Sometimes, the body signals serious health changes in the most unexpected ways. For Andy Johnson, a 35-year-old father and water sports instructor, that signal came during a rushed morning routine. It came when he unknowingly sent his young son to nursery wearing mismatched shoes. This was noticed by his wife Danni, at the school gates. She noticed that Andy had put Oaklen in two completely different shoes which included not just different colors, but entirely different styles.
For most parents, mismatched shoes might simply be an embarrassing oversight. But for Andy, it was a sign that his vision was deteriorating much faster than he had anticipated.
Andy wasn't unfamiliar with vision problems. He had been diagnosed with retinal dystrophy as a child. For most of his life, he had managed the tasks well with tunnel vision while his central vision remained stable and clear.
However, the shoe incident made him realize something had changed. He already lived with a genetic eye condition, but this felt different.
In January 2024, Andy visited his doctor with concerns about his worsening eyesight. The experience was far from comforting.
He was told that Because retinal dystrophy is a genetic condition and Andy had been previously diagnosed, doctors told him that vision loss was expected due to his condition. Even more challenging was the lack of support available to help him adjust to this new reality.
"When you leave the hospital, you're on your own, and that's the scary thing," said Danni, 31 to The People.
The impact on Andy's mental health was immediate and severe. The once-confident man who co-owned a water sports business with his wife became increasingly isolated.
Andy told the BBC that when his eyesight started to deteriorate, he had stopped doing things. He wouldn't cross a road or take the kids to school.
He was diagnosed with avoidance anxiety as he withdrew from daily activities that had once been routine.
The sudden change also deeply affected the entire family, particularly their eldest son, Finley, who was nine years old. Finley had been used to an active father who drove boats and took him to school.
"They've actually said it's a form of trauma," Danni shared, referring to what medical professionals told them about Finley's experience.
Andy and Danni run a water sports business together. As Andy’s vision declined, their roles required certain changes. Andy moved into a managerial position, while Danni took on more physically demanding and safety-critical responsibilities, including boat operations.
With Danni's encouragement, Andy gradually began to re-engage with the world. Andy also started learning to use a cane. He eventually received a guide dog named Pearlie, which helped him regain some independence. Even simple activities require extensive planning. Going out for lunch, for example, means mapping out the restaurant space beforehand and selecting what Andy will eat before they even arrive. Danni explained that they were a normal family, but now they had to pedal a lot harder than everyone else to achieve the same things.
Despite the hardships, Andy and Danni have chosen to use their experience to help others. The couple post day-in-the-life videos on Instagram to raise awareness about the realities of people living with vision loss.
In October 2024, they organized an "odd shoes day" fundraiser for Guide Dogs UK, encouraging schools and nurseries to participate.
Their water sports business now runs accessible training sessions for people with sight loss, something Andy is passionate about.
Retinal dystrophies, also known as inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), are a group of degenerative disorders that affect the retina and are marked by significant clinical and genetic diversity. These conditions are characterized by a gradual and often irreversible loss of vision.
Early symptoms may include night blindness, dimness of vision, and difficulty distinguishing colours. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience peripheral vision loss, tunnel vision, and increasing visual impairment. In advanced stages, some forms of retinal dystrophy can lead to complete blindness.
Reference:
1. Chawla H, Tripathy K, Vohra V. Retinal Dystrophies. [Updated 2024 Oct 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564379/
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