Mum in Walthamstow spots eye disease in newborn, saves her sight

Lotti McKenna, a new mother from Walthamstow, East London, noticed a small cloud in her newborn daughter Beatrix's left eye when she was just 10 weeks old. Concerned about this unusual sign, Lotti took Beatrix to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with a congenital unilateral cataract. This condition is rare and often difficult to detect at birth, which is why it had been missed initially. The urgency of the situation was highlighted by the fact that the first 12 weeks of a baby's life are crucial for eye development. Ideally, surgery to remove the cataract should occur as soon as possible, preferably within the first few weeks. However, due to the late diagnosis, Beatrix's eye development could be significantly impacted. Currently, Beatrix is too young to receive an artificial lens implant, which means she will have to wait until she is at least eight years old for this procedure. In the meantime, she is undergoing rehabilitation, which includes wearing an eye patch over her left eye to help her brain adjust to the vision from her right eye. Lotti has expressed the challenges of managing Beatrix's condition, including keeping glasses on her baby and ensuring she doesn't scratch her eye. The family has also started a fundraising campaign, raising over £2,000 to support Beatrix's treatment and care as they navigate this difficult journey.