Woman's eyesight saved by cutting-edge test after mystery infection

Dr. Ellie Irwin, a 29-year-old doctor from Bristol, has experienced a remarkable turnaround in her eyesight thanks to a groundbreaking test that identified a mysterious infection that had been troubling her for five years. For a long time, Ellie suffered from persistent inflammation in her right eye, which caused her vision to be blurry and unclear. Despite trying various treatments, nothing seemed to work, and at one point, she even contemplated the possibility of having her eye removed. However, everything changed when she was offered a last-resort analysis known as metagenomics. This advanced test revealed that she had a rare bacterial infection, which was successfully treated with antibiotics. Ellie expressed her gratitude, stating, 'It's been transformative. I feel so fortunate. ' Professor Carlos Pavesio, a consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, emphasized the significance of Ellie's case, calling it a breakthrough in diagnosing infectious diseases. He noted that many patients suffer from chronic infections for years without a clear diagnosis, despite undergoing numerous tests. Ellie’s journey began in 2019 while she was still in medical school when she first experienced inflammation in her right eye. Initial tests for infection returned negative results, leading doctors to believe she had an autoimmune condition. As a result, she was prescribed steroid eye drops and immunosuppressants, some of which required intravenous infusion. Ellie described her situation, saying, 'It was completely dominating my life. ' She had to use eye drops every hour, making it challenging to balance her new job as a junior doctor. Her vision fluctuated, and she faced many difficult days. Despite being on a lot of medication and attending numerous appointments, she felt like she was not improving. The ongoing treatment and inflammation eventually led to the development of a cataract, which required surgical removal shortly after she graduated from medical school. Ellie reached a breaking point and even considered the possibility of having her affected eye removed. She shared her fears, stating, 'While losing sight in one eye is terrifying, my biggest fear was that it might spread to my left eye.