Caring for husband losing his sight 'like grief'

A woman who is caring for her husband as his eyesight deteriorates says they want to help others going through the same experience, which she said was similar to grief.

Pauline Lancaster, 73, has been helping her husband Mike, 73, as he has been losing his eyesight over the past three decades.

The Guernsey-born couple have called for more awareness of the support services available for blind and visually impaired people, with a push for more recognition of blindness as a disability.

Mrs Lancaster said: "If we can help just one person encountering some of what we've been through, then we feel that we've achieved something."

In 1990 Mr Lancaster, aged 40, was diagnosed with acute aggressive glaucoma.

Mrs Lancaster said her husband's condition was "very aggressive and progressive" over the years.

He had a series of 19 operations over two years in an attempt to save his eyesight.

Most of the operations were carried out at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and partner hospitals in Southampton, as Mr Lancaster "could not be treated" in Guernsey.

Having had an unsuccessful operation in 2010, the couple said they were told by an eye surgeon at Moorfields to return to Guernsey and for Mr Lancaster to register as blind.

He was also told he would have to give up his job in the building industry and his driving licence.

"Overnight, he lost his independence," Mrs Lancaster said.

Mr Lancaster was unable to register as blind or severely visually impaired, as there is no disability register in Guernsey, and at the time there were no disability payments or benefits.

In 2023, Phase 1 of Guernsey's Anti-Discrimination Legislation was introduced, which protects people from discrimination on the grounds of disability, carer status, race, religion and belief, and sexuality.

The States of Guernsey said it was continually reviewing its policies to ensure they were best practice and appropriate.

A combined statement from the Committees for Health and Social Care and Employment and Social Security said: "In the UK some local authorities may operate voluntary registers in their areas of people with disabilities.

"These voluntary registers are used by local authorities to plan future services.

"There is no legal requirement for such a register in Guernsey and such a register does not exist.

"This does not mean that a sight impairment is not recognised as a disability in local legislation.

"It may be a disability under the Prevention of Discrimination Ordinance if it is a long-term impairment."

The statement added a person could have a sight impairment, considered to be a disability under the Prevention of Discrimination Ordinance, but not qualify for specific benefits and services.

It said financial support, like sickness benefit, severe disability benefit and income support, may be available depending on each person.

Chantelle Tucker, vision support services officer at the Guernsey Blind Association, said: "The visual impairment is what is wrong with their vision, but the disability aspect is what it prohibits you from doing and that can affect each person completely differently."

Mrs Lancaster explained her husband was eventually signed off sick and then he received regular payments from the States under the incapacity benefit.

The payments from the States for incapacity ceased in 2016, when Mr Lancaster turned 65 and became eligible to receive a pension.

Mrs Lancaster said the lack of help they had received meant they wanted "to try to stop this happening to anyone else".

The Guernsey Blind Association urges anyone looking for support to contact them.

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