This commentary article is co-authored by a patient with Usher syndrome type 2A. The patient kindly shares her experience of living a life marked by the severe dual sensory loss associated with Usher syndrome. The experiences of the patient are put into perspective by two ophthalmologists associated with the Ophthalmological Department at Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Keywords: Blindness; Hearing impairment; Psychological disease burden; Usher syndrome.
In this patient–physician perspective a patient with Usher syndrome shares her experience. Usher syndrome affects both hearing and vision. The patient describes how being deprived of these two important sensory functions have formed her life choices, from travelling the world while she still had vision to choosing not to have children due to fear of passing on the disease. Most importantly, the psychological impacts of the disease are shared and put into perspective by her ophthalmologists.