LEGALLY BLIND?

Posted By Cathy on March 14, 1999 at 01:47:52:







My Father in law has diabetic retinopathy.  he had bleeding behind both eyes
and new blood vessel growth in the right and also cataracts.  He had laser
surgery on the right eye to correct the bleeding and blood vessel growth.
He is due to return to the dr. in a few weeks.  My question is:  I just
found out that his vision is less than 20/400.  He still requires more
surgery for the bleeding and maybe the cataracts (this part depends on
how his diabetes is being controlled)  i was told by his doctor that he
is considered legally blind.  This crushed him.  He was driving up until
he went to the eye doctor for the first time.  He hasn't drove since
and is deeply depressed.  He is clinging to the hope that they will
remove the cataracts and there will be a miracle.  He sits around and cries
about it.  Could you tell me just how good the chances are of him
being able to see well enough to drive after the surgeries, providing that
they do remove the cataracts?  His vision is so bad that he could only see
the image of his neighbor coming across his yard.  He didn't see this man
only an image.  I would like to give him some encouragement if possible.
He had been told that he had diabetes about 6 or so years ago and
never treated it until Dec of 1998.  he is not on insulin just on tablets.
Sorry to take up too much of your time but I really would like some input.  Thank you.