Kaitlyn Corsiglia | Blind Beauty 50
“I have found that through my visual complications I appreciate what I can still see. I have a passion for sharing that though you may face struggles you’ll find strength through them.”
~Kaitlyn Corsiglia
Legal Blindness & Low Vision Awareness
Pars Planitis is a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the front of the eye. In my case, I’ve had the disease since I was 6 and because of this, I have cataracts and glaucoma. In November 2017, I had my 6th eye surgery on my right eye to help correct some secondary issues brought about from years of Pars Planitis flare-ups.
For as long as I can remember I have had low vision in my right eye. What this means is I can see light, color, and the outline of figures—scientifically speaking it’s a measurement of 20/400. Since the surgery, I’m at a visual field of 20/200.
Visual impairment and low vision look different on everyone. Not every person who has low vision sees the same thing. This post is to help people understand that when someone is legally blind or has low vision, this doesn’t mean they can’t see anything at all.
I think it is equally important for people to become knowledgeable about different diseases so we can find cures. Right now Pars Planitis is still incurable and highly understudied. Both of my eyes have the disease so I will never stop fighting for a cure.
Appreciation Through Challenge
I want to continue to see and cherish this beautiful world! My eyesight used to be 20/20 in my good eye or left eye and since the Pars Planitis flare a year ago my vision is reduced to 20/40. This may not seem like a big difference but given what I am working with the change is a challenge. I have double vision as well as the presence of floaters since my last flare. Additionally, my sight is not correctable by prescriptions.
Battling Pars Planitis and recovering from surgery this past year has motivated me to find an illustrator for my children’s novel. I’m set to release the book, “The Sunflower Field,” come Spring 2019!
I have found that through my visual complications I appreciate what I can still see. I have a passion for sharing that though you may face struggles you’ll find strength through them. Also, I want everyone to be aware that just because someone is visually impaired does not mean they aren’t capable of working on a computer or being successful! At 23 years of age, despite many health hurdles, I’m still a full-time student at Purdue University Northwest pursuing a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship.
Blind Beauty 50 Featured Image Description:
Featured image is a faux fashion magazine cover titled Blind Beauty. Kaitlyn is on the cover standing in front of a brown wooden privacy fence smiling and holding a yellow flower. She is wearing a short-sleeve multi-colored striped dress with a crew neckline. Her dark hair is swept to the left of her pretty face and her eyeglasses are the perfect accessory.
Blocks of text superimposed on Kaitlyn’s photo are: “Bold | She Keeps Pressing Onward,” “Blind | She Has Deeper Insight,” “Beautiful | She Sees To The Heart Of Others”
Additional Images:
- Here’s a close-up photo of Kaitlyn with her left eye practically swollen shut.
- In this photo, Kaitlyn gives the thumbs up as she reclines in her hospital bed in the recovery room after her surgery. There is an eye patch on her right eye and she is surrounded by various medical instruments and monitoring equipment.