The Story of a Blind VTuber ‘Hemifuu’

Being a content creator already comes with its own set of challenges, but imagine doing all that while navigating the world with only 30% of your vision. That’s the reality for Hemifuu, also known as Hammy—a VTuber who’s breaking new ground as the only known case in the world with three rare mutations in her eyes. Her story isn’t just about being a blind VTuber. It’s about resilience, the realities of living with a rare genetic condition, and carving out space in an industry that thrives on visuals.

What Is Hemifuu’s Condition?

Hemifuu lives with a condition called Stargardt disease, also known as juvenile macular dystrophy. This is a genetic, degenerative eye disorder that causes vision loss over time. Most cases involve mutations in the ABCA4 gene, which is responsible for producing proteins that help protect the retina. As the condition progresses, patients lose central vision—making reading, writing, and recognizing faces extremely difficult.

But what makes Hemifuu’s case unique is that she carries three separate pathogenic genetic mutations, a combination never before recorded in medical literature. According to her genetic analysis, these mutations impact the retina’s photoreceptor cells, resulting in her rapidly deteriorating vision. And unfortunately, there is no known cure—especially for her specific mutation set.

Her First Symptoms and the Long Road to Diagnosis

Hammy’s vision problems started early. She began wearing glasses at age four and continued having regular eye checkups. But it wasn’t until she was about ten that her symptoms became more severe. She experienced difficulty reading books, couldn’t see bright colors clearly, and began seeing dots in her field of view. These are all known signs of Stargardt disease.

Her first diagnosis didn’t go smoothly. In fact, the doctor at the time dismissed her symptoms and bluntly told her mother that she would lose her vision entirely in a few years—a claim that was both inaccurate and deeply insensitive. In reality, Stargardt disease doesn’t usually lead to complete blindness, but instead leaves patients with only peripheral vision. Eventually, Hemifuu found a specialist who could better understand and support her condition.

Adapting as a Visually Impaired VTuber

Despite losing around 70% of her vision, Hemifuu has built a presence online through her Twitch and YouTube content. She faces many hurdles daily:

• Reading chat: Since she can’t read chat in the usual way, she improvises by zooming in using her iPad, propped up on a pile of books.
• Editing content: Editing software UI can’t be enlarged easily, making the process tedious and painful to navigate.
• Streaming games: Playing titles that lack voice acting is especially tough, as reading text while managing overlays, OBS, and her VTuber model tracking is overwhelming.
• Model tracking: Her VTuber model often struggles to track properly due to her sitting distance from the camera, which she constantly needs to adjust.

Still, she keeps pushing forward. Whether it’s finding unconventional solutions or simply learning through trial and error, Hemifuu continues to create content that resonates with viewers across the world.

Handling Doubts and Hate

Sadly, being open about her condition has also invited skepticism. Some online users accuse her of faking her blindness just for views. Hammy doesn’t shy away from addressing this head-on. In her words, she’s tired of people questioning how she can read her YouTube comments or navigate chat. Her response is simple: “Zooming in works. Stop asking.”

She also reminds her audience not to trivialize or mislabel her condition. Comments suggesting her blindness is “treatable” not only spread misinformation but also undermine the lived experiences of people with rare disabilities like hers.

Why Hemifuu’s Story Matters

Hemifuu isn’t just a VTuber with a disability. She’s a reminder that diversity in content creation matters—and that there’s no one “correct” way to be a creator. Her journey challenges stereotypes about visual impairment and pushes conversations around accessibility in digital platforms forward.

Through creativity, honesty, and determination, she continues to stream, edit, and entertain, all while living with a rare and currently incurable condition. Her story offers a rare glimpse into the world of disabled creators, and it’s one worth hearing—not for sympathy, but for understanding and respect.

Hemifuu’s journey as a blind VTuber is as unique as it is inspiring. Despite facing a progressive condition and daily accessibility challenges, she continues to build a growing community online—proving that even in the most visually dependent spaces, passion and persistence shine brighter than any limitation. For more of her story or to support her work, you can follow her through her content and subscribe to her Youtube Channel.