You can’t see i’m blind

Paola

LHON, Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, is a condition that results from a mutation of the mitochondrial DNA¹, leading to blindness without visible symptoms to the eyes. A pathology so rare that even specialists are not always aware of its existence, up to the absurdity of suspicions that it is mere fiction.
We went to Rivergaro, a small town near Piacenza in northern Italy, to hear the story of Paola. She was diagnosed with LHON over thirty years ago, and today she is active in helping those who have recently received a diagnosis, even against prejudices, misbeliefs and – sometimes – bad justice.

References:
¹https://www.umdf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/LHON-backgrounder-FINAL-Nov-2017.pdf

Paola wears sunglasses constantly, as she was doing when I arrived in the garden of her beautiful home and was being interviewed by our journalist Gianluca. However, when it was time for the portrait with me, I dared to ask her to take them off: it was really moving to see her beautiful blue eyes.

Settimio Benedusi, the photographer

PHOTOGRAPHER

Settimio Benedusi

INTERVIEWER

Gianluca Dotti

DISEASE

LHON