Macular Society celebrates its seventh anniversary
A CHANCE meeting at Southampton Hospital in 2014 led to the foundation of the Guernsey Macular Society, which has celebrated its seventh birthday with afternoon tea at Les Cotils.
It was founder members Bill Gardner and Tilly Fisken who met when Mr Gardner was paying a visit for a check-up, only to be told that he would require an injection in one eye due to macular degeneration, a severe central visual impairment syndrome.
Mrs Fisken spotted him in the waiting area, he said, telling him he looked worried, but after saying she had been having injections for 17 months and her eyesight was still the same as it had been, he was reassured.
It was on the flight back to Guernsey that the two discussed the lack of support for people with this and similar conditions, and decided to found the local group.
Luckily for them, the UK Macular Society had thought of setting up something in the island so it supported the work.
Mr Gardner’s efforts on behalf of the group saw him presented with the Outstanding Individual Achievement award at the 2019 Community Foundation Awards.
Ray Watts, who has been a member for several years, said meetings are held monthly and a wide range of speakers are brought along to talk about various topics, not just eyesight problems.
‘There’s a lovely community spirit within the group,’ he said. There is a total of about 80 members, 35 to 40 of whom turn up for the regular meetings.
One long-term member has become involved with research into a genetic form of macular degeneration, Best disease.
Andrew Thompson said it was after meeting a research specialist from Moorfields Eye Hospital that he was put in touch with University College London, which is carrying out research on the disease.
After being asked if he wanted to help, some samples were taken of his tissue which were re-grown as stem cells that, it is hoped, could be used to restore the affected part of the eye in sufferers.
While this may not impact on the genetic defect, he said it could mean that the deterioration caused by the condition could be halted, and it could mean one of his daughters, who has inherited the gene, would benefit.
He said macular degeneration can knock people sideways, and having the support of the society has helped them enormously.
‘They come into a group like this where you have 35 to 40 people at every meeting, where you can share experiences and share ideas.’
Members also take part in fundraising events, such as this year’s Macular Week challenge, which involves people walking, running, cycling or even dancing to cover as many miles as possible.
More information is at www.macularsociety.org/get-involved/beat-macular-disease/macular-week/.
For more information contact Mr Gardner on 07781 30772. Macular Week runs from 21 to 27 June.
