Please Help Me Save My Eyesight – I’m Trying Not to Lose My Vision

I never imagined I would have to ask for help like this. Writing these words is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

Right now, I am facing the very real possibility of losing my eyesight.

Recently, I was told that my vision is at serious risk, and without urgent treatment it will continue to deteriorate to the point where I will lose my sight permanently.

The thought of living in darkness — of not being able to see the people I love, see my two beautiful boys playing and growing up, write a song, read a message from a friend, watch a sunset, or simply move through the world independently — is something I struggle to put into words.

Sight is something most of us never think twice about. But for me, every day now comes with fear about what tomorrow might bring and whether my vision will get worse.

There is hope. Doctors have told me there is treatment that could protect my vision and stop things from getting worse. But the cost of the specialist care, procedures, medication, and follow-up treatment is over £10,000 — far more than I can manage alone. I have some of the funds available to me but the treatment will be reoccurring and will potentially require surgery.

I was firstly sent to the emergency eye clinic with the suspicion of having Papilledema which is sight threatening and the risk of inter-cranial pressure is very serious.

An MRI scan revealed that this was thankfully not the case, but I do have inflammation of the optic nerve and increased eye pressure.

Unfortunately, my condition is rare and has been and is still difficult to diagnose and treat due to many factors.

Posterior Scleritis, Glaucoma and Optic Nerve Drusen can all be treated separately but they are all serious threats to eyesight and all three combined requires an exceptional neuro-opthomologist with sub speciality in these areas.

Due to the expense of the treatments, it is not all readily available on the NHS without them applying to NICE for extra funding. That in itself isn’t a guarantee and if it is, it will take weeks if not months which is time I don’t have.

I will need immunotherapy in the first instance with the potential of surgery including trabeculectomy (creating a new drainage channel) and tube shunt.

As part of this is auto immune related, I have been told that it could have presented itself now due to my Lymphoma cancer treatment over 20 years ago. Lymphoma can also mask itself as Posterior Scleritis so further tests are ruling that out.

I will also need to work along a rheumatologist because of the underlying auto immune conditions.

The specialists so far have been identified at Harley Street, London with some further treatment facilities in Germany, Barcelona and the USA, all of which have standalone specialist eye centres with the worlds leading neuro-opthomology consultants with sub condition specialists who are the best in their field.

I wish I didn’t have to ask for help, but right now I truly cannot do this without support.

I am struggling emotionally to deal with all this and the fear everyday that I am going to suddenly descend into darkness is terrifying. My retina could detach and I feel like I have a ticking time bomb in my head.

If you are able to donate — even a small amount — you would be helping me fight to keep my eyesight and my independence. Your kindness could be the reason I still get to see the faces of the people I care about, experience the world around me, and continue living my life without losing something so precious.

Every single donation brings me one step closer to the treatment that could save my vision.

If donating isn’t possible, sharing this page could make an incredible difference. The more people who see this, the more hope there is that I can reach my goal.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading my story and for any support you can give. Your help could truly change the course of my life.

Thank you for giving me hope.

❤️