“Imagine closing your eyes and walking around all day,” said Sophomore Michael Raitor. “It takes a lot to walk up to someone and crack a joke without being able to see their facial expression.”
Raitor is losing his sight. He’s one of the few in the world with a genetic eye disease that creates an excess of an important fluid which builds up and forms toxic waste, gradually taking away his vision.
“The average person, when exposed to light, produces a chemical that changes light from the eye into brain signals,” explained Raitor. “Basically the more light that comes into my eyes, the worse they get.”
Raitor is legally blind, forcing him to see the world through a different lens, but upon meeting him you would never know it.
One of Raitor’s prominent hobbies is photography, but with the lack of full vision, photography serves dual purposes for him. The use of a camera opens up a new perspective on what he is able to see during and after an event.
“I have memories of a place, but by using my camera, I can look back and see what everyone else saw in detail,” said Raitor. Along with documenting, he also uses his camera for pleasure and art.
In an effort to slow down the decay of his eyes, Raitor wears protective sunglasses with built in prescription. He’s learned the hard way that wearing the shades to school in the winter doesn’t always get the best response from teachers and peers.
“Teachers usually jump into a speech about how, by wearing sunglasses, I am disrespecting them and the establishment,” Raitor said. “I wait until they’re done to inform them that I’m going blind. They usually just go red in the face and walk away.”
Upon knowing the severity of his condition, Michael wants anything but pity.
“[pity] is usually the first thing that comes to mind for everyone. It’s frustrating, it doesn’t bother me, so it shouldn’t bother you,” said Raitor.
The positive attitude Raitor pours out daily is a simple decision to him. “It’s hard not to be positive because my condition is an everyday thing, and I can’t be mad everyday, so I’m just happy.”
