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Ingrid van Bergen, 94, Is Now Completely Blind After Failed Eye Surgery

A small pension leaves the 94-year-old reliant on a friend's daily care.

Overview

  • Ingrid van Bergen confirmed by phone that she has lost all sight, saying, "I can’t see anything. I am blind."
  • Her left eye had already been lost due to macular damage, and a recent bleed in the right eye led to surgery that did not restore vision.
  • She lives in a farmhouse near Eyendorf in the Lüneburger Heide, where daily life is organized through routines, audio, and assistance.
  • Longtime friend and housemate Linda Schnitzler provides unpaid support, saying van Bergen cannot afford a caregiver or a nursing home on her small pension.
  • Reports note the women’s decades-long bond, which began in prison, and that van Bergen still receives many fan letters she can no longer read or answer herself.