Most adults without glasses, especially those who haven’t experienced eye health issues, will assume their eyes are in good working order. But as health-conscious father-of-two Shannon Davis unfortunately discovered, glaucoma can be a silent thief of sight.
As the only person in his family without prescription glasses, 45-year-old Shannon attended an eye examination out of curiosity to see if he did, in fact, need specs. The results were surprising and upsetting; he was found to be legally blind.
There was no known history of glaucoma in his family, so Shannon wasn’t expecting this news.
As Glaucoma Australia reported: “Shannon’s shocking diagnosis and permanent disablement was debilitating and led to him medically retiring from work. However, the unconditional support of his loving family and exemplary medical care available in Australia meant not all hope was lost. With his ophthalmologist’s guidance and surgical interventions, Shannon has now lowered his eye pressures and slowed down further progression of his glaucoma and the loss of sight.”
“I was shocked, confused when I was told I had a severe chronic disease (that I knew nothing about) and that it was already very advanced in its progression,” Shannon told Glaucoma Australia. “This meant I had already irreversibly lost a large amount of my vision in both eyes and had very little vision left to play with for the remainder of my life. With no prospect of medical improvement to my vision I was advised I was legally blind and I could no longer drive.
“I know you’re thinking, how does this happen? So did I! What was happening is the mind does a phenomenal job of compensating for the actual visual deficit and damage to the optic nerve by filling in the blanks with what it thinks should be in your peripheral visual field. I had no idea that this was happening.”
Optometry Australia’s Chief Clinical officer Luke Arundel said: “I feel for Shannon and his family, and for everybody who receives a glaucoma diagnosis. Sadly, this is one of many stories where vision loss has come as a surprise. It reiterates how important regular eye examinations are.
“Eye health isn’t just about whether a person does or doesn’t need glasses. Regular appointments with an optometrist are essential for checking the health of your eyes. Just as yearly checkups with your dentist or GP are commonplace, regular appointments with your optometrist should be just as important.
“As 90 per cent of vision loss can be prevented or treated with early detection, the earlier we start looking after the health of our eyes, the better our chances of maintaining good vision for life.”
Shannon has come to accept his diagnosis. He said: “I have recovered from my surgeries and made my peace with the knowledge that the condition may continue to slowly deteriorate, and there is no prospect for any improvement in my vision. It’s about understanding how I can lead a full and enjoyable life with significant disability, with the acceptance that my life will be different.”
Shannon spoke to Glaucoma Australia as part of the World Glaucoma Week (6–12 March) Treat Your Eyes campaign. He hopes Glaucoma Australia’s new fundraising initiative, 7 Sights in 7 Days Challenge, will encourage Australians to place high value on their sight.
The event calls on Aussies to share a photo of an amazing sight every day for seven days and raise vital funds for glaucoma research, education and support programs.
Find out more about Glaucoma Australia’s 7 Sights in 7 Days Challenge here.
