SJS victim’s sight restored after 46 years

Jennifer Walker-Journey — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:00:28 +0000

The year was 1963. Jenny O’Connell, then 11, was roused out of bed for her sister’s birthday and realized she couldn’t see. She was suffering from a severe adverse reaction to medication known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS. The condition blistered her skin and eyes, causing blindness. At best, she was only vaguely aware when doctors shined a light in her eyes. But the vision impairment didn’t keep her from living. She married and had a son and daughter – three people she had never had the opportunity to see.

Thanks to medical innovations, Jenny, who lives in Dublin, underwent surgery a month ago to restore her sight by inserting an artificial cornea in her right eye. The woman was doubtful but hopeful. Doctors had closed a flap of skin over the cornea as she healed from surgery. Last week they removed the skin. “What a shock,” Jenny said. “I just can’t believe it actually happened… it’s all my dreams together, but at the same time I wasn’t hoping for it, you know. I was afraid to.”

The Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, Ireland performed the surgery known as Boston keratoprosthesis. The procedure is rare in Ireland; only about 13 of the procedures have been performed there. Doctors said Jenny’s case was rare because she had been without vision for so long.

Thanks to the surgery, Jenny was able to read numbers and letters for the first time in 46 years. But most remarkably, she was finally able to see the faces of her husband and children.

Source:
Irish Times

SOURCE: Stevens Johnson Syndrome › SJS victim’s sight restored after 46 years

Stevens Johnson Syndrome » Ireland

SJS victim’s sight restored after 46 years