"I Ignored a Minor Eye Problem as Conjunctivitis—Now, at 37, I'm Facing Blindness and Can't See My Daughter"

WHEN Kaylie Kelliher woke up feeling “hazy” last August, she thought little of it.

But after suddenly struggling with street lights and car headlights over the following weeks, she knew something was amiss with her eyesight.

Kaylie Kelliher, pictured with daughter Boe, initially assumed she had conjunctivitis Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Pictured, Kaylie, 37, with husband Joe Bushnell Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media

Assuming she merely had conjunctivitis, a common condition caused by infection of allergies, the then 36-year-old who lives in Greenwich in London, was prescribed eye drops by her pharmacist.

Yet, her eyesight failed to improve on a family trip at the end of August, she booked an opticians appointment.

It was here, however, the mum-of-one was “dumbfounded” to discover the true cause of her sight issues was in fact cataracts – a condition that typically affects those aged 60 or over.

It is typically a slow-moving, progressive disease.

After Kaylie’s eyesight failed to improve on a family trip at the end of August, she went to the opticians Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Kaylie was horrified to discover she had cataracts Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media

But, Kaylie was diagnosed with rapid onset cataracts, meaning it progresses quicker than normal and requires treatment within months.

It is not known exactly what causes cataracts, but studies suggest trauma to the eye, excessive or , a diet lacking in vitamins, certain conditions such as and radiation exposure could be contributing factors.

The only treatment that is proven to be effective for cataracts is surgery, which improves vision for most people – roughly 80 to 90 per cent.

Now, Kaylie who can’t see her daughter or even her own face in the mirror properly, is to have surgery done privately in a bid to restore her sight quickly.

Recalling her heartbreaking diagnosis, Kaylie, now 37, said: “I was absolutely dumbfounded when he [the optician] said to me I had rapid onset cataracts.

“I said to him ‘I’m too young for that’ and he was like ‘yes you are, you’re really young and it shouldn’t be happening at your age’.

“I have really elderly neighbours and I’ve heard cataracts mentioned from them.

“I’m not living a life at the minute, I’m housebound. I can’t do anything, even just silly girl things.

“[Like] being able to paint your toenails because you can’t see them, or pluck your eyebrows because I can’t even see my own face in the mirror.

“I can’t even see the telly, I can’t see anything, it’s hard because it happened so quickly. Facing the possibility of being blind makes me sad.”

Now, Kaylie can’t see her daughter or even her own face in the mirror properly Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media

Kaylie, who is mum to seven-year-old Boe Bushnell, added: “Last I noticed that lights weren’t even lights anymore, they were becoming like halos.

“As I was at night I noticed the lights were blinding and everyone was saying ‘oh all the cars have got all those new LED lights, it’s them’, but this was just something different.

“I remember rubbing my eyes in the morning and everything seemed so hazy and milky.

“I went to the pharmacist and they thought I could have conjunctivitis so I was putting eyedrops in and it just kept getting worse.

“We went camping in August and these were the two weeks when I noticed I was really struggling to see.

“Never in a million years would I have thought it would be cataracts.”

Kaylie’s eyesight has deteriorated to -12 in her right eye and -11 in her left and without surgery she faces the possibility of going fully blind.

A minus number indicates short-sightedness, and the higher the number, the stronger prescription required, with Specsavers classing six as a large number.

Cataracts surgery is available on the .

Now, Kaylie’s sister has set up a GoFundMe page to help fund private surgery Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media

But, waiting times often exceed the 18-week target, ranging from three to 12 months, with some areas exceeding a year due to high demand.

Now, Kaylie’s sister has set up a GoFundMe page to help fund private surgery, estimated at around £15,000.

To date, Kaylie’s page has raised more than £2,300.

Kaylie said: “I struggle to see her [Boe] now.”

“She knows, she rubs my eyes. I feel for her, [when] she breaks up for school I can’t take her out, I can’t get on a bus. I can’t do anything.

“I can’t see anything and it’s obviously too dangerous to take her out on my own anymore.

“There is no way we could ever even contemplate having that sort of money for private surgery. It’s just something we haven’t got.”