Turning darkness into light

“I knew I wanted to be a singer long before I learned how to write, but I also thought about becoming a vet. At some point in my life I played around with the idea of being a break-dancer but my mind was made up in 2009 when I realised I could probably pay rent by singing professionally,” Crystal Asige reminisces. And that’s how she ended up singing.

Crystal was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of 16, but the gradual degradation of her retinas has not diminished her positivity or her career. “I spend most of thinking about things so far from glaucoma that it’s hard to think about the challenges. I’m able to overcome them anyway,” says Crystal.

NOVEL WAY

And she has a novel way of looking at things. “When I flip them over, challenges become opportunities. I can no longer see at night – so the (electricity) bill is less. I can no longer drive so I am never the designated driver. I can no longer read print so I relax as someone kindly volunteers to be my audio book. I can no longer see past the first row at a gig so stage fright is but a memory. At the end of the day, I am OK with the things that I can’t do because there’s so much that I can do. You just have to be creative, and that goes for anyone in any situation, really. I have glaucoma, but glaucoma doesn’t have me,” she says.”

Hers is a hereditary eye condition where fluid pressure behind the eyes is abnormally high and subsequently chips away at the retina. “The retina is the cable that sends images to the brain where they are translated into messages,” explains Crystal. “Now that my retina is wearing away, it is harder for it to send clear images of what I am looking at and instead sends very dark, foggy images, sort of like a camera that isn’t well focused.”

Eye drops, pills, laser procedures and surgical operations are used to prevent or slow further damage from occurring. Crystal has had eight eye surgeries in the past six years, and it has not been easy. “Those low moments are really scary because of how they can consume you and the people around you who fiercely love and pray for you,” she says, “but darkness is a great opportunity to shine. Music has been my way of owning my circumstance and flipping it so that I don’t ever get lost in it. My album Karibia emerged from exploring why we want to ‘fit in’ when clearly we were created to stand out.”

Crystal credits family, friends and the live band she performs with for supporting in her low moments. “My parents supported me through university in the UK where I studied film and drama and had three part-time jobs while studying. My dad was speechless because he wasn’t sure where my choice in degree would take me, especially in Kenya at the time.

FULL-TIME JOB

“My first full-time job was at the BBC in their production management unit where I had a wonderful time and made quality friendships,” Crystal says. “It was a shock to get (the job); I applied late, wrote a very unusual application and was forthcoming about my eyesight. They called me the next Monday.”

Though there is no cure for glaucoma yet, she is hopeful about some major developments in eyesight restoration. One such development according to Crystal is ‘Argus II’ by Second Sight USA. Though it does not restore normal vision, the bionic eye shaped as futuristic sunglasses allows the wearer to see light and shapes.

Having been there and done it, Crystal recommends regular eye examinations for everyone in order to detect progression of glaucoma and to prevent vision loss. “Glaucoma doesn’t make noise or show signs. It is very slow and quiet. You think ‘Ah, looks like I just need glasses to drive’ then over the years you keep getting more dependent on them until one day you say, no let me see an optometrist and not just an optician.”

Her plea is for others to get their once-a-year general check up to help in the prevention of certain conditions. Empathy also goes a long way: “If you meet someone who is different from you, physically or otherwise, don’t be fooled because they probably are doing much better than you would think. Don’t pity or discriminate them. Choose to love them instead.”

And to those newly-faced with optical challenges similar to hers, Crystal says: “Just pace yourself and take the time you need to internalise your condition because you can be too quick to fall into doom and gloom and equally too quick to say ‘I’m ok, everything is fine’. Find people or things that will help you stay positive and excited about life. Always have things to look forward to because empty days and nights aren’t great. Just challenge yourself to get creative because the human body has several back up mechanisms. Don’t give up on yourself or stay worried. Other parts of you will grow stronger than you realise.”