Kristin
Retina Specialist Restores Young, Pregnant Mother’s Sight After Vision Loss
Kristin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age five. Like many people with diabetes, she struggled at times to manage her condition and later developed complications, including diabetic retinopathy. As a young adult, she began experiencing recurring floaters and episodes of blurred vision—early warning signs that something more serious was happening inside her eyes. Concerned, her eye doctor referred her to retina specialist Dr. Geoffrey Emerson, who became her long-term partner in care, stabilizing her diabetic retinopathy with laser treatments over several years. The treatments helped to restore clarity and maintain her daily routines.
A Sudden Loss of Vision
During her second pregnancy, Kristin’s diabetic retinopathy became significantly more difficult to control—a complication sometimes seen in expectant mothers as hormonal and metabolic shifts affect the eyes. She also developed a severe cough that placed additional pressure on the blood vessels in her retinas, which were abnormally fragile due to diabetes.
One afternoon, Kristin awoke from a nap and realized she could no longer see.
“My husband was at work, and I couldn’t find my three-year-old,” she said. “I called my parents crying because I couldn’t see anything. It was terrifying.”
Over the following weeks, her vision worsened in both eyes, leaving her essentially blind. Daily tasks became overwhelming. Kristin and her husband even bought a new home during that period, and she recalls being unable to see the line where she needed to sign paperwork and relying on her husband to describe furniture they were selecting for the new space.
Sight-Saving Surgery
Because dense bleeding prevented Dr. Emerson from seeing into the eye to perform additional laser treatments, surgery became the only option. Wanting to protect Kristin’s unborn baby by limiting anesthesia exposure, he made the rare decision to perform vitrectomy surgery on both eyes on the same day. The operations were completed at a hospital with obstetric support on standby to ensure the safety of both mother and child.
Kristin remained awake during the procedures to minimize anesthesia risk. Her eyes were numb and comfortable from local nerve blocks, but she could listen to the surgeon and OR during the procedure. The surgery went smoothly and was a success in both eyes. Within days, she could once again see clearly, function independently, and care for her family. Her diabetic retinopathy has remained stable ever since, without recurrence of major issues.
Life Today & Kristin’s Advice for Others
Today, Kristin shares her experience to help others with diabetes understand the importance of consistent eye care and managing their health.
“My best advice is to see your eye doctor regularly and trust your retina specialist,” she said. “And if you have diabetes, take good care of yourself. I know now how much of a difference it could have made for me.”
With her daughter recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10, Kristin hopes her story will help guide the next generation toward healthier habits that will protect the precious gift of sight for years to come.