Most of us take for granted the fact that we can see perfectly day-in and day-out! We can see the faces of our loved ones, the beauty of nature and the wonderment of life without any impairments. But for Gene Purdie, life is much different!
It's when you come across stories of those with partial or full vision loss that you learn to truly understand and appreciate how lucky the rest of us are to able to see the faces of our loved ones and children.
Take Gene Purdie, for example, who suffers from a condition called Stargardt's disease.
Credit: CBS
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While not completely impaired, Gene can only see the outline of things in front of him. Because of this he's never been able to properly look at his wife's or son's face.
When his wife was watching Rachael Ray's TV show where a woman with similar problems was given eSight glasses so that she could see her sister, she knew she had to get Gene on.
After corresponding through email, the couple went on.
Watch as Gene tries out the glasses and sees his wife and son's faces as clear as day for the first time ever.
Image: CBS
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'Wow, she's pretty' he says, laughing.
Before long, Gene becomes emotional, which then sets off his wife and host Rachael herself.
Stargardt disease is sometimes called a juvenile macular dystrophy due its potential to appear between the ages of 10 and 20. It can also begin later on in life.
At first, the condition will make your vision unclear, distorted or blurred. You may experience trouble with your central vision and possibly colour perception
Stargardt disease is almost always inherited. It occurs when both parents have one for the disease paried with one normal gene.
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Carrier parents are unaffected as they have only one copy of the gene.
You can find out more about it here.
Featured Image Credit: CBS