Donating eyes can bring huge benefits, says Ann

A DERBYSHIRE woman who has regained her independence and the ability to care for her husband following life-changing corneal transplant surgery is urging others to consider becoming eye donors.

- By TELEGRAPH REPORTER

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) has become one of just 10 NHS trusts in England to offer a complete eye donation and transplant service.

Commissioned by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to be able to carry out cornea retrievals from organ donors at its hospital sites, the development means UHDB can now offer both eye donation and transplants onsite, "closing the loop" on the transplant service, with donors making a vitally important contribution to the national cornea bank, ultimately bringing waiting times down for patients who require a transplant.

The cornea is the transparent front layer of the eye that focuses light onto the retina, and when it becomes damaged following injury, infection or due to genetic and degenerative problems, vision can be significantly impaired or lost entirely. Corneal transplantation is a vital procedure in restoring sight for patients affected by these conditions.

Ann Mallett, 85, from Ashbourne, had been gradually losing her sight due to a degenerative eye condition known as Fuchs dystrophy - impacting her ability to drive and care for her husband, who also lives with sight loss as well as dementia.

After undergoing successful transplant surgeries on each of her eyes at Royal Derby Hospital, Ann says her quality of life has been transformed. Delighted with the results of the procedures, she feels she has "got her life back" and is now able to more easily care for her husband.

She said: "My eyesight was gradually getting worse - like it was clouded by a yellowy haze. I was worried that this would not only affect my own day-to-day life, but how this would affect the care I provide for my husband.