Eye surgery saves grateful June’s sight
AWOMAN has regained her sight after undergoing a state-of-the-art eye operation at Macclesfield Hospital.
June Birchenough, who lives in Tytherington, is one of the first patients at the hospital to undergo a cornea transplant.
She had suffered from a condition known as Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy, which caused loss of clarity in her corneas.
She received treatment to one eye three years ago before a corneal graft was carried out on her other eye this month by consultant opthamologist Say Aun Quah using a donated cornea.
June, 64, said she is delighted with the transformation.
She said: “It’s amazing – I can see again now – and the whole service has been brilliant.
“I’ve got absolutely no complaints and everyone has been wonderful – it’s nice being able to have it done so locally too.
“I do feel very grateful to whoever has donated their corneas which allowed me to have the transplant.”
Dr John Hunter, the trust’s medical director and clinical lead for organ donation, said the cornea transplant is an example of the remarkable things doctors can do with donations of tissues such as skin, tendons and corneas after death.
He said: “Most people are aware of organ donation and the life-saving role it plays, but it’s perhaps less well-known that you can also donate your tissues after death.
“These donated tissues can make a huge difference to the lives of many people, restoring mobility, sight and in some cases saving lives. With Transplant Week and the recent introduction of cornea transplants at Macclesfield Hospital thanks to Mr Quah and his colleagues in our ophthalmology department, we thought it a good time to highlight to people that you can choose to donate your corneas and other tissues via the Organ Donor Register.”
Registering to be a tissue donor is quick and easy.
To be a donor after your death, you simply need to join the Organ Donor Register and tell your closest family and friends about your wishes.
Almost anyone can be considered as a tissue donor and to ensure that all donated tissues are safe, the donor’s medical and lifestyle history will be assessed at the time of donation.
For more information about tissue donation, go to www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/tissuedonation.