Looking back on Stuart’s journey
Southern Eye patient Stuart celebrated 100 intravitreal injections recently, the big occasion marked with delicious cake, happy smiles, and great sights.
Intravitreal injections are an ongoing treatment that help keeps a number of eyesight conditions at bay. While they may seem daunting before the first one, for patients like Stuart these injections quickly become a part of everyday life.
He had initially arrived at SES after being referred by an optometrist for increased pressure in his right eye.
“I went into Southern Eye Specialists back when it was in Merivale,” Stuart says. “Not long after (the first appointment) my eyesight darkened one morning.”
While the arrival of a new condition was not ideal, Stuart was in the right place for the right diagnosis, a clear discussion of the available options, and the timely introduction of a treatment plan.
“I was very apprehensive before the first treatment in 2013,” he says. “I was expecting worse than what eventuated.”
He soon became accustomed to the injections, which are painless and very effective in slowing the vision loss associated with his condition.
“Relatives and friends wince when I tell them I have injections into the eyeball. But I’m not apprehensive at all when appointments come around.”
This treatment involves injecting a drug called Avastin (Bevacizumab) directly into the sclera (the white part of the eye). This blocks a substance called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), effectively reducing the problematic development of abnormal blood vessels and the leakage of fluid into the retina.
Stuart’s treatment began with Dr Allan Simpson and has continued with Dr Rahul Dwivedi since Dr Simpson retired in 2021.
“I’ve been very happy with the work of both doctors,” says Stuart. “They both are very reassuring, and go out of their way to make it a painless procedure. Indeed, the whole team at SES are excellent – they’re always very professional and caring.”
“Relatives and friends wince when I tell them I have injections into the eyeball. But I’m not apprehensive at all when appointments come around.”
Over the years Stuart has become ‘part of the family’, says Penny, our Clinical Team Leader.
“Our patients have ongoing regular treatments,” she says. “As a consequence, they get to know the staff here very well. And it goes both ways too. We (the staff) get to know them, too.”
Ongoing treatments to retain vision are a part of everyday life for many Kiwis, with approximately 10,000 injections administered in the Canterbury region each year. Stuart is one of only a few to have celebrated the big 100, however.
“I promised Stuart I’d bake him a cake – and then he brought one for the staff to share!” says Penny. “Unfortunately, he couldn’t stay for cake as he was leaving for Australia the next day and had a busy afternoon ahead of him.”
“It is an amazing effort on the patient’s part to be receiving injections for so long – and one worth celebrating.”
Congratulations Stuart!