Those of you who have been at Filmtracks a long time know that I have been battling blindness for most my adult life. During my bout with this condition in 2008, I provided a more thorough background of the issue: https://www.filmtracks.com/news/updates.cgi?read=12

Since my last eye surgery in 2009, my sight had stabilized to the extent that I could still maintain all my computer work with my one remaining functional eye. This past week, though, that eye suffered the same sudden deterioration as the other one. In response, surgeons in Seattle used the most powerful argon laser available to make 839 tiny welds in the back of that eye in hopes that further blindness at my focal point can be delayed. The incredibly painful procedure did eliminate some of my remaining peripheral sight up front, as is typical.

Within the next two weeks, we'll know if that procedure worked. If not, I will need a full vitrectomy to save some useful vision in that eye. There is a possibility, however, that even a successful vitrectomy will cause an epiretinal membrane and cataract to form just as they did in my other eye during the 2008 surgeries. In that case, even if the cataract is removed, I may lose the ability to drive, and reading and writing may become very difficult. Obviously, that outcome could be problematic for this site and my career generally.

I'll keep the readership updated as I learn more. Needless to say, perpetually worsening hereditary blindness is an extraordinarily frustrating experience. But I plan to take any measure I can to continue engaging in my passions, including this site. New reviews are suspended at the moment, but coverage I had already written for the On Cue section will debut as per schedule.

Christian