Nevada state archivist and historian fights to save vision
By Dave Frank
Appeal Staff Writer
Guy Rocha presses a newspaper against the arm of his couch and hunches over.
“Monday, May 19th,” he reads.
“Mostly sunny,” he says a moment later.
The historian and Nevada state archivist moves his magnifying glass to an article lower on the page. He says this is how he’s had to do his research since his glaucoma has gotten worse.
To show what it is like for him to read fine print, he begins an article about the country’s mortgage problems.
“First, the good news,” he says, pausing to examine the next phrase.
He looks up from the article after reading a few lines. He says it is difficult to read documents, collect research and find the answers he needs.
The sight in his left eye is almost gone, and he’s trying to save the right eye. It has been operated on twice this year.
Doctors can’t promise treatment will fix it.
“It’s just too slow,” the 56-year-old man says. “I can’t live like this forever. My god, if I do, I live another kind of life.”
