How can I practise as a midwife if I can’t see properly?

That was one of my first thoughts when I was diagnosed with permanent sight loss in my right eye in 2023. I had worked back-to-back day, night and bank shifts, and thought my eye was just tired. But, when it didn’t improve, I went to my local optician for an eye test. Maybe my prescription had changed, I thought. The routine eye scans showed ischemia to my optic nerve and that led me on my journey of tests.

I was diagnosed with a condition called NAAION — non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy. This condition usually affects people later in life and those who have risk factors such as high blood pressure, sleep apnoea and diabetes. I was 38 at the time, fit and healthy. No cause found and no treatment.