On the 27th December 2018 our daughter Darcie was born with a rare condition known as unilateral baby cataracts, a condition that affects 3 in 10,000 babies born in the UK. 

A unilateral cataract (in one eye only) usually has no known cause and it is something that can just happen for no reason. In some cases they can be linked with other conditions in the eye, eye trauma, or a baby being affected by an infection whilst developing in the womb.

The lens of the eye is usually clear, but a lens that is misty or cloudy is said to have a cataract. Cataracts can cause your sight to be blurry or hazy. Very dense cataracts can cause blindness in babies if left untreated. 

A few short hours after Darcie's birth the paediatrician at Royal Preston Hospital checked our daughters health as part of the National Screening procedure. All babies in the UK are screened for eye problems including congenital  and unilateral cataracts within the first 24-48 hours after birth. 

A referral was made to the ophthalmologist (eye doctor) for a full examination at Royal Preston, who diagnosed unilateral baby cataracts in Darcie's left eye confirming no red reflex response in her eye. 

Darcie underwent surgery at Royal Manchester Eye Hospital on the 29th January 2019 at aged 4 weeks, with the aim of removing the affected lens and cataracts. After a successful operation our daughter is now on the road to recovery, and with the support, care and advice of the Doctor's and staff at Royal Manchester Eye hospital will hopefully recover vision in her left eye in the years to come. 

The experience we have been through since the birth of our daughter and the circumstances we have witnessed at Royal Manchester Eye Hospital have left us with a huge feeling of gratitude for the Doctor's, Nurses and Staff who work at the Royal Manchester Eye Hospital to improve the vision and lives of children across the North. 

70 children in the North of England are currently under the care of Royal Manchester Eye Hospital, affected by cataracts, but the Hospital supports a wide range of eye issues and conditions diagnosed in young children each year. 

The money we will hopefully raise will go some way in supporting the Hospital in diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of multiple eye related conditions in young children in the North of England. The Hospital are currently fundraising for;

- Giggle doctors at the Children's Hospital 

- A retina scanner at the Eye Hospital 

- Improvements to the 'Rainbow Room' a family bereavement room at the children's St Mary's Hospital 

We would specifically like to thank Dr Jane Ashworth Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon & Paediatric Ophthalmologist at Royal Manchester Eye Hospital, for everything she & her team continue to do for many children with eye related conditions in the North of the UK.   

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Love from Tom, Claire, Darcie, Summer & Beau x