Child sight loss research funded by mystery donor

Research into the prevention of sight loss in children with albinism is to continue in Southampton thanks to a donation from a charitable trust in Guernsey.

The donating organisation, which wished to remain anonymous, gave £135,000 to the University of Southampton, which will fund the continuation of Dr Jay Self and Dr Ellie Keeling's cutting-edge research on treatments for albinism.

Children born with albinism have poor sight and the vast majority are registered as sight impaired or blind.

Treatment must be given before the brain has "learnt" vision, which is typically completed by the age of eight.

Dr Keeling's research explores how drugs, already licensed to treat other diseases, could be used to treat albinism.

Working with Dr Self and Dr Helena Lee, she has developed a process to test the medications on cells that have been engineered to have the same genetic mutations seen in children with albinism.

Discussing the donation from Guernsey, Dr Keeling said: "I'm very grateful for this kind donation.

"Albinism is more common than people think, especially in Africa, and people with albinism still suffer stigma, prejudice and even violence fuelled by superstitious folk law and myth."

She added: "Our research could transform the lives of children with albinism by permitting life-changing treatment for the first time.

"This donation signifies belief in the work we are doing and a testament to the expertise of everyone on the team in Southampton."

Remi from St Peter Port recently took her son Rory to Southampton to have a cataract in his right eye removed.

Remi said: "The midwife noticed his red reflex wasn't coming through and we were immediately referred to an eye specialist on the Island who then referred us to Southampton.

"I always thought cataracts were an older person's condition and didn't affect babies, but his was so dense he couldn't see through it.

"It was a big decision to have the operation – he is so small and young – but we wanted to give him every opportunity to develop some form of sight from that eye."

Rory, who is now four months old, now wears glasses and has attended regular check ups in Southampton.

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