This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
Crystal Asige, a 28-year-old singer from Mombasa, was born with glaucoma, a progressive eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve. She began losing her sight at the age of 14 while in high school.
Speaking about her journey of self-acceptance, Asige recalled falling into depression and comparing her situation with death. She said, 'I was desperate to get my sight back. I remember having some conversations with God. I asked God why. 'Tomorrow, God. You say that you are God? Then give me my sight back tomorrow,' I would tell him. And the next day when I woke up, I would still be blind.'
Asige, who works as a programmes manager at the Open Institute, said she can partly see with her left eye, albeit blurry and foggy. She explained, 'I can’t see detail but I have light perception in my left eye. My right eye doesn’t see at all. I can tell that right now it is daytime. If I am walking at night and a car flashes its headlights, I can see that. If I look up I can tell if there are light bulbs. It is very foggy, very blurry.'
Despite her visual impairment, Asige has developed heightened senses. She can recognise people by their footsteps and has improved spatial awareness and hearing. She said, 'I have loads of extra tools in my superpower box. My spatial awareness is way better. My hearing too.'
Asige has come a long way to self-acceptance and now inspires young people going through unwelcome changes in their lives. She said, 'Today, I don’t wake up in the morning and wish I had my sight back. It would be nice to have it back, but it is not with the desperate need that I had years ago.'
