Wendee’s Glaucoma Journey

Most children fear the dentist, but for me, the real terror was the ophthalmologist. The puff-of-air machine that made my eyes sting, the eye pressure machine that crept uncomfortably close, and a clinic full of adults where I was the only child. I felt small, alone, and unsure.

Then I was diagnosed with glaucoma. The doctor didn’t explain it in a way I could understand. I didn’t realize how serious it was…how missing follow-up appointments and not adhering to my eye drops could damage my vision permanently. 

Suddenly, my days changed. My mom began calling me over every morning and night, carefully holding me still to put the eye drops in for me. All I could remember was the sharp sting that shot through my eyes. But after a few days, I started to notice the skin around my eyes changing. Red and irritated. It made me feel self-conscious and embarrassed, especially as I was just starting to go through puberty. I began rummaging through my mom’s makeup, searching for something – anything! – to cover the redness. The closest color she had to my skin was white, so I patted sparkly white eyeshadow over my under-eye bags. The mix of white eyeshadow and the red irritation created a strange purple shade that wasn’t pretty. But at that time, in my head, it was better than leaving my eyes red. This lead me to struggle with my self-esteem while trying to follow a treatment I didn’t fully understand. I resisted. I skipped doses when I could, and avoided appointments, feeling completely alone.

Everything changed when I found a doctor who actually listened. He explained the disease, answered my questions, and helped me find eye drops that worked for me. I learned that while glaucoma is incurable, it can be managed, and daily care can protect vision. That experience transformed fear into understanding and inaction into action.

Because of this lack of pediatric-friendly eye care and information, and the fear I experienced as a child navigating adult-focused clinics, my lived experience drives my mission today. I want to ensure that no child feels alone or scared when learning about glaucoma or taking care of their eyes. That every child can protect their lantern of vision, build confidence, and stay healthy.