I’m taking on the Hackney Half to raise money for Moorfields Eye Hospital, who saved my sight when I was diagnosed with bilateral Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) - a rare but potentially blinding eye infection.

My Story

Back in 2019, during my final year of uni, I developed severe eye pain and sensitivity to light. I assumed it was just a scratch (blaming a bit too much silliness during my 21st…), but after weeks of worsening symptoms, I was urged to go to Moorfields Eye Hospital. Thanks to the skill and attention of the triage nurse, who spotted a barely perceptible grey sliver across my cornea, I was diagnosed and started aggressive treatment immediately.

A couple of weeks later, my second eye was affected but, by then, I knew exactly where to go. Even at midnight on a Friday, Moorfields were ready and took action straight away. The next 7 months were, quite frankly, pretty brutal - hourly toxic eye drops, painful scrapes and other procedures, all whilst balancing two dissertations, coursework, final exams, masters applications and the outbreak of a small global pandemic - but against the odds my vision recovered almost completely and I got my life back again.

Treatment was aggressive - hourly, toxic eye drops, even through the night, for weeks until symptoms improved and the frequency could be reduced. I lost count of how many painful corneal scrapes and confocal exams I had, with plastic and metal being scraped against my eyes to help doctors track my progress as they sought to balance the risks of the infection itself against the corrosion caused by the treatment.

I was advised to take a year out of university to focus on my health, but thanks to the expert care I received from Moorfields I was able to complete all dissertations and university exams with just a small extension and move to Edinburgh to begin my master’s degree that same September.

Given I later found out my university’s medical education on AK consisted of half a PowerPoint slide and a note saying ‘don’t worry, you’ll most likely never see this’, I can’t help but feel even more grateful to the skill and attention from that original triage nurse, without whom this story could have been very different

What is Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK)?

AK is rare, frequently misdiagnosed, infection caused by a microscopic organism found in water, soil, and even air which can lead to permanent blindness or even eye removal if not treated quickly.

In fact, if we look at the numbers:

• 25-30% of AK patients experience severe vision loss (=<20/200 Snellen acuity), which qualifies as legal blindness in many countries

• 10-15% of cases result in profound visual impairment or total blindness

• Up to 40% of cases require a corneal transplant, after which success rates remain lower for AK compared to other corneal diseases due to the high risk of recurrence

• Up to 15% of cases require complete removal of the affected eye(s)

In contrast, I experienced close to no additional vision loss and such minimal scarring that I’ve had optometrists question whether I’d actually had AK at all. Without Moorfields, I’m certain that my outcome could have been very different - even during COVID when NHS services were stretched beyond capacity, they never once let my care slip.

Moorfields During COVID

Three months after my diagnosis, Covid broke out and the world shut down. NHS services were overwhelmed, with routine operations postponed, specialist treatments delayed, and many patients left waiting for urgent care.

Despite this, Moorfields never put my treatment on hold. I was able to continue attending appointments, travelling back and forth to London for essential treatment, and the quality of care I received never wavered. Amid what I’m sure was immense pressure and personal challenges, the doctors I saw demonstrated exceptional skill, patience, and compassion. They went above and beyond to reassure me, answer my questions, and deliver the best possible care - all while facing uncertainty and stress in their own lives. Their dedication was clear in every interaction, yet they never let it show.

Why I’m Running for Moorfields

Moorfields gave me the best possible care, and I want to give back. By running the Hackney Half, I hope to raise money to support life-changing eye research and innovation at Moorfields and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

This is a huge challenge for me, and with 6 weeks to go, it still feels pretty unattainable - so all the motivation and support are very much appreciated.

I have no doubt that had I not gone to Moorfields, the outcome of my AK (and, in all honesty, my entire life since) would have been very different.