Victorian testimonials:

•	Alan Downie, 51, Burwood East
•	Alan Mitchell, 57, Bendigo
•	Bob Jamieson, 57, Bendigo
•	Hedley Moon, 62, Pyramid Hill
•	Kath Ponsonby, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma and Cataracts

Kath Ponsonby, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma and Cataracts

Kath Ponsonby, who has lived in Ballarat since she was 10, lost her sight five years ago. She was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration and soon after she discovered she had glaucoma and cataracts.

She keeps her glaucoma under control by using eye drops and sees her eye specialist regularly.

The hardest part about losing her vision was giving up driving - "it was an absolute disaster," she says.

She says she manages by sheer will power. She moved into a unit 10 years ago which helps as she knows where everything is. It's when she moves out of her own familiar environment that she comes unstuck.

Kath volunteers at the Vision Australia Low Vision clinic in Ballarat once a week. She assists other people with vision loss when they come into the clinic.

Kath says sight is one of the most important gifts and you don't know what you've lost until it's gone. That's why regular eye tests are so important.

For more information:
For further information, or to arrange an
interview, please contact
Monique Van Wierst on (03) 9656 2027
or mvanwierst@vision2020australia.org.au