A family in Uganda is appealing for assistance after their 17-year-old daughter experienced a frightening loss of vision while attempting to sit her national primary school examinations.
Fiona Kisakye, a Primary Seven candidate at Kisaana Bataka Primary School in Lwengo District, reportedly became unable to see what was written on her examination paper shortly after the start of her first Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) paper.
The incident left the teenager distressed, forcing her to leave the examination room as teachers and fellow candidates watched in concern.
According to reports, Kisakye complained that although the examination paper was in front of her, she could not make out any of the printed questions.
She later explained that her condition usually begins with a headache before her eyes start aching and producing tears.
Her vision then becomes blurred before she is unable to see anything written on paper.
In a particularly unusual development, the teenager reportedly regains her sight after stepping outside the classroom.
Teacher speaks about pupil’s recurring condition
Kisakye’s teacher, Baker Malo, revealed that the incident was not the first time the learner had experienced difficulties with her eyesight.
According to Malo, the pupil had developed a similar problem during the second school term, prompting her parents to seek medical attention.
Her condition reportedly improved after treatment, allowing her to return to school and continue with her studies.
However, the recurrence of the problem during the national examinations caught the school community by surprise.
The school had registered 93 candidates for this year’s PLE examinations, but Kisakye’s unexpected condition disrupted her participation in the important academic assessment.
Mother narrates family’s struggles seeking treatment
Kisakye’s mother, Annet Nakalunga, said the family had been struggling with the situation for several years.
She explained that the problem first emerged when her daughter was in Primary Five and continued to affect her during subsequent school years.
According to Nakalunga, her daughter’s eyesight often becomes blurred while at school, making it difficult for her to read printed notices or see what teachers have written on the blackboard.
The mother further disclosed that she had taken the teenager to different government and private health facilities in search of a lasting solution.
However, she claimed that the condition frequently improves when they reach a hospital, only to return after her daughter resumes attending classes.
The family remains concerned because the recurring episodes have interfered with the teenager’s education, particularly at a time when she was expected to complete her primary school examinations.
Nakalunga also expressed fears about what could be happening to her daughter, although no evidence has established the cause of the recurring vision problems.
Family appeals for well-wishers’ support
The situation has left the family appealing to well-wishers to help them secure further medical attention for Kisakye.
Her parents had hoped that completing Primary Seven would open new educational opportunities for their daughter and eventually help improve the family’s circumstances.
However, the latest incident has raised fresh concerns about her health and academic future.
The family is hopeful that additional medical assistance will help establish the cause of the problem and enable the teenager to continue with her education.
Meanwhile, the school’s headteacher, Martha Namirembe, confirmed that two other candidates also missed the examinations after their parents relocated from the area.
This brought the number of candidates who did not sit the examinations at the school to three.
Medical attention important in cases of sudden vision problems
Sudden changes in eyesight, particularly when accompanied by headaches or eye discomfort, should not be ignored.
Health professionals recommend prompt medical assessment whenever someone experiences unexpected vision changes, as several underlying conditions can affect eyesight.
Although Kisakye’s family has described a recurring pattern in which her symptoms appear at school and improve after leaving the classroom, the actual cause has not been publicly established.
A proper medical examination would be necessary to determine whether the episodes are related to an eye condition, another health problem or environmental factors.
For now, the teenager’s family is hoping to find answers and secure the assistance she needs to continue pursuing her education.
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