Media Release
Serendipity saved Tom Elliott’s sight
Thursday 11 October, 2012
At age 34, Tom Elliott decided to get his eyesight checked and after a routine vision test, the optometrist performed an eye pressure test, which Tom was sure she only did because she had a few minutes to spare.
Luckily for Tom she did have the time, as the pressure in his right eye was elevated. Tom was immediately referred to Dr Michael Coote, glaucoma specialist at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
”I was stunned when he diagnosed me with glaucoma – I thought it was a disease that only older people got,” says Mr Elliott.
Around 80 per cent of avoidable vision loss is Australia is caused by five conditions, one of which is glaucoma. The prevalence of all of them increases with age.
Tom has a history of eye trauma. When he was at Oxford studying for his Masters, he resurrected an age-old tradition of Australian Rules football against Cambridge, where he suffered a kick to the eye resulting in a detached retina.
“At 34 you still think you’re indestructible,” he says. “You associate a knee injury with sport but you don’t think you’ll get glaucoma.”
While Tom has a genetic history of the disease, with his mother and paternal grandmother both having glaucoma, it is unlikely that he would have developed glaucoma at his age without the eye trauma.
“My mother was a patient at the Eye and Ear and was diagnosed with glaucoma at the same time, so we were able to share our experiences and treatment; in a sense it was good, knowing that someone else close to me was going through the same thing.”
The good news is that 75% of blindness and vision loss is preventable and treatable. The key to good eye health is regular eye tests by an eye care professional and seeking advice as soon as changes in vision are experienced.
Tom has been living with glaucoma for 10 years now and continues to manage the condition on a daily basis.
“I know Tom is the type of person who wants it to be cured, but at the moment there is no cure; it is something he has to manage daily with eye drops,” explains Dr Coote. “He is in the best possible hands though, as the Eye and Ear continues to pioneer technologiesto treat the disease and we predict some real breakthroughs in the near future.”
“Tom is exceedingly lucky, as early detection has saved his sight; it’s important if someone in your family has glaucoma or you have suffered eye trauma, to have your eyes checked regularly.”
“It was serendipity that I was tested that day. I feel very fortunate as it could have resulted in me becoming blind,” says Mr Elliott.
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About Tom Elliott
Tom is a director of both Beulah Capital Pty Ltd (an independent wealth management firm) and MM&E Capital Pty Ltd (a Melbourne based hedge fund).
Before founding MM&E in 2001, Tom was an Executive Director of investment bank Flinders Capital Limited. Tom has also worked with stockbroker McIntosh Securities Limited, Canadian investment bank Wood Gundy Inc. and retailer Country Road. Between 2008 and 2012 Tom hosted the Weekend Break radio show on 3AW. Tom has also been the finance commentator on 3AW’s Morning Program since 2001, and appears regularly on both ABC TV’s Inside Business and Network Ten's The Project. From January 2013 Tom will be the new host of 3AW’s Drive show (weekdays 3-6pm).
Tom holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) from Oxford University (UK).
About The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
The Eye and Ear is Victoria’s leading provider of eye and ear health care, integrating clinical care, research and education to optimise innovation and produce the most advanced treatments for vision and hearing loss. The Eye and Ear cares for over 250,000 patients a year.
The Eye and Ear has the largest glaucoma clinic in the Southern Hemisphere. We have eight consultants includingthe Hospital’s Clinical Director of Ophthalmology Services Associate ProfessorMichael Coote.
About Glaucoma
Glaucoma causes no discomfort and as vision is initially lost from the side, it is estimated that half those affected are unaware they have the disease. Glaucoma irreversibly destroys vision gradually. If detected early enough, the effects can be slowed using appropriate treatment.
About World Sight Day
World Sight Day takes place on Thursday 11 October 2012 and is a chance to emphasise the essential steps to protect vision. The key to good eye health is regular eye tests by an eye care professional and seeking advice as soon as changed in vision are experienced.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Rebecca Hennessy
Media and Communications Coordinator
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Mob: 0412 887 170
Ph: (03) 9929 8689