Help Me See A Clearer Future
Brief Introduction and Overview
Hello everyone. My name is Matthew C. Hightshoe. Due to the early onset of "cataracts" my new career in Digital Media Design and Production has been halted. More importantly, it is in danger of being terminated if I do not have cataract surgery .
The early onset of "cataracts" is the resulting from having High Myopia , or extreme nearsightedness. People like me are at high risk of cataracts at an early age and retinal detachment if not monitored and treated as necessary. Surgery is the only option moving forward in order to correct my vision.
People who know me always see my happy, crazy bubbly side who never gives up despite what is happening around me financially or otherwise. Only recently and noticeably have those close to me seen me start to sink away publicly and fall into depression. It causes massive frustration, puts strain on my relationship with my partner and career life and is cause for making excuses to not leaving the house.
Just imagine that if this is happened to me, multiply it hundreds of thousands of times over for others who do give up.
While no guarantee of perfect 20/20 is made, my prescription is expected to improve at least by 75%. An improvement in prescription is welcomed but what the surgery IS expected to solve is the splitting up of the world around me as you can see in the images below.
(The TV is about 8 feet from me)
(This is the intersection outside our house. I am standing on the porch)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What I am Raising Money For?
(The Surgeon I want to go to)
The Maloney Vision Institute is where I have chosen to have my surgery performed. I am raising money to help pay for my comprehensive exam, the cataract surgeries (one on for each eye) and the post-op visits and treatments. By donating, you will be helping me to not only restore my vision to normalcy but restore my life and career as an Artist, Filmmaker, Photographer and Editor. In turn, I vow to help others who suffer as I do in finding a solution to their Myopia.
Here is break down of the costs:
• $200 for Comprehensive Exam
• $7000 - $9000 for Surgery
- this includes the Post-Op visits and treatment.
- the range is based on the type of replacement lenses to be used.
My current insurance is state run Medi-Cal under Anthem Blue Cross and is an HMO. I am unable to switch and being self-employed makes it difficult to obtain decent insurance. This is why I am reaching out for help.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What I Can Do In Return
I am limited in what I can do during the campaign period do to my eye sight and not wanting to put more strain than necessary. I can do more post surgery that can give thanks to all who support me.
1. During the campaign and continuing onward through and long after the surgery I will post VLOG updates of my progress.
2. For everyone who contributes I will do social media shout outs in these Vlogs.
3. For the individuals who contribution over $500, I will create a print of original and autographed artwork done specifically for them.
2. If this is successful, I intend to help others in my situation to find the help they need. Any money raised past my Goal that is not needed to cover costs of my procedure and treatments will go to a charity for children with debilitating sight. Which charity, I do not know as I have to research that but I am putting into writing here and everyone can hold me to this promise. When an appropriate charity is found I will update my campaign page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who Am I To You?
(Me and my camera guy working with John Massari)
I received a BA in Fine Arts from Indiana University, the career path that evolved began with Graphic Design into Web Design, then User Experience Design, followed by ADA / Section 508 Compliance Auditing of websites and apps. In 2016, I took a risk and made a career change to finally pursue that childhood dream of working in media production in the capacity that I wanted to be in.
In 2016, I formed my own LLC - The Creative Cortex which provided media production services to small scaled projects for small business owners and other creative individuals. I initially would shoot and edit the video projects as well as do concept art and storyboards. Everything related to my profession involves "sight".
This current career path is one I have wanted to pursue since my early childhood. I wanted to work in visual effects, design sets or at the very least, be a concept artist.
People would come to learn that I was a huge collector and appreciator of film music and the film music industry. I have worked with and devoted much of my time for Creature Features and and film composer John Massari producing a variety of video projects.
