Robin Leigh's Sight Journey

Hello! My name is Robin Leigh. You may know me as Robin, Leigh, Bobbi, or possibly another nickname. I love and respond to all. I want to tell you about my eyesight journey. Thank you for taking the time to check this out.

I cannot remember exactly when I received my first pair of glasses. I wore them part-time and not when I played outside. That is until I was 5 and I wore them all the time. My parents wore glasses, and my father had the worse sight of the two. I always hated my glasses. The frames never looked as cute as the day I picked them because my strong prescription would warp my face. Kids in elementary school teased me daily about my “four eyes.” While I love being in the limelight, that negative attention was hurtful. I was a cheerleader in grade school and involved in Polish Folk dancing. Whenever I could get away with it, I would take my glasses off for pictures or performing.

In junior high, I was told I could probably get myself declared legally blind and would end up in bifocals by high school. Luckily, I was able to avoid getting bifocals and it was never forced on me as my only option.

In high school, contact technology allowed me to get hard contact lenses. They were so itchy and annoying. They would get stuck on the top of my eyes if I accidentally blinked too hard. I ended up saving them for special occasions only. I had also reached the point that using my father’s glasses was a bit too close to comfort of my own prescription. Eventually, though, technology would catch up and I was able to get soft contact lenses. My life changed forever! I started my blissful denial of living life as normal-sighted person because I slept in my contacts (even though I should not have).

At the age of 30, I was diagnosed with cortical cataracts, a rarer form of cataracts and being diagnosed at that age is also rare. I was not surprised, though. I have always been extra special when it came to my eyes. I was told I would need surgery within ten years. 

Three years ago, I stopped driving at night. My depth perception and some of my peripheral sight have weakened. I am plagued with frequent headaches that sometimes affect work. I can no longer get contacts in a current prescription. I have topped out at -12 and they do not come any stronger than that! I turn 39 on October 4. I have my first surgery on October 12 and the second one on October 18. Here is where you come in…

At my recent pre-op appointment, I was told I have two options for the lenses they will insert. The first requires me to wear glasses for anything near and would correct my far-sighted vision. These lenses may or may not get me back on the road for night driving. Probably not. Insurance covers it. Unfortunately, insurance does not cover the lenses that would correct both near and far and leave me with readers only. I have to pay $3,000 out of pocket per eye due the day of each surgery, $6,000 total. It would be a dream come true to get these lenses, but I do not have that money. My credit will not allow me to borrow that much. And I was given short notice.

Please donate if you can and share, share, share! I can also repay you if you prefer to assist me with a loan. Or you can reach out directly if you do not want to use a third party. I appreciate any help you can give to support my vision dream! <3