Luah, daughter of Luis Méndez Alejo and Mary Mar A. Campos, was born on December 10 th 2013 at Hospital Português (Portuguese Hospital) in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. When she was born, the pediatrician at Hospital Português informed us that Luah had Congenital Glaucoma. At the time, we could not grasp such words, nor the possible consequences of the news we had just received.
Later, the hospital sent the ophthalmologist specialized in Glaucoma to explain to us in detail what Congenital Glaucoma really was, a rare ocular disease, with currently no cure, that is characterized by intraocular pressure and malformation of the eyes. He explained the risks (the disease is the second cause of blindness in Brazil), and the type of treatment that should be implemented.
They referred us to one of the best ophthalmologist in all of Bahia, Brazil, and with the help of the hospital’s management (they were wonderful to us) and the surgeon, Luah had her first emergency surgery in her eyes just 6 days after being born, a Trabeculotomy. It was a success. Many eye drops, lots of caring, plenty of attention to everything and for anything were needed afterwards.
A few months later, the opacity of her eyes’ cornea was disappearing. Her eyes were big, more than usual, opaque and without sparkle, it was not possible to see the iris but, over time, they improved.
They actually improved a lot, the right eye was practically clear, without opacity, and the left… well, the left improved a lot too but, at some point, it stopped improving and began to deteriorate. The intraocular pressure of the right eye was always fine, but the one on the left eye started to increase.
At every new ophthalmological check-up Luah attended, the pressure was higher and new eye drops were incorporated into the treatment (Timoloptol, Closopt, and Xalatan). However, the spot in the left eye continued to grow, only now it was not as dark, it was a lighter spot, whitish, kind of a soft blue covering more and more of the cornea.
I went to a cornea specialist who explained to me that it could take a little longer for the left eye’s spot to go away. He said that if it did not go away, he would recommend a cornea transplant, regardless of the pressure being controlled concerning the Glaucoma (the pressure). This caused a damage to the cornea that keeps her from seeing through her left eye.
I went back to Brazil and continued the treatment and the visits to the ophthalmologist and, after more than a year, the spot on the left eye, which covered the iris and kept her from seeing, never disappeared.
I started this blog to share my daughter Luah’s experience and to collect some money to take her to the Clínica Barraquer (Barraquer Clinic) in Barcelona, Spain, in order for them to give her the proper treatment to restore the sight on her left eye before she losses it completely.
Luah has 2 ½ years and she needs your help!
Thanks to all for support!!
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