Bellamy Eyecare supporting CHECT

It comes as a surprise that I have come into contact with several people who have been affected by retinoblastoma (RB) as it is a relatively rare cancer. When I first started training as an optometrist the treatment centred on the safety first option of removing the affected eye. The idea was to prevent the cancer spreading causing death. This is more of a last resort, now, as, if it is caught early, RB often responds well to chemo or other therapies and this means that the patient does not lose their eye/eyes. Even so, one in fifty sufferers still sadly lose their lives. 
 
What sets this condition apart for me is that the onset of the cancer is in children below six years of age. RB is best described as uncontrolled growth of the retinal cells caused by a genetic defect. It can run in families or just pop up out of the blue. If RB is inherited then it is more likely to affect both eyes. It is most commonly discovered when the child’s pupil appears white in flash photography but can also be discovered if there’s a turn in the eye or poor vision. Less commonly it causes a red, sore or swollen eye. However, just because a pupil appears white doesn’t mean that there’s a problem; there’s usually a very different, harmless reason for this, but it is important to get it checked out. 
 
Why do we want to support CHECT? As a father of two daughters, I can hardly begin to imagine what the parents go through, let alone the affected child. Alongside raising money to fund research into treatments, CHECT is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to families affected by retinoblastoma. They provide emotional, practical and care support for affected families. They also create awareness of RB which I believe is vital. If parents know of the condition and get any suspicion of a problem checked out immediately, the better the likely outcome. If the child is an infant then the GP or health visitor is the person to help them. Children closer to school age could have an eye examination with an optometrist. 
 
By amplifying CHECT’s message, raising funds and sharing what we’ve learned, we hope to help every family facing this diagnosis get the prompt care they need. Early detection really does save sight and lives, and I hope our lovely clients will give us a hand to raise much needed funds for this great charity.