Harry’s story
3 October 2024
Two-year-old Harry faced severe sight loss due to advanced cataracts. Against “one in a million” odds, surgeons at Moorfields performed a miracle, restoring his vision and changing his life.
Early concerns
By the age of one, Harry Brouner’s parents sensed something wasn’t right with his eyes.
While it’s common for babies and toddlers to stare at people, Harry seemed to be staring at people a lot as if he was really trying to take them in.
Both of Harry’s parents wear glasses for short-sightedness, and his mother has congenital cataracts that have not caused any problems yet.
Their family and health visitors thought nothing of it, saying ‘he can see fine, he just stares’, and ‘you’re being an over-anxious mother’.
The search for answers
By the time Harry was two years old, his mother couldn’t shake the feeling that something more serious was going on with his eyes.
During a visit to a family clinic, while Harry was having his height and weight checked, she brought up her concerns to the health visitor.
Although the response was the same, the health visitor agreed to write a referral for an eyesight check because Harry’s mother wore glasses.
The diagnosis
The referral took six months to come through.
When Harry was finally seen, the ophthalmologist only needed two minutes to realise that something was seriously wrong with his vision.
With a concerned expression, she told Harry’s parents, “Something is very wrong with your son’s vision, but I cannot say what, he’ll be seen as the first person in the next available consultant clinic.”
Just four days later, Harry’s parents received the news that their son had severe sight loss in both eyes due to advanced cataracts.
What are cataracts?
Learn more
A cataract is when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy over time, causing a gradual blurring of vision. Most cataracts are age-related, though they can occur at any age as a result of genetic factors or causes related to lifestyle or other conditions.
The referral to Moorfields Eye Hospital
The consultant at the local hospital recognised the rarity of Harry’s case. He knew his limitations and didn’t want to operate on a very young child.
Harry required immediate treatment, and he was referred to Moorfields Eye Hospital, where Miss Gill Adams and her team, including Dr Lucy Barker, would perform Harry’s operations.
Harry needed surgery to remove the cataracts and lenses in both eyes. These would then be replaced with clear lenses with a built-in prescription.
From the moment we arrived, all the staff were so reassuring, from the medical secretary, play staff to consultants. Even though the prognosis was not great they made us feel hopeful and that there was something they could do to help reverse some sight loss.
Sarah Brouner
At the time, Harry’s parents didn’t know how intensive the treatment would be or for how long.
They were told that Harry would likely remain a patient well into his twenties and maybe beyond.
A family’s journey through surgery
Within two months of diagnosis, Harry underwent his first operation.
The surgeries were carefully timed, with two weeks between each, allowing time for the first eye to heal before operating on the second.
Harry Brouner after his first operation in 2013.
During this period, Harry’s parents were supported by the Ronald McDonald House charity who are based on the top floor of the children’s eye hospital, which provided them with a place to stay.
This allowed them to remain close to Harry, cook his favourite meals in their kitchen, and share their experience with other families going through similar situations which helped them to feel like they are not alone.
The road to recovery and finding ways to cope
The road to recovery was long with operations, lasers and eye drops.
We felt supported every step of the way.
Sarah Brouner
Harry’s parents found it difficult to see him go through the procedures at such a young age. However, over time they found it easier.
Although, it got harder for Harry as he got older and became more aware of what was happening.
Harry Brouner aged four.
Harry’s parents started some traditions to help him cope. This included giving him a chocolate lollipop, a ride on the tube train, and a visit to the singing lift at the Royal Festival Hall in Waterloo.
Harry looked forward to these traditions and it made the appointments a little easier to go to. Harry still remembers the singing lift!
Advice for other parents
For other parents facing similar challenges, Harry’s parent’s advice is to be persistent with treatments, no matter how tough it gets.
They also acknowledged that administering eye drops, wearing patches, and following the treatment plan can be difficult when your child resists. However, sticking to the treatment plan will give your child the best possible chance of a good outcome.
Harry’s progress
Harry has made remarkable progress. By the age of eight, he had vision in both eyes and depth perception—an outcome every consultant described as a “one in a million” chance.
To be honest I do not think I appreciated this at the time. I thought, maybe naively, that all children recover, but I’ve since learned this is not the case.
Sarah Brouner
Harry was discharged from Moorfields just before his ninth birthday, more than a decade earlier than expected.
He now enjoys gymnastics, acrobatics, and dreams of becoming an engineer in aerospace or motor racing.
His eyesight has never held him back in anything he has chosen to do. His resilience and determination are an inspiration to his family and everyone who meets him.
Sarah Brouner
Harry’s parents continue to monitor his eye health with regular check-ups at their local optician, always mindful of the increased risk of complications like infections or glaucoma.
So far they have avoided any major issues, and know they can return to Moorfields at any time if needed.
How do I know if my child has an eye problem?
Learn more
Often, children do not display any symptoms of eye problems, especially if it is only in one eye. They don’t complain as readily as adults because, to them, their level of vision is all they know as normal, and they may be too young to communicate that they are struggling.
20% of school children
have an undetected vision problem
There are, however, some things to look out for and consider:
- An eye that drifts in or out
- Frequent eye rubbing or blinking
- Sitting very close to the TV
- Headaches or eyestrain
- Difficulty concentrating at school or problems reading
- Family history of glasses wear from a young age, childhood squints or eye diseases
- Children with developmental conditions such as Autism, Down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy are more likely to have associated eye problems.
- More acute symptoms - red, sticky eyes suggest a bacterial infection. Red, itchy and watery eyes suggest an allergy. Severe light sensitivity can also indicate a problem.
The only way to know that everything is okay is by having the eyes checked. You can take your child for a comprehensive eye test with your local optometrist.
This is recommended at least every two years for all children from three to four years old, as the sooner something is detected, the better chance there is of treating it successfully and preventing any lasting problems.
Lots of information for parents can be found on the Moorfield’s Eye Hospital website, the Children’s Services (Paediatrics) page, the Association of Optometrists website, the Children’s Eye Health page and the NHS website.
You can also get information and advice on eye conditions and treatments from Moorfield’s paediatric telephone helpline on 0207 566 2209.
Staffed by experienced ophthalmic paediatric trained nurses, the helpline is open Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm, and from 2pm-4pm.
Gratitude to Moorfields and ongoing support
Harry’s parents are grateful to the teams at Moorfields Eye Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital for saving their son’s sight.
We firmly believe that the one in a million chance was all down to his treatment and care from the Moorfields team.
Sarah Brouner
They support Moorfields Eye Charity by taking part in our raffles, spreading the word on social media and raising awareness during cataract awareness month which takes place in June.
In the future, they want to take part in the Eye to Eye walk.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, it doesn’t feel enough to say thank you, so raising awareness is the least we can do.
Sarah Brouner
