Eyes glued shut

Kerri Caldwell (pictured with her son) is in disbelief that her three-year-old son Sam can't open his right eye after an accident and emergency doctor carried out a routine procedure at Ulster Hospital in Belfast last week.

Sam was taken to A&E after an accident at his Newtownards home left him with a cut above his eye. When she arrived Mrs Caldwell was told the best way to close the wound on his eyelid was to glue the cut. However, the doctor used too much glue. After about 20 minutes the doctor told Sam to open his eyes — but he couldn’t. His right eye was completely glued shut. She had put too much on his lid and it had slid around his eye. The little boy became very upset and began kicking his legs and screaming because he couldn’t open his eye.

A consultant then told Sam’s mother the glue would have to wear off; it would take a minimum of four days and he said 'he’ll get used to it'. This is not something the poor kid, or anyone else, should ever have to “get used to”. It’s tragic that this rubbish had taken place, but it would be a lot worse if sectarianism had anything to do with it. If it was a Catholic treating a Protestant (or vice versa), then sabotage could be added to the equation, especially if he loses an eye as a result.