Rosemary's Story

This is the story of my mother, Rosemary, and her journey with glaucoma—a testament to resilience, strength, and the relentless pursuit of hope. Born in Enfield, Sydney, in 1932, Rosemary grew up without any known family history of glaucoma, though her aunt did experience significant vision impairment in her seventies due to the condition.

During a regional visit in 1972, Rosemary who was 39 at the time, was identified as a suspect case by Professor Fred Hollows. From that moment, she began her lifelong battle with open-angle glaucoma.

Early treatments included Pilocarpine, along with other medications such as Diamox, which unfortunately made her quite ill. It wasn’t until she relocated to Canberra in 1977 that she fully immersed herself in the glaucoma community. She attended support groups and information sessions organised by Glaucoma Australia, eager to learn as much as she could about her condition. Always proactive, Rosemary not only stayed well-informed but also became a generous financial supporter of glaucoma-related initiatives.

The 1980s brought significant medical interventions, including laser surgery—a groundbreaking procedure at the time—and a trabeculectomy, which ultimately proved unsuccessful due to the advanced stage of her condition. Despite these setbacks, the dedicated teams at Sydney Eye Hospital, along with her Canberra ophthalmologist and optometrist, provided her with unwavering support. Remarkably, Rosemary continued to read and send emails well into her late eighties. In 1998, she faced the heartbreaking loss of her driver’s license, a poignant symbol of her diminishing independence. Yet, she adapted with resilience, mastering the use of a computer for emails and research, and turning to a Kindle as her new reading companion.

In late 2020, Rosemary faced an unexpected and heartbreaking turn in her health. She lost sight in her left eye due to an infection linked to a urinary tract infection. Despite the devastating loss of her eye, her courage never faltered. She spent her final years in a residential care facility, passing away in January 2024 at the age of 91, leaving behind a powerful legacy of bravery and determination. During this time, I cared for both of my parents, as my father also lived with glaucoma. It was through the Carer Gateway services (1800 422 737) that I found the support I needed to navigate these challenges.