Intermittently, I have lent my services to La-La Land Records , Hillary Fielding (daughter of late film composer Jerry Fielding), film composer Richard Band , and album producer Lukas Kendall from Film Score Monthly. And on top of all of these projects I am still progressing through a personal documentary about the soundtrack industry.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No More Keeping Up Appearances
(Me lately - not happy from day to day)
The past 2 years have been a dream come true for me. I would have never guessed I would have received the opportunities to meet these people and to do work for them. What many did not know was that I kept my declining vision a secret.
Being hands on was important to me. However, it was becoming necessary to rely heavily on others. My looking closely at things was noticeable by others and probably came across as odd and in some cases people would joke that I needed new glasses.
Most of my work was achievable due to me directing and contracting others to execute the production aspects. Drawing and editing is still achievable to this day, though I have to look closely at the monitors while doing so. This process will not be sustainable for much longer.
For the longest time, I would look very closely at the LCD screens to see the world clearly through the camera as I was not able to do so with my glasses. With glasses on, my distance vision was noticeably failing and the appearance of halos began. This was all out of my right eye and only since July of 2017 did my left eye start failing. Now, my left eye can no longer compensate for not having a right eye to use.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Little Clarity On My Condition
(My RX roughly stayed around this range for most of my life)
I was born with High Myopia (extreme nearsightedness) my whole life. I did not receive glasses until the age of 3 and then began wearing gas permeable contacts starting at age 5. Without the use of glasses or contacts I was and still am not able to see beyond an inch from my face.
My prescription has increased very minimally throughout my life resulting in my vision being "correctable using glasses or contacts. There would be moments where I would complain about the clarity of my vision not always being perfect in my right eye and this would become a source of contention between me and future eye doctors.
The response would always end up being the same - "your eyes and brain will adjust". While this rang true throughout most of my life, starting about 10 years ago, things did not adjust and in fact things got worse.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Decline Begins
(This is how I saw by 2014 - though the the doctors kept thinking I saw muted colors when it was simply the photograph being taken on a grey
Around 2010, the vision in my right eye began to become noticeably problematic. Every new pair of glasses would be met with what seemed like an astigmatism issue not being properly corrected. Within 6 months of the new pair of glasses, the vision would seem to fail, meaning, get weaker, causing depth perception problems and imbalances along with major headaches.
My eye doctor of 10 years never stated the onset of cataracts and the symptoms being experienced in my right eye were brushed off as just having bad astigmatism associated with my Myopia. However, I would inform him that I would rotate the lenses or tilt the frames, even bending them enough that would seem to bring the splitting effect back together. As a result, I would break frames as a result of trying to bend them in a manner that re-aligned the lenses in front of my eye.
This went on repeatedly since 2010. I began to be suspect that the manufacturers of the lenses were not making the lenses correctly. Not at anytime did my long-time optometrist send me to a specialist. However, I decided to get a second opinion as I was tired of being made to feel like I was crazy.
By this point, I stopped wearing contacts and stuck with glasses. I wish that my eyes had not grown intolerant to wearing contacts as they ultimately were the cheaper option and qualified under "medically necessary" which translates to "covered 100% by insurance. Glasses prescriptions are not. The frames CAN be covered in some case, but never the lenses.
Every pair of glasses would be easily $200 a frame because I had few options available to me that were suitable for my type of high prescription. The lenses would range from $500 to $800 depending on the type of lens thickness I chose.overcast day.
(My glasses from 2001 to the present. Some frames got broken and replaces while others were not but the lenses were salvaged)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Journey Begins
In 2012, The new doctor I saw did not make any recommendations either and I simply got another prescription. Yet the problem was persisting and getting worse.
The next doctor I saw was two years later in 2014 and they could not even get proper measurements on me. While the health of my eye looked fine I was given the first recommendation ever to see a specialist. The doctor was not able to help me and refunded my money.
I ended up getting a salary job in 2014 that offered health insurance and a vision plan. Because no one had diagnosed me with a possible ailment or disease, no ophthalmologist would see me. You have to have an eye disease or injury to the eye in order to get seen. So I was left with trying to find a doctor that would be able to figure out what was happening.
