Pauline Ryan’s story
2 October 2025
Pauline and her daughter were both diagnosed with congenital glaucoma at only four months old. After several decades, Pauline is grateful for the care her and her daughter received over the years and shares their story.
Pauline was born in North Wales in 1946, and was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma at only four months old.
Shortly after, she had an eye operation in Bangor hospital. She was cared for there until her family moved to South Wales when she was eleven years old. She continued to have regular check-ups.
What is congenital glaucoma?
Learn more
Congenital glaucoma is a type of glaucoma that affects babies and children. Some people are born with it, while others develop it during childhood.
It is sometimes referred to as‘paediatric’ or‘juvenile’ glaucoma.
It occurs when high pressure damages the delicate nerve fibres in the optic nerve which carry signals from the eyes to the brain.
This high pressure is caused by having too much liquid inside the eyeball. It’s usually because the drainage channel inside the eye has not formed properly inside the womb, or because it has become blocked by inflammation inside the eye.
Congenital glaucoma is rare but it can cause young people to lose some of their eyesight.
1 in 20,000 About 1 in 20,000 children are born with glaucoma, or develop it in childhood
Most children and young people with congenital glaucoma need an eye operation and eye drops to bring the pressure inside their eye down and prevent sight loss.
Pauline had to wear glasses to help with her short sightedness. Her right eye was very weak and she had thick lenses to support her left eye.
Pauline married a soldier in 1968, and her eye care continued in military hospitals in Germany and Woolwich.
Pauline’s daughter’s diagnosis
Pauline was told her eye condition was hereditary, but may skip a generation.
Her first daughter’s vision was perfectly normal. However, when their second daughter was four months old, her husband noticed that her left eye seemed enlarged.
Just like Pauline, her second daughter was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma at four months old.
Treatments
While the family was living in Germany, her second daughter had her first operation at St Thomas’ Hospital in the UK at just five months old.
Sadly, she had a hemorrhage and lost her left eye.
Across the next few months, she had three more operations on her right eye to treat the congenital glaucoma, and each were successful.
The rest of the family were also monitored by the military eye specialist and everyone had checks. A researcher for Moorfields also arranged for the family to have blood tests.
No one else has been found to have glaucoma in their family, apart from one of Pauline’s brothers who was diagnosed with glaucoma in his early 70’s.
Pauline also developed cataracts which meant her eye’s lens became cloudy over time, causing a gradual blurring of vision.
In 1994 while still under the military hospital she had surgery on her left eye to treat the cataract.
This was an amazing change for me as the lens he inserted meant I could see without wearing glasses.
Pauline Ryan
The military hospital closed the following year and they were referred to Moorfields.
While at Moorfields, Pauline had another cataract surgery on her right eye.
Later in life
Pauline’s daughter moved to Pembrokeshire in Wales in 1996. She continued to have regular check ups on her right eye at a local hospital.
Ten years later she was diagnosed with a cornea issue, and waited several months to be seen. Eventually, she lost most of her sight in her only eye.
Despite this Pauline’s daughter is staying positive.
I would love to move back to Wales but being under Moorfields is to precious too give up.
Pauline Ryan
Pauline continues to be treated at Moorfields and is grateful for the care.
I am grateful for the care I get with Moorfields. I have vision meaning that I can lead a normal life at the age of 78.
Pauline Ryan
