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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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A woman who has struggled with eye problems since she was a toddler has described the terrifying moment she discovered that her vision was completely gone.
McEwen Baker was just 2 years old when she was given her first diagnosis that would lead to a lifetime of vision problems and complications. Her mom noticed swelling in her knee, prompting a visit to the doctor for an examination. Following another appointment with a specialist, Baker was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
This can commonly cause eye inflammation, which the Mayo Clinic says can lead to complications such as cataracts, glaucoma, and even blindness.
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Shortly after her diagnosis, Baker's eyes became red, and it took several visits to different doctors before her mom was taken seriously. Eventually, they flew from Kentucky to Maryland to see a specialist at The Wilmer Eye Institute, which "changed everything," Baker, 26, told Newsweek.
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"They told my mom that, if I had come in any later, I would have gone blind," Baker said. "I was diagnosed with uveitis, a serious inflammatory eye condition that can occur as a complication of autoimmune diseases like juvenile rheumatoid arthritis."
At the age of 6 years old, Baker's health concerns grew as she developed glaucoma, damaging the optic nerve.
Baker "didn't fully understand the condition," but she said she remembers the pain and problems it caused. She was regularly in hospital to undergo procedures to stabilize the pressure in her eyes, and she also had to see the school nurse every lunch period to take eye drops.
Baker's fellow classmates would regularly question what was wrong with her, and she recalls having to explain why her eyes were so red whenever she met new people.
Over the years, Baker has undergone 24 eye procedures, and her vision has continued to deteriorate. Aged 16, she was accidentally hit in the eye by a friend, causing a full globe rupture in her right eye, undoing much of the surgical progress unfortunately.
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"This was initially repaired in emergency surgery at the University of Kentucky. By the time everything calmed down in that eye, it had experienced too much trauma to fully recover, and my cornea cells started dying," Baker continued.
As a result, her right eye has been considered legally blind with glasses since 2022.
Baker has also suffered complications with the shunts in both of her eyes getting clogged, a calcium buildup on the surface of the cornea, and two failed cornea transplants.
"While all these treatments were crucial for managing my conditions and preserving what vision I had, over time, their combined effects, along with the underlying disease, have led to the gradual breakdown of my corneas," Baker said.
She became accustomed to only being able to see out of her left eye for a while. It wasn't easy, but, once she adjusted, she was just thankful for what vision she still had.
However, St. Patrick's Day in 2023 marked "the scariest morning" of her life when she woke up and thought the light wasn't working, only to realize the vision in her left eye was gone. She thought her retina might be detaching, causing permanent vision loss, so she rushed to the hospital to get it checked.
"The cornea in my left eye was beginning the same decline as my right," Baker told Newsweek. "The gradual death of my corneal endothelial cells causes swelling and a haze that I can't see through. It was a devastating realization, and I cycled between devastation and denial for a while."
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Now, Baker's vision tends to fluctuate and some days are better than others. She will often wake up with no vision for the first 30 minutes to two hours of her day, and now has to wake up earlier to give her eyes time to "warm up" before starting her day.
In August 2025, she started to experience entire days of blindness and has had to cope without any vision for five days in a row.
Baker said: "My vision is unpredictable, which makes it very hard to explain when meeting new people. Sometimes I can see and sometimes I can't, but I never see well. I'm so grateful for the days when I can and I am learning to adapt on the days I can't."
In need of an outlet to share her experience, Baker posted a video on TikTok (@_qtip_) to discuss her vision-loss story. She never imagined it would generate interest, but to her surprise, the clip has amassed over 44,800 views and more than 3,500 likes at the time of writing.
Baker has spent so many years hiding herself and staying silent, but she said she doesn't want to live that way any longer. She has been overwhelmed by the positive response to her story, and it has helped her connect with so many others in a similar situation.
If Baker can offer any advice to others, it is to be open and share their story, too. It may feel daunting; it is so powerful to know that you are not alone.
"Share your story because someone out there might need to hear it as much as you need them to listen. You never know when your courage could give voice to those who can't speak up yet. There is still so much good in the world, and your vulnerability is a superpower," Baker said.
Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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