Skip to main content
Macular Disease Foundation Australia
  • My Cart
  • Text Only
  • Listen
  • Print Page
  • Language
    • English
    • Arabic
    • Chinese
    • Greek
    • Italian
    • Portuguese
    • Spanish
    • Vietnamese
  • Search form

Check My Macula Check My Macula Join the Community Join the Community Order Free Information Order Free Information Call our helpline at 1800111709 Helpline
1800 111 709
Donate Donate
  • Home
  • Macular Disease
    • Macular Degeneration
      • About Macular Degeneration
      • Check My Macula
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
      • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetes
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Low Vision
      • Living with Low Vision
      • Carer and Family
      • Aids and Technology
      • Slips, Trips and Falls
      • Legal blindness
    • Other Macular Diseases
      • Best Disease
      • Macular Hole
      • Macular Pucker
      • Macular Telangiectasia
      • Myopic Macular Degeneration
      • Retinal Detachment
      • Retinitis Pigmentosa
      • Retinal Vein Occlusion
      • Stargardt Disease
      • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
      • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
      • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
    • Visit Eye Health Professional
      • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
    • Macular Disease
      • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
  • Research
    • Research Grants Program
      • Research Grants Awarded
      • Research Grant Recipients
      • Apply for the 2021 MDFA Research Grants Program
      • Research Grants Panel
    • Support Research
    • Latest Research
      • Research News
      • MDFA Research
      • Macular Diseases
      • Understanding Research
      • Social Impact
    • Research Updates
      • Annual Research Update
      • Weekly Research Updates for Professionals
    • Research studies
      • Research participants needed in the Canberra region who enjoy art and have vision loss
  • Resources
    • Order Publications and Resources
    • Find a Healthcare Provider
    • Audio and Video
      • Audio
      • Podcasts
      • Patient Voices
      • Videos
    • Macula Menus
    • Check My Macula toolkits
    • Aged care resources
  • News & Events
    • Newsletters
      • Vision Voice Newsletters
      • Subscribe to Newsletters
      • Archive
    • News
      • 2021 news
      • 2020 news
      • 2019 News
      • 2018 News
      • 2017 News
      • 2016 News
      • Archived News
    • Events & Activities
      • Community Events
      • Education Sessions
      • Events Calendar
      • Watch past webinars
    • Media Centre
      • Media Releases
  • Foundation
    • Organisation
      • History
      • Objectives
      • Guiding Principles
      • Annual Reports
      • Whistleblower Policy
      • Financial Statements
    • People
      • Patron
      • State Patrons / Representatives
      • Ambassadors
      • Foundation Board
      • Committees
      • State Chairs
      • National Research Advisor
    • Our Work
      • Awareness
      • Education
      • Support Services
      • Research
      • Representation
    • Support Us
      • Donate
      • Bequests
      • Fundraise
      • Volunteer
      • Friends of the Foundation
      • Sponsors and Supporters
      • Professional Friends
    • Contact Us
Listen
Macular Disease Foundation Australia
Check My Macula Macula Join the Community Join Us Order Free Information Free Info Donate Donate
Menu
  • My Cart
    • Language
      • English
      • Arabic
      • Chinese
      • Greek
      • Italian
      • Portuguese
      • Spanish
      • Vietnamese
    • Home
    • Macular Disease
      • Macular Degeneration
        • About Macular Degeneration
        • Check My Macula
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
        • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetes
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Low Vision
        • Living with Low Vision
        • Carer and Family
        • Aids and Technology
        • Slips, Trips and Falls
        • Legal blindness
      • Other Macular Diseases
        • Best Disease
        • Macular Hole
        • Macular Pucker
        • Macular Telangiectasia
        • Myopic Macular Degeneration
        • Retinal Detachment
        • Retinitis Pigmentosa
        • Retinal Vein Occlusion
        • Stargardt Disease
        • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
        • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
        • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
      • Visit Eye Health Professional
        • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
      • Macular Disease
        • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
    • Research
      • Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Awarded
        • Research Grant Recipients
        • Apply for the 2021 MDFA Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Panel
      • Support Research
      • Latest Research
        • Research News
        • MDFA Research
        • Macular Diseases
        • Understanding Research
        • Social Impact
      • Research Updates
        • Annual Research Update
        • Weekly Research Updates for Professionals
      • Research studies
        • Research participants needed in the Canberra region who enjoy art and have vision loss
    • Resources
      • Order Publications and Resources
      • Find a Healthcare Provider
      • Audio and Video
        • Audio
        • Podcasts
        • Patient Voices
        • Videos
      • Macula Menus
      • Check My Macula toolkits
      • Aged care resources
    • News & Events
      • Newsletters
        • Vision Voice Newsletters
        • Subscribe to Newsletters
        • Archive
      • News
        • 2021 news
        • 2020 news
        • 2019 News
        • 2018 News
        • 2017 News
        • 2016 News
        • Archived News
      • Events & Activities
        • Community Events
        • Education Sessions
        • Events Calendar
        • Watch past webinars
      • Media Centre
        • Media Releases
    • Foundation
      • Organisation
        • History
        • Objectives
        • Guiding Principles
        • Annual Reports
        • Whistleblower Policy
        • Financial Statements
      • People
        • Patron
        • State Patrons / Representatives
        • Ambassadors
        • Foundation Board
        • Committees
        • State Chairs
        • National Research Advisor
      • Our Work
        • Awareness
        • Education
        • Support Services
        • Research
        • Representation
      • Support Us
        • Donate
        • Bequests
        • Fundraise
        • Volunteer
        • Friends of the Foundation
        • Sponsors and Supporters
        • Professional Friends
      • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Foundation
  • Support Us
  • Friends of the Foundation
  • Val Nicholson
Back