I went to a university based eye center and they were unable to help me. It was here that it would be told to me that I had the very early onset of cataracts. Yet, based on what I was telling them with regard to my symptoms, no one recommended I go see a specialist - retinal or otherwise. Even the head of the eye center threw their arms up in defeat with me with regard to finding a way to help me see better. And still, no referrals were made.
At this point, I was frustrated and depressed. The effect in my right eye was affecting my ability to function well in my job, getting around, and I had to stop driving altogether. I began to do what many others do in my predicament - I adapted. Primarily using my left eye only to do my job and get around.
Then, I returned to where I started, my original eye doctor. He too saw the onset of the cataract but did not show any concern felt it was causing any issue with sight. Once again, got another prescription from him. Again, within 6 months, the vision declined on cue.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Solution Almost In My Grasp
In late 2016, I decided to end my relationship permanently and go somewhere most would not have thought would be a good choice for me - Lens Crafters. This doctor listened to me and was able to comprehend what I was going through. She was upfront with me and stated she did not think she could help me, yet, would try a few tests with me. If they showed no positive results, she would refer me to a specialist. Unfortunately, no success. Off to the specialist I went.
That specialist was world-renowned surgeon, Dr. Robert Maloney of the Maloney Vision Institute in Westwood, CA. He confirmed for me the visual symptoms I was experiencing were the result of the onset of cataracts combined with my natural progression of Myopic Degeneration resulting from having High Myopia. Below are snippets from his findings.
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
I was not able to move forward with him due to not having insurance that he accepted and I was unable to obtain the proper medical insurance due to being on Medi-Cal after my salary job ended at the end of 2015.
My insurance at the time would not cover the surgery. Though I was eligible at the time for CareCredit which is essentially a loan that I would have to pay back and not an option I wished to pursue. I decided to go back into the system in hopes of finding a cheaper alternative that was covered by my insurance. I already had incurred enough debt starting up my business.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Straw That Broke he Camel's Back
(My insurance company - California HMO Medi-cal)
Over five years of seeing various doctors for what I felt was a valid opinion about my condition. I even saw Retinal Specialist and a Neurologist to ensure I was not suffering from any potential damage inside my head. All these years the health of my eye has been fine and yet, my condition keeps getting worse. Only in the recent 3 years has the consensus been that my cataracts are the root cause of my declining vision.
My attempts at navigating the medical and insurance system to find the right ophthalmologist who is also covered by my insurance, has been long, arduous and met with massive frustration, disappointment. A lot of time and energy has been wasted.
My most recent journey lead me to in-network doctors at sub-par facilities with sub-par service that rushed e in and rushed out with only one visit with the Ophthalmologist and never saw her again. I saw more of the Pre-Op staff than I saw of Ophthalmologist.
From getting the initial appointment to getting the surgery scheduled took three months. Every week, I checked in to see that the insurance and the offices were on track as I would come to find out each week they were not communicating with each other. One week following the Pre-Op visit and one week out from surgery (originally schedule for July 16th of this year) I was informed that the doctor was covered by my insurance yet the surgical center she was contracted with was not. I decided to call it quits with the system.
While I could continue in the "broken" system here in Los Angeles and navigate for another 3 to 6 months, my eyes cannot wait. It is necessary to go outside of the system if this is to be done correctly and quickly. The Maloney Vision Institute is the best solution for me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Be Continued
All the challenges, obstacles and hurtles I have had to endure has created for me a negative outlook and lack of faith in the medical community and made me want to give up many times over. It wasn't until I was able to start recreating in Photoshop how I actually see with my glasses on did the doctors start taking me seriously.
Despite getting doctors to understand my pain, the insurance system needs to change how the work with eye doctors and eye specialists. Someone like me suffers everyday. I have the ability to work alongside the next person and make a contribution to society if the system worked better to help me.
Please Share my campaign page on your friends and family as well as across your social media. Your support is much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Matthew
