Sara Pollard-Dambach has been going to Optomeyes Eyecare since she started noticing changes to her vision in 2020.
When Sara started experiencing blurry vision in her left eye, she visited her local optometrists, Optomeyes Eyecare, for an eye check.
Following the check, owner and experienced optometrist, Sue Wassall, insisted she went to the GP. An MRI scan of her brain later confirmed that Sara had a pineal cyst with tumour markers.
Sadly, Sara’s overall health deteriorated dramatically between 2022 and 2025. She became reliant on a wheelchair, was experiencing daily seizures and needed a full-time carer.
Her sight also decreased over time, with Sara describing it as being ‘monochromatic’.
With the support of the local community, Sara fundraised £7,517 and flew to Prague to have the cyst removed in April 2025.
Sara described the moment she came around from the operation as ‘surreal’.
She said,
“The colours I could see were instantly more vibrant, and my brain felt less foggy. I wanted to get up and walk as soon as I could and haven’t been back in my wheelchair since, which has been life-changing.”
As part of the recovery process and to prevent damage to her retina, Sara has been advised to wear sunglasses from morning until night for three months.
She said, “I wear glasses day-to-day so was switching between them and a shop-bought pair of sunglasses to see.
“The first thing Sue told me after my operation was that I couldn’t keep up with that. Not only was it dangerous for my eye health, but I could’ve easily broken or lost a pair of glasses.
“Optomeyes kindly paid half the cost of a pair of prescription Maui Jim sunglasses for me. They arrived last week, and the difference has been instantaneous.
“I was having to take migraine tablets every day but have only taken one this week. They’re comfortable and I can look up at the light without my head hurting which I couldn’t do before.”
Sara’s three children and husband are now Optomeyes patients and benefit from their monthly membership.
She explained, “The team have been so supportive and lovely throughout my journey.
“We’ve ended up putting the whole family under Optomeyes, they’re great with the kids and we know our eye health is in good hands.”
Optomeyes customers can benefit from their Deluxe Membership for just £16 per month. Contact us today to find out more or to book your next eye exam.
About the Sara’s Hope Trust
The Sara’s Hope Trust was set up to fundraise for Sara Pollard-Dambach to have a 24-year-old benign brain tumour removed.
Currently, there are just over 1500 people in the UK unable to access treatment on the NHS as a result of funding being pulled to help those with benign Pineal Cysts and Tumours.
The charity has raised £7517 since September 2024 for Sara to have her operation. She continues to raise awareness and money to give people with chronic conditions access to appropriate care. Sara has recently turned her focus to getting 10,000 signatures on her petition to provide a review of the efficacy of pineal gland surgery. Support Sara today.