Foundation

  • Organisation
    • History
    • Objectives
    • Guiding Principles
    • Whistleblower Policy
    • Annual Reports
    • Financial Statements
  • People
    • Patron
    • State Patrons / Representatives
      • Western Australian State Patron
      • Victorian State Patron
      • Tasmanian State Patron
      • South Australian Custodian of Vision
    • Ambassadors
      • Jean Kittson
      • Jan Utzon
    • Foundation Board
      • Robert Kaye
      • Associate Professor Alex Hunyor
      • Brigadier John Fenwick
      • Richard Grills
      • Lisa Lusthaus
      • Imelda Lynch
      • Neil Wykes
    • Committees
    • State Chairs
    • National Research Advisor
  • Our Work
    • Awareness
      • Macula Month
        • mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • Winners
          • Categories
          • Prizes
          • Judges
          • Sponsors and Supporters
          • Frequently Asked Questions
          • Terms and Conditions
          • 2016 mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • 2015 mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • 2014 mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • 2013 mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • 2012 mEYE World Photographic Competition
        • Meet Mac De Gen
        • Television and radio
          • 2014 Macular Degeneration Advertising Campaign
        • Keep on Driving Safely campaign
        • World Sight Day
        • Vision Van
      • Education
      • Support Services
      • Research
      • Representation
        • Submissions
          • Archived submissions
        • Reports
          • Low Vision, quality of life and independence: Aids and Technologies review (2016)
          • Economic Impact of Diabetic Macular Oedema (2015)
          • Client Services Evaluation (Annual)
          • Ripple Effect of Vision Loss (2013)
          • Global Ageing & Vision Summit (2013)
          • Angiogenesis Foundation Paper (2012)
          • Eyes on the Future (2011)
          • Archived reports
        • Campaigns
          • Federal Election 2016
          • NDIS & Aged Care Reform
          • Commonwealth Home Support
          • Archived Campaigns
            • Diabetic macular edema
            • Pin-only credit cards
            • South Australian hospital crisis
            • Sight for Seniors
    • Support Us
      • Donate
      • Bequests
        • Enquire about Leaving a Bequest
      • Fundraise
        • Larapinta Challenge 2018
        • 50 Good Reasons to support Macular Degeneration
        • Enquire About Fundraising
      • Volunteer
        • Become a volunteer
      • Friends of the Foundation
        • Val Nicholson
        • Shane Dunbar-Reid
        • Helen Siemering
        • Life in lockdown: Nancy
        • Susan Harvey
        • Mel Byrnes
        • Denis Sutton
        • Alicia Thompson
        • The earlier the better: Jessica Falon
        • Life in lockdown: Jim
        • Life in lockdown: Val
        • Through Her Eyes: A Tribute
        • Generational blindness from AMD
        • AMD: Know your family risk
        • A life changing, art changing diagnosis of AMD
        • Erin Philpot
        • Jean and Elaine Kittson
        • Nancy Little
        • Amanda Little
        • Cheryl O’Reilly
        • Anne Ness
        • Become a Friend of the Foundation
      • Sponsors and Supporters
        • Enquire About Supporting the Foundation
      • Professional Friends
        • Become a Professional Friend - Ophthalmologists
        • Become a Professional Friend - Optometrists
    • Contact Us

    Val Nicholson

    Val Nicholson_FOF.jpg

    When Val was first diagnosed with wet macular degeneration she was frustrated at having to deal with yet another health issue. She felt confronted and questioned “why me”.  After the initial shock of diagnosis, Val realised she needed to accept that macular degeneration was now part of her life.
     
    Knowing what she does now about macular degeneration, Val regrets not having her eyes checked as soon as she noticed changes in her vision. 
     
    “It was a busy time in my life and although I had noticed straight lines appearing wavy, and even a pinkish hue across my vision on waking which disappeared during the day, I delayed making an appointment with my eye specialist,” said Val.
     
    “When I finally had my eyes checked I was diagnosed with wet macular degeneration in both eyes and there and then was referred to a retina specialist for immediate treatment.”
     
    In the early days, Val’s treatment, which consists of an injection into the eye, was every two weeks on alternate eyes. She did this for five years accepting this was what she had to do to maintain her sight. 
     
    “I now go once a month for injections, and have both my eyes treated during the one appointment. It’s not for everyone, but I prefer to get it done and then get on with my other commitments,” said Val.  
     
    “We did try and extend the injections longer than a month, but my specialist discovered that my sight deteriorates if I leave it any longer.” 
     
    Val is aware that her macular degeneration, and its treatment, doesn’t just impact her life, but also her husband’s life too. 
     
    “My husband Doug is tireless in his support, but it can get difficult as he juggles looking after our grandson and driving me to and from my injections. Sometimes following treatment I am not always able to attend activities planned through our community groups, I just have to fit my life around my injections.”
     
    “I am so grateful that there is a treatment available to me. If I had been diagnosed only a few years earlier, before treatment became available, I would have certainly lost my vision,” said Val.
     
     
    Share this article
    Select Your Type?
     
     
     
    • Home
    • Macular Disease
    • Research
    • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Foundation

    Contact Us

    1800 111 709
    [email protected]
    Suite 902, Level 9, 447 Kent Street, Sydney 2000

    Follow Us

    acnc_logo_reverse.png


    Helpline 1800 111 709

    Donate

    Macular Disease Foundation Australia ABN 52096255177
    • Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Disclaimer