The US edition of Love Is Blind is back in full force for season nine, and one of the singles hoping to find love, Madison Maidenberg, has moved viewers by speaking out about her rare health condition: a recessive form of retinitis pigmentosa.
Sadly, there's a high chance that her condition will eventually lead to sight loss – something she's hopeful her future partner will be able to support her with and which she says has made her focus in on the traits she hopes to find in a relationship.
"I have a blinding-eye condition, and there's a good chance that I’m going to go blind," Madison explains during the first episode. "This experiment is so much more to me because it simulates what my life could be like when I do lose my vision. I know what I need in a partner with my diagnosis.
"So, it's so important that I find that correct person and that somebody is so empathetic and understanding."
Madison was 21 when she received her diagnosis and has since worked with charity group, Foundation Fighting Blindness, local to her to raise money and awareness around blindness and sight loss, at all stages.
Over on her Instagram account, Madison explained that retinitis pigmentosa impacts the "rods and cones in my eyes, making it harder for my eyes to intake light sensory". She added, "If you can imagine your field of vision as a spotlight, in bright light situations I have a pretty good field of vision, although far peripherals are a little bit hard to see.
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"When the lights go down, or I'm in a dimly lit restaurant or bar, I have a very, very hard time seeing peripherally. That spotlight kind of narrows."
This, Madison shares, means that if she's looking into someone's eyes, it can mean she struggles to see below their nose. She also detailed that she experiences a 'filter' over her vision at all times, akin to TV static.
"Blindness is a spectrum, just because I don't use a white cane doesn't mean that I am not [struggling to see things] that other people are definitely seeing," Madison says. "I'm hopeful I'll never get to the point that I need a white cane, but that is a possibility for my condition."
What is retinitis pigmentosa?
According to the Moorfields Private Eye Hospital, retinitis pigementosa is "the name given to a group of conditions, which result in the gradual degeneration of the light sensitive cells of the retina".
It adds that the "retina is the light sensitive tissue inside the eye in which the first stages of seeing take place" and explains onset typically begins between the ages of 10 and 30.
Vision loss develops gradually, resembling 'tunnel vision', as the disease progresses.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
