loss of her eyesight and more about how she appeared to others. In the story, Alice recalls different points where the accident affected her life. To her, the loss of her eye was not just a physical impediment, but a mental one as well. Once she had a surgery to remove the “glob of whitish scar tissue,” she felt like a new person, even though she still could not see. Alice says, “Now that I’ve raised my head,” and can stop holding herself back from being the greatest she can be. Just as Alice is affected by
Optometrists have accepted vision therapy, which is a medical treatment for optical muscle disabilities, as a feasible treatment used for eye related problems; claiming the treatment can strengthen vision and give the patient the opportunity to understand visuals quicker and clearer (Press). Vision therapy originated in the 1950s and over the past 25 years, has gained popularity, mainly because of new technological innovations in the field of treatment. Generally, vision therapy is prescribed as a measure mainly for people between the ages of 3 and 18. With the results from a comprehensive series of eye tests, the optometrist can work with the patient using special instruments—prisms, filters, occluders, and eye lenses—and strengthen the eye muscles, thus improving sight. According to optometrists in favor of vision therapy, these methods of treatment using these instruments function as safer routes to repair eye disabilities. Although vision therapy can yield favorable results, the practice as a treatment for innate eye disabilities has been in hot debate lately; as it can exceed $8000 and insurance companies do not cover the treatment. For decades, insurance companies have refused to accept vision therapy as a legitimate method for repairing eyesight (Boink). Concomitant with lack of insurance, the cost for a full treatment can exceed $8000, and doctors cannot guarantee a successful outcome. Recently, parents of children with eye related disabilities, such as amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (cross-eye), and doctors have attempted to cooperate with public schools to allow families access to school-funded doctors to practice vision therapy. With a tight budget, most schools cannot afford to supply vision therapy, and a...
I stared into his face, feeling a sense of outrage. His left eye had collapsed, a line of raw redness showing where the lid refused to close, and his gaze had lost its command. I looked from his face to the glass, thinking he's disem...
At first they thought I had a headache and I could sense their concern. After a few more minutes my husband began asking questions as well as my grandson, to which I stated I was fine just wanted to listen. Then after additional time elapsed they began joking around; then my husband got a little annoyed, until I finally opened my eyes and advised him I was breaking a non-verbal rule; I explained to him how we use varied-intrinsic ways to communicate in every aspect of our lives. I asked my husband how it felt to talk to me with my eyes closed. He stated: “My first thought was that you had a headache, and then I was convinced you were playing a practical joke on us, but when I saw you were not opening your eyes purposely, I just got
What started out as a hobby transformed into a passion for an art form that allows me to use movements and expressions to tell a story. Whether I’m on stage in front of an audience of just friends and family, hundreds of strangers and a panel of judges, or the whole school, performing over thirty times, has helped me build lifelong
Hazel Grace, is a teenage girl who unfortunately suffers several of the cruelties of life, yet she is shining symbol of hope. Even though since she got diagnosed she quit school, her friends don’t exactly treat her like the girl she used to be she is as smart as can be, and kind at the same time. She has stayed alive lo...
Rossetti, Y., Rode, G., Pisella, L., Farne, A., Li, L., Boisson, D., & Perenin, M.-T. (1998). Prism adaptation to rightward optical deviation rehabilitates left hemispatial neglect. Nature, 166-168. pp. 166-168.
Helplessness is a category of psychological sickness that makes people feel lugubrious and desperate to despair imprisonment from freedom. The Third Eye, which can be also called metacognition, is an asset that people have the inner critique to think about the way they behave responsibly and maturely.
My father made a successful recovery and I became inspired. I realized that having the gift of sight is something people take for granted. Therefore, when I embarked on my undergraduate journey, I partook in several activities to help foster my thirst for knowledge about optometry. For instance, I became the treasurer of the pre-optometry club at the University of Florida. As an executive board member, I opened doors for others to find their passion for optometry through managing our budget and finances to sponsor trips and activities. Meanwhile, I also worked as a secretary and shadowed at the Eye Associates of Orlando, where I gained practical knowledge. I also volunteered for the KidSight Vision Screening Program where I entered data of visio...
...fined by this chronic condition. I do not take any medication, choosing instead to use supplements and non-invasive therapies. The information on the internet and in journal reviews continues to grow and I continue to learn about treatments and living a positive life. The steps I mentioned above are changes I have already made, and plan to make in the very near future.
My interest in the career of optometry stems from my first experience in the optometry office to receive my first pair of glasses when I was in middle school. I distinctly remember the moment when my optometrist slipped my new glasses over my eyes for the first time. Suddenly, everything in the room came into sharp, clear focus. I knew that the glasses would help me see the board in school, but I was astonished to find that I could see small details about the room, as it had never before occurred to me that I should have been able to see these details. I was also surprised that I was even able to see the expressions on the faces of people who were standing far away from me. It was one of the most incredible, freeing, and empowering moments of my life. As I walked out of the optometry office, I felt
Life revolves around being able to see things. Although individuals who are blind can lead a full and happy life, someone with excellent vision who suddenly loses theirs or notices a decrease in their visual acuity over time may find it difficult to adapt. Thankfully, with the help of an optometrist, individuals can actively work to preserve their vision for as long as possible. Phoenix Eye Care must be a priority for all, as advanced technology allows threats to the eyes to be detected as the earliest stage. The right treatment can help to slow or stop the progression before major issues develop. For this reason, every individual needs to undergo routine eye exams.
Cataract surgery may be the most commonly performed procedure around the world, but not every case is routine; many patients present with retinal or corneal conditions that require surgeons to take extra precautions before, during and after surgery.
The patient is a 43 year-old female insurance sale agent who came to the clinic for annual eye examination. She complained from symptoms of ocular irritation and burning when she wakes up in the morning. She felt ocular dryness in the afternoon and the eyes look red. She has also noted different height of her eyelids when putting make-up on. She denied significant problems with driving, TV watching, computer use or reading. She also denied flashes, floaters or diplopia. The patient was myopia with no prior eye surgeries, previous history of eye trauma, amblyopia or strabismus. She did not use any medication. The past ocular family history was negative. Social history was negative, too.
Lenticular- common in those with diabetes; high blood sugar causes the lenses to change shape