07/04/2009
Doctors are battling to save the sight of a young Carlisle man who has been left blind in one eye after being struck by a rare condition.
But Shurl Stirling, 47, believes the prompt action of staff at the city's Vision Express opticians may have given her son a fighting chance as doctors in a Newcastle hospital treat him.
She told how her son Joe, 24, suddenly lost the sight in his right eye and began feeling extremely sluggish. After failing to get an appointment at one opticians, he went with Mrs Stirling to Vision Express in The Lanes and asked for help.
Staff carried out a brief examination and then sent Joe with a letter explaining what had happened to accident and emergency at The Cumberland Infirmary.
He has been in hospital since the day of his 24th birthday, February 18.
Joe is now a patient in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle, where he has been diagnosed with neurosarcosis.
Shurl, from Raffles, Carlisle, said: "Joe's not the sort to complain but he was adamant that his eyes needed to be checked out.
"At casualty, they wanted to keep him in overnight, saying the neuro surgeon would look at him the following morning. The doctors at first thought Joe had a form of lymphatic cancer, but they now say it's a condition called neurosarcosis, which is incredibly rare.
"It's caused swelling behind his eyes, which caused him to lose the sight of his right eye over two days. There's a chance he may go blind in his other eye, but they're trying to save it. They've given him five lumbar punctures to relieve the pressure on his brain."
"We've no idea how it will turn out but I just want to thank the people at Vision Express and the medical staff at the two hospitals for being so professional
"They may have saved my son's life. He's putting a brave face on it, but he must be absolutely terrified."
Shurl and her husband John, 49, are visiting Joe on a daily basis. Staff at Vision Express in Carlisle said they were glad Joe visited them that day - being seen immediately by optician Richard Sellers - and that his case highlighted the importance the need for regular checks.
Vision Express manager Christine Viney said: "It was during the eye test that Richards spotted the anomaly and Joe was referred immediately."
It is vital that your eye examination is part of your overall health care. It will not only indicate the health of your eyes, but can also allow your Optometrist to detect early symptoms of general health problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. We recommend that you have your eyes tested at least once every two years.
Article reproduced courtesy of the Carlisle News and Star - www.news-and-star.co.uk
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