Kate was born with cataracts, and when she was only nine weeks old, she had them surgically removed. Unfortunately, after the surgery, she began to
Kate (aged 8) after cataract surgery
develop glaucoma, caused by fluid not draining properly from her eyes.
For Kate’s ophthalmologist, the Lions Eye Institute’s Professor Bill Morgan, the challenge was to manage the glaucoma until her eye developed sufficiently for replacement lenses to be implanted. With the resulting pressure building in her eyes, Kate was facing serious damage to her optic nerve and the prospect of vision loss, even blindness.
Through a regimen of medications and eye drops – sometimes 12 times a day – Professor Morgan successfully delayed Kate’s surgery for four years.
But when Kate was eight, the pressure in her eyes began to build again. In September 2015, Professor Morgan implanted a drainage system called a Molteno Tube into Kate’s left eye, with great success.
Kate is now 18 and has recently passed her driving test
Now 18, Kate recently got her driver’s licence and is studying for a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biochemistry and Environmental Science at Curtin University. She wears contact lenses and uses eye drops once daily.
“I see Professor Morgan every three months,” she says. “At the moment, the pressure in my eyes is stable.”
With continued management and improvements in glaucoma research and treatments, Professor Morgan hopes that by the time Kate needs replacement lenses, lifelong lenses will be available, eliminating the need for regular replacements.
Eric’s inspiration and legacy
Kate’s story had a double resonance for Eric. In 2016, he read about Kate’s courage and the sight saving treatment she received from the Lions Eye Institute.
Having undergone cataract surgery himself at the Institute, Eric knew firsthand the transformative impact of such procedures.
At that moment, Eric became one of the Lions Eye Institute’s cherished Visionaries – a special group of people who share the Institute’s vision and understand the transformational impact a gift in your Will to the Lions Eye Institute can make on future generations. The precision surgery needed in eye care, and the vast improvements it brings to someone’s quality of life, made me realise that the Lions Eye Institute is an organisation I wanted to support long term,” Eric said. “I believe bequests are essential in supporting research because of the importance of future progress and developments.”
Eric has since passed away, leaving the Institute a generous bequest of $20,000 specifically for glaucoma research and treatment.
