Eleanor Burke decided to set up the Aniridia Ireland group following her attendance at the annual Aniridia Network UK (ANUK) conference in London in May 2016. This was Eleanor’s first opportunity to meet others with Aniridia. she was so impressed with the speakers at the conference that she pledged to start up a group in Ireland!

Aniridia Ireland North/South was launched on Saturday 8th April 2017 at the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), Training Centre, Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.

Aniridia is where there is an absence or partial absence of the iris in the eye and is present at birth. Absence of the iris affects the pupil, in that it cannot dilate and contract like the pupil of a healthy eye thus rendering the aniridic individual photophobic (a heightened sensitivity to light). Likewise on entering a dark area from bright surroundings the pupil takes time to adapt (the individual finds it difficult to see the surroundings initially).

This can have a devastating affect on families where their child has been diagnosed with this. In Ireland, Eleanor found that there was no support network to help these families and wanted to do something about it.

It is hoped that in setting up this network families affected by this disease will know that they are not alone and that there is lots of advice and support available.

This page will be closing on 30th May 2017. Eleanor will transfer the funds raised so far to Aniridia Network UK. Eleanor has set up a new charity fundrasing page where she is continuing to raise funds.
http://www.justgiving.com/Eleanor-Burke-Aniridia