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The way visual acuity is tested doesn't tell the story of how the Fuchs'
patient is REALLY seeing. Normally, the eye test is conducted in a darkened room and the chart is well lighted.
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The problem with this type of test for a Fuchs' patient at the glare stage is
that their vision is entirely different according to the light conditions. They may see quite well if the light source is behind them, but if they are looking at something that has light behind it, they are viritually blind.
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For the patient who has reached the foggy stage, visual acuity may vary according to the time of day. We've had members who could see 20/300 at
8 am but
be improved to 20/80 by 4 PM. Other things that contribute to foggy vision for our members are humidity, allergies, stress or fatigue, and crying. This fogginess of vision also affects contrast, including loss of color clarity and depth perception.
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One member of our Fuchs' Friends support group had this comment about the eye test (the people in Fuchs' Friends have a great sense of humor):
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"I think eye doctors should all have a driving simulator (like a pilot's training simulator) in their offices. They'd put us in the
seat and we'd watch
the eye chart go by at 30 mph. Of course, the eye chart would be green with white letters. A great test would be to have us find the address. Oh, and then what fun with a night driving simulator! They could test us with headlights and then we could play Find the Curb and Stay in the Lane with no stripes on the road. I think those eye doctors would be amazed."
Vikki
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