BY JEROME HUGHES
MORE than 2,000 people in Donegal are living with a serious eye condition, and a large group of those affected will travel to Dublin this weekend for a major international conference.
The event brings together scientists, clinicians, patient advocates and people with a vision impairment from around the world in an effort to zone in on cures.
“This is a brilliant event. It gives the average Joe Soap access to these world-renowned experts. We wouldn’t have a hope in hell of getting near them without this conference,” says Jackie McBreaty from St Johnston.
“Losing sight is a scary time for the person and their families. People need to have hope and meeting these people, who are looking for cures, provides that hope.
“Often people have a lot of questions that their own eye doctor can’t answer. These experts have the answers so it’s a wonderful opportunity for those who are losing or have lost their sight,” adds Jackie.
Now 46, St Johnston’s Jackie McBrearty was blind in her left eye at birth. She then lost sight in her right eye in 1994 due to a detached retina.
The diagnosis came following two unseccessful operations.
“I honestly thought my life was over, I really did,” reveals Jackie.
Using her experiences to help others, Jackie is now based in Sligo from where she runs the Fighting Blindness & Hearing Loss support group which had its very first meeting last February.
“A cure is out there for the eye conditions retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and really any eye issue. It will be great to have the experts together on Saturday and hear what the latest developments are.
“It’s too late for me but I’m happy with my lot. If you give me my sight back in the morning I wouldn’t take it. I feel very strongly about that.
I’ve achieved more being blind than I otherwise would,” reveals Jackie.
“I would really hope that children with eye issues today will benefit from new medication and procedures to stop the progression of their condition within my lifetime,” she concludes.
The Retina International World Congress is open to the public on Saturday at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. Register: www.fightingblindness.ie
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