A young Scot has been left in a wheelchair after being struck down by a mysterious illness that has robbed her of her eyesight.
Imogene Comrie, 22, has been battling loss of vision and balance for almost two years and medics have been unable to diagnose her condition.
The former Edinburgh Airport worker says she can’t even pour a glass of water and now relies on loved ones’ help for everyday tasks.
She told the Daily Record : “It’s majorly affected my life, I’ve lost so much of my independence. There are some days where I feel okay and others where it’s horrendous.
“It feels like I’m drunk. Nothing is in the right place, everyday tasks take so much concentration.
“My symptoms come and go. On a bad day I can’t go down the stairs or make myself a cup of tea. I now rely really heavily on my partner and my mum."
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Imogene, who lives in Falkirk, first experienced double vision when she was 13 and had specially-made prescription glasses with prism lenses to treat her eyesight.
But the condition returned with a vengeance when she was 20 and turned her life upside down.
Terrified that she was struggling with her eyesight again, she hid the symptoms from her family for a year before telling them during lockdown.
She continued: “I was starting to see double and felt dizzy all the time.
“I hid it from family just made excuses to never drive because it was concerning me.
“To be honest, I was in denial about it. I’d always been worried it would happen again.
“Since then I’ve lost my balance and my peripheral vision is limited.
Imogene was forced to give up her job as her symptoms worsened.
The 22-year-old is now using a wheelchair when she goes to shops and must be accompanied by a loved one.
She visited her optician in October 2021 and was sent to Falkirk Community Hospital.
There she had an MRI but medics are still unsure what is affecting Imogene’s eyesight.
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She added: “I’m still undergoing tests and I’ve been checked for a tumour. The doctors have been unable to diagnose me.
“It’s difficult to deal with because I still don’t know whats wrong.
“I’m waiting for an appointment with the neurology department again.
Imogene says her symptoms have left her crippled with anxiety and she has struggled to adapt.
“I was an outgoing person before and always up for a laugh and loved being in front of a camera. Now I don't want my picture taken and live in my own bubble at home."
“I’m anxious when I go out because I’m unsure of where everything is.
“I used to love doing my make-up but now I can’t pick up my brushes. It frustrates me so much.
Imogene’s family hope they can get her an assistance dog to help day-to-day.
A fundraiser has been launched to pay for the animal’s specialised training alongside Imogene for around 18 months.
The family needs around £4,000 pounds to cover the costs.
Imogene added: “I don’t know if my condition will get worse but having a service dog would give me a new lease of life, it’s something that could help me get through daily life.
“I could actually get my independence and start being a young adult again, to feel confident again would be amazing.
You can donate to Imogene's fundraiser here.
