Vision Centre

Fading sight puts brake on granny but there's light at the end of the tunnel By Robyn Ruth - Gold Coast Bulletin 13/10/2006

It took three debilitating eye conditions to put the brakes on this hot-rod granny. Gloria Diamond, 81, liked nothing better than driving her 29-year-old Ford Marquis V8.

The mint condition cruiser is her pride and joy - she loved nothing more than feeling the wind in her hair as she tamed Bathurst's Mount Panorama.

But now the classic car sits idle in the garage, covered with a tarp as the Nerang woman fights to keep her eyesight.

Mrs Diamond has three major eye diseases associated with ageing: macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts.

She still has some peripheral vision but her central vision has deteriorated to a critical level.

Most devastating of all has been the loss visual recognition of her grandchildren.

"No one should ever under estimate the value of good eyesight and the importance of maintaining it for as long as possible." said Mrs Diamond.

"The smiling faces of my grandchildren gradually became dark patches.

"I also loved to travel and driving the V8 was just great fun. I like nothing better than testing that car around the Bathurst track - it just made me feel great.

"I did the Bathurst circuit many times over the years.

"It is only now, since the loss of vision, that I have been forced to slow down."

But there could be light at the end of the darkness.

After three treatments with the macular degeneration treatment Lucentis, through the Vision Centre, her sight is improving, facial images a little lighter, and Mrs Diamond can see her fingernails for the first time in years.

Her television viewing through peripheral vision has also become clearer.

"By viewing the television at an angle I can now see it better than I could before," she said.

Doctor's hope that with ongoing treatment she will be able to see her grandchildren's faces. But, sight or no sight, nothing will stop Mrs Diamond from her next overseas trip with granddaughter Candice.

"I am determined to do that and I am hoping to go with her to Sicily, Malta and Tunisia," said Mrs Diamond.

"With the ongoing improvement the new treatment may provide, I now hope I will be able to enjoy this trip a little more."