MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH VISION LOSS
Some years ago, I was living in Lagos; I had a crisis and had to be admitted into hospital. I was there for a week. On the day that I was being discharged, I noticed that I had gone blind in my left eye.
If you looked at my left eye, it looked normal, but I could only see bloodshot and nothing else. My goodness! The experience was extremely terrifying. I would be walking out and about, something would just go by and I had no idea, the person was passing by, I felt so vulnerable when I was out in public.
I waited for a couple of weeks to see if I would regain my sight but nothing happened. As far as I know, it did not get worse, neither did it get better, I still could not see with my left eye. I was then advised to go and see an ophthalmologist and it was at that time that I thought it was better for me to come back to where I had been living – London.
I arrived in London and immediately went to the haematologist department and explained to them what had happened, as I was not 100% anyway. I was immediately referred to the specialist eye hospital in London. I went, they did a scan of my eye and explained that I had ‘vitreous haemorrhage’; the name alone was scary. I had what? I kept thinking was there no end to the complications of Sickle Cell?!
I was told that there was no medical treatment, except surgery. I was informed that with time, the blood that I saw could clear but it would take time. I was given appointments every six weeks or so and I went and they would always do a scan of my left eye. The consultant then said that they could operate on my eye, in order to remove the blood from my retina, if I wished. I was also told that once they started ‘touching’ with my eye, then all kinds of complications could start occurring with the eye. By then though, I had started to see little by little.
I then took the executive decision to weather this ‘new’ storm; I will see again; my left eye will function normally again. Eventually, I started seeing more and more. It was like a flower bud opening up. It took a long time, over six months and it was a horrible experience.
Those months were tough, especially for someone who had no vision problems for over four decades. I had an appreciation of what blind people go through. Here I am today, seeing perfectly well again.
One thing that I have realised with Sickle Cell is that you do have to have loved ones’ close by and around you, always, for such a time as when you need help and support.
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/tc/sickle-cell-disease-vision-problems-topic-overview says that:
“Blood cells that change shape, or “sickle,” can get trapped in blood vessels, blocking the blood flow. When this blockage occurs in the small blood vessels in the inner lining (retina) of the eyes, it can cause vision problems. This most often occurs in people who have hemoglobin SC disease, a type of sickle cell disease. In the worst cases, the retina may come loose, leading to permanent blindness. This may happen suddenly, without any warning.”
Hi dear, how are you doing,? Thanks for sharing all of these. I have a four year old daughter who has been diagnosed with sickle cell. Ever since I found out I have always felt bad with myself Although she has not being sick. I usually give her discovite, folic acid and blood medicine. Please is there any other drug I can give her to prevent crisis. Thank you so much.
Happy new year Chinwe,
There is no drug that can prevent crisis but there are drugs, that can help manage it for your daughter. You are giving her what I would recommend, also vitamin C and iron tablets but please consult your daughter’s doctor, so he can prescribe the right dosage and make to buy. Also all these can be found in various food. Pls keep reading the blog, as I do talk about food and liquids that people with Sickle Cell can take. All the very best and my love to your daughter.
Thank a lot for information so far. My genotype is SC and iam 50 years old, the crisis related to sickle cell stopped around 30 years ago, now the issue of vision you mentioned above is affecting me.
It has happen on 3 occasions , I just wake up in the morning and two eyes will not see properly again, it takes up to 2 to 3 weeks before it will clear, it normally leave a spot.
What can do avoid this in future?
Hello Mobolaji, thank you for your email above and for sharing with me. I am glad to hear that you no longer have the painful crisis. Re the loss of the eye vision, you really need to see an ophthalmologist about this. When it happened to me, the ophthalmologist suggested surgery but I declined and it did clear after months, so it was not easy and by God’s grace, it has only happened the once. But if you have had it three times, then you really need to get some medical help. Take good care and keep looking after yourself.