Grandfather 'left blind following medical delays'

A retired education inspector has said he became completely blind following delays in medical treatment.

Lythan Stephenson has spoken out as it emerged that lawyers are investigating two cases of patients who allegedly did not receive follow-up appointments at Birmingham Midland Eye Centre.

Lawyers for Mr Stephenson said he had glaucoma surgery in his right eye in 2022 but delays in follow-up treatment lead to him having an infection and needing surgery, then ultimately being registered blind.

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has apologised "for mistakes made in his care".

"I'm still alive, thank God for that, but I'm not really living as such," said Mr Stephenson, from Birmingham.

"I love gardening, I love walking, I love swimming and I can't do any of those things any more. I can't see the birds or butterflies."

Mr Stephenson's lawyer said he should have had a follow-up appointment to remove a tube around six weeks after his glaucoma surgery.

But she said the consultation had not happened, despite Mr Stephenson calling the Birmingham Midland Eye Centre to chase this.

In February 2023, his solicitor said, he was rushed to hospital in severe pain with an infection.

"And that's when he was told that he required three emergency surgeries and that he was now registered blind," said his solicitor Becca Horley, from Shoosmiths.

She added: "We have independent evidence that states that Mr Stephenson would have retained vision in his right eye but for the delays with the treatment that he received."

Despite already being blind in his left eye, Mr Stephenson still had enough vision in his right eye to be independent, but now he will need carers to do basic things he once took for granted.

He plays the piano from memory because he can no longer read music and uses a white stick in his home walking past treasured photographs of his wife, Valerie, who died a year before he lost his sight.

"My interaction with people has been diminished tremendously, the facial expressions, body language, gestures, all the things that we do," he said.

"Neither can I refer to photographs, pictures, films."

Dr Mark Anderson, chief medical officer at the trust, said: "We are deeply sorry to Mr Stephenson for mistakes made in his care.

"Since this incident in February 2023, we have thoroughly investigated to identify the root cause and have improved our processes.

"We have apologised and shared our learning with Mr Stephenson, and we sincerely acknowledge the distress this has caused him."

Mr Stephenson said he wanted to speak out to raise awareness.

"I hope that something like this doesn't happen to other people because it's really devastating," he said.

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