Help Roger Taft Regain His Vision

I am Roger Taft. I'm middle aged, single and I've mostly been self-employed. In short, I am one of the most uninsurable demographics. 

And I need eye surgery. 

On May 27th, 2022, I was admitted to the emergency room. I was weak and vomiting with a severe headache. The diagnosis was Diabetic Ketoacidosis. 4 days later they also realized I had the Shingles from my left cheek up to the top of my head. It wasn't initially diagnosed because everyone assumed my symptoms were all based on the Diabetic Ketoacidosis. By that time my left eye was already swelling shut, the damage was already being done. Somehow when I asked when I would see again, the doctor completely misunderstood me and thought I told him I could see just fine. I could not see, and I have no idea how he got the impression that I could. So, my eye was ignored for 3 more days while it got worse. When I was going to be released on the 7th day, I asked about the eye again. At that point they moved me to a different hospital that specialized in eye care. I spent 4 more days there. I was finally sent home on the 11th day with pain killers, eye drops, insulin, and not much else. 

I spent the next 6 months in bed. I could barely walk. I had trouble sleeping at all. I itched everywhere, not just where the Shingles had been. It turned out that I was highly allergic to one of the medications they had prescribed for me, so rather than healing, I was just getting worse. All I could see out of my left eye was a yellow blob. I had scratches on my Cornea, and an Infection in my Retina. The right eye was fine. 

I was finally at a point where I could see an eye doctor. For nearly 2 years I was seeing various eye doctors at least every other month, and at times twice weekly. They tried several different medications on me. I take up to 5 eye drops a day. I have been given multiple Steroid Shots directly into the eye. My vision is significantly better than a yellow blob. Now I see as though I have a piece of wax paper over my eye. I can see, but it's just blurry shapes. 

The blurriness is caused by a persistent Infection in my Retina. That's what Steroids have been for. We have almost knocked out the Infection twice now, but it keeps returning. I currently qualify for 2 more free doses of a very expensive Steroid Injection. If those 2 Injections don't knock out the Infection, then I will have to start paying for any additional Injections. 

IF the Steroid Injections take care of the Infection, THEN I need Cataract Surgery. Not just in the left eye, but both eyes. Why? Because Steroids cause Cataracts. So, the cure causes another problem. 

The "cheap" version of the surgery is done with a knife by hand; it will cost me around $5,000. The "safer" version of the surgery is done with lasers, and costs around $7,000. 

There are a few other tests and expenses that will have to be taken care of along the way. One of which is another $1,000.