Racquel Springer shares a light moment with Corneal Specialist Dr. Nigel Barker (right) and Retina Specialist Dr. Sherwin Benskin (left) after the public health lecture on Keratoconus as part of activities held for World Sight Day.
Racquel thankful for her sight
I THOUGHT I knew what my children looked like.
These may seem like unusual words coming from a mother, but it’s the reality for Racquel Springer, who was diagnosed with advanced Keratoconus back in 2000.
Racquel was able to share her experience with the disease during a lecture held recently in recognition of World Sight Day at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which the normally round cornea thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape. This cone shape deflects light as it enters the eye on its way to the light-sensitive retina, causing distorted vision.
The mother of four told the audience that she believes that this disease started to affect her back in secondary school. It was misdiagnosed as an infection, and she received eye drops as treatment. She saw several doctors over the
years but her vision was becoming increasingly cloudy and deteriorating. “It reached a point when I stayed in the house I wasn’t going anywhere because I couldn’t see. I was eventually put onto Dr. Nigel Barker.”
As a result of the advanced stage of the disease, she eventually received corneal transplant surgery and her life changed. “I thought I knew what my children looked like. I thought everything I saw was normal even though it was cloudy.”
“When I had the first surgery and I woke up the next morning and got the bandage taken off and I got home. It was so amazing. I could actually see the trees had leaves and flowers and these children were new to me because they looked totally different from what I thought in my head I was seeing.”
“I consider myself to be a blessed person. There are many eye conditions where nothing can be done but I had corrective surgery and I thank God for that and thank God for Dr. Barker, for giving him the talent and skills.”
In fact, Racquel who was once afraid to leave the house, was then able to go on to continue her studies, writing her CXCs and she is now working Human Resources department of one of the leading accounting firms in Barbados.