What happened to you in the year 2000?
In the year 2000, I was in a serious accident in which my eye socket was shattered. As a result of this accident, my optic nerve was so severely damaged that I became completely blind in one eye. That was a life-changing event that had a profound impact on my life.
How did you cope with life with only one eye?
Despite my eye injury, I didn’t let it stop me. I kept doing everything I had been doing before. It took some getting used to living with one eye, but I adapted faster than I had expected. My advice to others is therefore not to give up, but to try to just keep on with your life.
What medical care did you receive after the accident?
After the accident, I ended up at an eye clinic in Germany. They did a good job of helping me with the pain and irritation. Still, in the years that followed, I regularly suffered from inflammation, and my eye remained sensitive. My eye had also been partially sewn shut after the accident. I had already indicated at the time that I would like an ocular prosthesis, but I was told that my eye socket was too damaged to proceed with that.
How did you end up getting an eye prosthesis later on?
In 2023, I was browsing the internet and happened to come across the website of the OOG in OOG Association. I found it interesting and decided to send an email with my story. That very same day, I received an email, and a few hours later, Tonnie Landman called me personally. That gave me a lot of confidence.
How did the rest of the process go?
On Tonnie’s advice, I made an appointment with Dr. Hartong (Ophthalmologist at Amsterdam UMC) and then with ocularist Jelmer Remmers. Both of them provided me with excellent information and care. Thanks to Tonnie’s advice, everything has gone in the right direction. I’m very grateful to her for that, and I’ve also joined OOG in OOG.
How are you doing now, and what advice would you like to share with others?
In February 2025, my eye was removed, and six months later, I received an ocular prosthesis. To this day, I haven’t had any problems. The prosthesis fits well and is almost invisible. I do regret not taking this step sooner. If anyone with the same problem would like advice, they’re always welcome to contact me through OOG in OOG. I’m happy to help.
