NPR

Creating From Loss: Frank Bruni Talks Blindness, Writing and Empathy

New York Times columnist Frank Bruni woke up one morning without sight in one eye. Now, he has a 20% chance of going blind entirely.
Frank Bruni (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Times)

Last year, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni woke up one day to find his vision in his right eye was completely blurred. 

Bruni saw a doctor, and he learned that he was going blind in that eye — and there was a 20% chance he could lose sight on the other side as well. 

“I remember that morning so well. I thought, ‘Oh you know, I just have some gunk in my eye, or … I haven’t caffeinated enough,’ ” Bruni says. “And over the course of several hours, I kept on not understanding why the vision in that eye would not de-fog. And that ended up sending me on this long medical odyssey.”

It turns out Bruni’s condition is very rare — only affecting one in 10,000 people —

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Roger Corman, The B-Movie Legend Who Launched A-List Careers, Dies At 98
Over some five decades, Corman filled America's drive-ins with hundreds of low-budget movies. Many of Hollywood's most respected directors have at least one Corman picture buried in their resumes.
NPR2 min read
Short-term Loss For Long-term Gain? The Ethical Dilemma At The Heart Of EVs
As mines meet mineral demands for electric vehicles, they put communities and ecosystems at risk. Sustainability researcher Elsa Dominish says the EV industry cannot repeat fossil fuel's mistakes.
NPR3 min read
There's Still A Chance To See The Northern Lights From Lower Latitudes
The solar storm that's pushing sightings of the Northern Lights to lower latitudes is forecast to continue into the coming days, but its impact has likely peaked.

Related Books & Audiobooks