A Liverpool mum says noticing her baby son’s eye was not focusing properly led to his diagnosis with rare eye cancer. Olivia Hannaford later spotted a white glow in Oliver’s eye, prompting an urgent hospital assessment. He has since completed chemotherapy and is continuing with laser treatment and regular monitoring.
When her four-and-a-half-month-old son, Oliver, displayed signs of an unfocused right eye, Olivia Hannaford initially suspected his eyes were simply adjusting or that he might need glasses. However, the situation grew more concerning when she noticed a white glow in the infant's eye. After consulting with a health visitor, she followed a referral to specialists for further evaluation. During a sight test, Oliver followed lights and cards with his right eye, but exhibited significant distress when his left eye was covered, leading doctors to suspect retinoblastoma.
The diagnosis was officially confirmed at the Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital. Following the diagnosis, Oliver underwent four rounds of intra-arterial chemotherapy, where medication was delivered directly into the artery supplying his eye. Alongside this, he received consistent laser treatment to combat the tumor. While his chemotherapy concluded in October, Oliver continues to receive ongoing laser therapy and regular examinations under anesthesia to monitor the tumor's status. The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust is now raising awareness about the common symptoms of eye cancer, which include a white glow in the eye—particularly in flash photographs or specific lighting conditions—as well as a squint.
These symptoms can be subtle and easily overlooked in early development. Despite his health challenges, Hannaford reports that Oliver is now thriving and living a full, unrestricted life.
