Metagenomics test saves woman's sight after mystery infection

Summary

In 2019, while still at medical school, Ellie began suffering from inflammation in her right eye. All tests for infection came back negative and it was assumed she had an autoimmune condition.Ellie was prescribed steroid eye drops and immunosuppressants, some of which needed to be given by intravenous infusion."It was completely dominating my life," Ellie says. "I needed eye drops every single hour and it was difficult to balance that alongside starting work as a junior doctor. My vision was really variable, and I would have some bad days."I was on so much medication and going to so many appointments, yet I didn't feel I was getting any better."The treatment and inflammation led to Ellie developing a cataract that had to be surgically removed, just after she graduated from medical school.Ellie says she eventually reached "breaking point", and even began considering having her affected eye removed."Whilst losing sight in one eye is terrifying," she says, "my biggest fear was that it might spread to my left eye."