Fiona's Story

My own journey with glaucoma is deeply intertwined with my mother’s. As a child, Rosemary was a staunch advocate for glaucoma awareness, ensuring I was checked regularly from a young age. Her vigilance led to the early discovery and successful treatment of my lazy eye when I was six, preventing further complications and enabling me to continue regular eye check-ups into adulthood.
 

At 28, in 2001, I received the unexpected diagnosis of being a glaucoma suspect. Thanks to my mother’s proactive approach and guidance, I was prepared for this news. My treatment began with nightly eye drops, and in 2009, after it was discovered that my condition had a closed-angle component, I underwent my first laser treatment at the Canberra Eye Hospital. Unfortunately, a mix-up with my medication at the pharmacy led to blurred vision and elevated eye pressure. However, my ophthalmologist found these results intriguing and concluded that my form of glaucoma was different from my mother’s—though it’s important to note that my paternal grandfather had closed-angle glaucoma.

In 2019, I underwent successful Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) in both eyes. Last year, I received Soft Laser Therapy (SLT), which ultimately freed me from the need for daily eye drops. This was an especially encouraging milestone, as my husband, Frank, was diagnosed with glaucoma in 2017 and has also benefited from SLT, no longer requiring medication. To date, neither Frank nor I have experienced any functional vision loss.

My mother’s unwavering strength and determination have profoundly shaped my own approach to glaucoma. She taught me the importance of being proactive with our health and the immense value of community support. Today, I remain dedicated to advocating for glaucoma awareness, ensuring that my family and community are vigilant about eye health. Our story is one of resilience, mutual support, and an unrelenting pursuit of vision health.