May 7, 2026

Eyes on the Ride: Lisa Hudson’s Journey with Vision Loss and Hope

For Lisa Hudson, life has always been about balance — balance between a demanding career, time with family, and taking care of herself. Working in cybersecurity and IT program management, her days are spent in front of a screen, navigating a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. But each morning, she makes time for something simple that grounds her: a bike ride through her neighbourhood.

“It clears my head,” she says. “It makes me feel ready to take on the day.”

In early 2025, that sense of routine was disrupted. Lisa was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in both eyes, along with a choroidal nevus in her right eye. Despite her diligence with regular check-ups — driven by a strong family history of vision loss — the news came as a shock. She recalls leaving the appointment, her eyes still dilated, struggling to see in the bright sunlight. Sitting in her car, she called her husband and broke down. “Don’t worry,” he told her. “Come home and we’ll figure this out.” It was a moment of fear — but also the beginning of acceptance and action.

Vision loss is deeply woven into Lisa’s family story. Many of the women on her maternal side have lived with AMD, and some with glaucoma. Watching her mother navigate vision loss—particularly during illness—made the challenges painfully real. It also inspired Lisa to step forward, not just for herself, but for others facing similar journeys.

Through her search for information and support, Lisa discovered Fighting Blindness Canada. She was struck by both the quality of resources available and the organization’s commitment to advancing research. “Research is vitally important,” she says. “It’s how we get to prevention, and how we improve treatment. I’ve already seen progress — and I know organizations like FBC are part of that.”

That belief in progress fuels Lisa’s latest challenge. On June 27, 2026, she and her friends will take on a 150-kilometre cycling ride — an ambitious step up from the 120-kilometre ride they completed the year before. What began as a simple misjudged ride that turned 8 kilometres into 30 has grown into something much bigger: “Eyes on the Ride,” a personal fundraising initiative on behalf of Fighting Blindness Canada, driven by determination, friendship, and purpose.