Mark’s Story

I was diagnosed with Glaucoma in 2020 during COVID. Because of COVID, I was unable to get an appointment to get checked out. When I was eventually able to get an appointment, I was told that because of how long it had been left, both my optic nerves had been severely damaged and could not be corrected. The only course of action available to me, was to have an immediate iridotomy and to have eye drops for the rest of my life to hopefully stop the condition getting worse.

It felt like my life had fallen apart and was over. I felt all the emotions possible and for the next two and half years just stayed indoors and sat on my settee. I had to stop my job as a mobile dog groomer, stopped driving and my social life stopped as I just didn’t want to go out.

BUT then I found Support4Sight. From the very first phone call to the present day, they have been amazing. I started off being a service user going to the lunch club and being encouraged to join in their monthly events. All the staff, volunteers and other service users, were all so supportive and non-judgemental and slowly I began to accept the ‘new normal’.

After a year or so, I started to volunteer for them and then about one and half years ago, I was approached to start a telephone befriending group along with one of the other volunteers. It felt amazing to be able to help other people going through the trauma of sight loss. My confidence grew and I started to feel like me again.

I gained enough confidence to start looking for employment and again and I now work as a Peer Support Worker for the NHS, helping others experiencing anxiety and depression. Support4Sight has given me my life back and I feel I have a purpose again. I will always be in their debt.