Aaron’s story – even for my genetic condition regular checks are crucial

As part of National Eye Health Week 2022, we asked people to tell us their stories about eye health and the importance eye health tests and eye health awareness more generally.

This is Aaron’s story

“I have Aniridia which is a rare genetic condition affecting the eyes. It impacts different people in different ways but for most people with aniridia, we are at greater risk of developing Glaucoma. I have always been conscious of maintaining good eye heath so when I went for my annual Low Vision Clinic appointment and learned that my eye pressures were higher than normal, I was worried.

“Glaucoma is most common in older people so the thought of developing glaucoma at a much younger age did concern me. I was referred to the Adult Glaucoma Clinic where I was given eye drops to reduce ocular pressure. After a few appointments, it was discovered that my eye pressure wasn’t higher than normal but in fact the measurements taken were distorted by the thickness of my corneas.

“If I hadn’t gone to this Glaucoma Clinic, this would never have been picked up and I would have been left to worry at a time when I was already focused on my university study. This goes to show that using eye health services can be both enlightening and reassuring.”