163: Tessa Parry-Wingfield survived Ocular Melanoma | Eye Enucleation | Uveal Melanoma | Monocular Vision

While jogging in 2023, Tessa Parry-Wingfield felt an unusual sensation in her left eye.  It wasn't painful but merited medical attention.  She was seen by three doctors before learning she had ocular melanoma, a form of eye cancer.  Because of the particulars of her diagnosis, she had to undergo an enucleation, the removal of her cancerous eye.  With an acrylic implant taking the place of the cancerous eye, Tessa had an enormous amount of learning ahead of her, most notably what is known as monocular vision.  Amazingly, Tessa has adjusted to her limited vision.  She has resumed running and hiking and driving a car.  Her future includes writing a book and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.   Tessa was jogging along the River Thames in London when she felt something was wrong with her left eye.  She went to see an optician thinking she needed to change her prescription regarding her contact lenses.  However, upon checking out Tessa's eyes, the optician could see something was wrong, perhaps an astigmatism.   Lacking the necessary equipment for more in-depth scrutiny, the optician sent Tessa to an eye hospital, where they performed various x-rays and scans.  When one of the x-rays of her left eye was held up for observation, half of it was black.  Her care team thought Tessa had a form of eye cancer known as ocular melanoma, or, uveal melanoma, a tumor in the eye.  She was next sent to see an ocular oncologist, who swiftly confirmed the diagnosis.   Many patients diagnosed with ocular melanoma have more than one treatment option, but in Tessa Parry-Wingfield's case, the oncologist performed more scans and tests and immediately told her she would need to undergo an enucleation, the removal of her left eye.    Tessa was under anesthesia for the 90-minute procedure.  It resulted in her getting a temporary prosthetic eye, eventually replaced by an acrylic implant, which she has to this day.   She had to do a great deal of learning to go through daily life with one functioning eye, but that is exactly what Tessa has done.  She has resumed running, hiking and skiing.  She thought it would be a year or so of adjustments before she could drive a car, but her vision tests went so well that, three months after the procedure, her oncologist urged her to get behind the wheel.  Without a left eye, she says she has to look a little farther to the left than she was used to before her diagnosis, but she is now quite comfortable driving a car.   Through her cancer experience, Tessa Parry-Wingfield says she has surprised herself by learning how tough and resilient she can be.   Additional Resources:   Tessa on Instagram: @seeing_life_clearly   Tessa's website: https://www.tessa.parry-wingfield.com