A TEENAGER whose sight has been saved by treatment in Singapore is returning after being rejected from UK trials.
Charlie Beech travelled to south east Asia from his Stratford home last April in a last-ditch attempt to save his vision with drops which would stop any deterioration.
It came after doctors warned the 13-year-old’s family he could go blind in his teenage years due to cupped optic discs, severe short-sightedness and glaucoma – which causes damage to the optic nerve and is often found in older people.
Many of his complex sight problems result from being born prematurely weighing just 1.5lb.
Charlie, along with mum Carla and 11-year-old sister Brooke, were able to bring back just one year’s worth of the drops which have had ‘amazing results’.
The family were hopeful the former Bridgetown Primary pupil – who now attends a special school in Nuneaton – would be suitable for UK trials on the drops.
But his eyes have too many issues for him to be included in tests.
Mum Carla told the Observer: “Charlie was rejected from the UK trials as his eyes had too many additional issues, so it’s back to Singapore we go in April.
“It’s so frustrating that our research is so behind elsewhere in the world. The Far East and Australia found the drops had a nine out of ten success rate in 2012.
“These drops are 100 per cent working – Charlie’s had absolutely no deterioration since he started taking them, which is the best result we could have hoped for. A slight stigma has even been corrected.”
But the trip to Singapore is expensive, with the drops costing an additional £400.
Carla has set up a fund-raising page in a bid to raise £1,000 and a charity gig is also being held at The Salmon Tail on Saturday March 2 from 8pm by London-based covers band Triggerfish. Tickets are £5 on the door.
Visit www.gofundme.com/6r9b48w to donate.
