'Laser surgery saved my eye': Contact lens hell for student who nearly lost her sight

AN EYE infection threatened Lucy Garrod's photography career before it began. She reveals how new laser surgery saved her.

Lucy was always really careful with her contact lensesLucy was always really careful with her contact lenses[GETTY / POSED BY MODEL]

Since I was 15 I have worn contact lenses and was always really careful. I wore them only for the recommended time and used the correct solutions to clean them every day. I never slept or swam in them.

In 2006 I was on a boat from my home in Jersey to go back to university in Bournemouth for my second year studying commercial photography. My eye kept watering and became increasingly uncomfortable. It felt like I had scratched it.

I took my contact lens out but the pain became worse. I could barely sleep as I had constant shooting pains in my eye, even when it was closed.

In the morning my dad, who'd travelled with me, said: "We need to get you to a doctor."

When I looked in the mirror I saw my eye had completely closed and had swollen to the size of a golf ball.

A GP said I just had an eye infection and prescribed drops. I knew it was something much worse as I have had conjunctivitis and this felt completely different. The pain and swelling got worse so I went to A&E and was given some cream. Two days later I was back in hospital. Tests showed I had a corneal ulcer on the front of my eye from bacteria that had lodged behind the contact lens. I spent a week in hospital in a dark room as my eye was so sensitive to light. I had to put drops in every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day.

I was so angry and frustrated as I had always been so careful and now I was worried I wouldn't be able to complete my degree. And the pain was unbearable.

I was told that as the ulcer was just off-centre I would be left partially sighted in my right eye.

This was difficult to hear, especially as I was studying photography, but had the ulcer been a few millimetres more central it could have left me completely blind in that eye.

I was also told I could never wear contact lenses again and laser treatment was out of the question.

I remained at university but found it harder to complete work or even focus the camera. I had to learn to use my other eye, which is like trying to draw with your left hand when you're right-handed.

I was advised to take a year out but decided to give the first term a go. I had amazing support from my family and friends for photoshoots, lectures and even cooking.

Without them I wouldn't have got through the term.

My dad found a specialist who could fit me with hard contact lenses and with the support of my family and friends I was able to complete my degree and gain first class honours.

I was told that as the ulcer was just off-centre I would be left partially sighted in my right eye.

Lucy Garrod

However the sight in my right eye was still limited and soon the hard contact lenses became uncomfortable and my eyes were constantly bloodshot.

I was recommended to visit Professor Dan Reinstein at the London Vision Clinic.

He told me not only could my partially sighted eye be fixed but I also had the chance to correct the vision in my other eye with laser surgery at the same time.

My damaged eye was treated with Artemis guided transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy which uses ultrasound to guide a laser to remove the scarred area while preserving as much of the clear tissue underneath.

The surgery was painless and took only a few days to heal. My undamaged eye was treated with Lasik, the most common form of laser eye surgery.

The surgeon used one laser to create a very thin, circular flap of tissue in the outer cornea then a second laser to remove a tiny amount of corneal tissue, very precisely reshaping the cornea.

I was nervous but it was over in minutes and I didn't feel a thing.

As soon as I sat up in bed after my treatment I looked at the clock and could see the little "second" dashes between the numbers and was also able to read text up close. It was incredible.

A year later Professor Reinstein completed the treatment of the damaged eye with a minor enhancement to perfect my vision, giving perfect vision in both eyes.

I find it hard to understand how a contact lens could have damaged my eye so badly. I did everything right but still almost lost my sight.

• Professor Dan Reinstein is medical director of London Vision Clinic and lead medical consultant to Carl Zeiss Meditec. He has more than 20 years experience in refractive surgery and specialises in complex cases and high prescriptions. Contact London Vision Clinic on 020 7224 1005 or visit londonvisionclinic.com Laser eye surgery costs £4,900 for standard treatment for both eyes.

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