A woman has shared her alarming experience of losing her sight after a lighthearted moment at the beach.
Deborah Cobb, now 42, recalls the incident from when she was just 19, where she decided to perform a series of cartwheels with a friend.
At this point, Cobb believes her eye health resembles that of someone in their 80s and she’s bracing for further vision loss from early onset macular degeneration.
In a recent discussion, Cobb mentioned how she and a friend were enjoying themselves, and she challenged her friend to see who could do more cartwheels. “It was just for fun,” she said. Then things took a strange turn.
“I started doing cartwheels, got really dizzy, and then…everything just went blurry. It took me a second to realize that my eyes weren’t tracking properly,” she recounted.
“When I finally looked at my friend, all I saw was this huge orange blur,” Cobb added, describing the moment she realized something was wrong. “My vision was totally unfocused. No pain, but I couldn’t make out anything clearly.”
Cobb’s story has circulated widely, and she recently shared the baffling medical details on social media, revealing that doctors initially suspected serious conditions like leukemia and AIDS.
“Luckily, I didn’t have any of that. It turned out to just be weak blood vessels in my eyes, something genetic, as I found out later,” she explained regarding her macular degeneration diagnosis.
In a popular video, Cobb detailed how the gymnastics stunt led to internal bleeding in the macula, a crucial part of the retina responsible for sharp vision.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss, affecting over 200,000 Americans annually, often linked to genetics and other health issues. It manifests as blurred vision and can distort perceptions of color, leading to dark spots.
Initially, Cobb was considered “legally blind” for three months, and it took an additional three months before she regained full sight.
During this time, Cobb’s life came to a halt. She left massage school and found it difficult to drive, watch TV, or even see her own reflection.
Though she eventually returned to her studies and became a licensed massage therapist, the fear of losing her vision again lingers.
“I have to be careful—no upside-down activities or anything that could cause blood to rush to my head. I’ve even had to limit push-ups after what happened,” Cobb stated.
This ordeal has inspired Cobb to focus her career on integrative medicine, helping those dealing with anxiety and nervous system issues.
Interestingly, Cobb mentioned that her vision loss has offered her a new perspective on life. It has taught her empathy and gratitude, making her appreciate things more deeply.
“I could choose to live in fear, or I could choose to be grateful,” Cobb concluded. “I prefer gratitude—who wants to live in fear, anyway?!”
