A Wigan optical assistant is celebrating 30 years of work despite her rare eye condition

Joanne Cooke, aged 52, joined the two Specsavers branches in May 1995 and has continued to build a career she is passionate about, despite being diagnosed 17 years ago with Punctate Inner Choroidopathy (PIC), a rare inflammatory condition affecting the back of the eye.

PIC is a condition in which small lesions form at the back of the eye, affecting the retina and the underlying tissue. Joanne first noticed that straight lines appeared wavy, followed by flashing lights and floaters. When she sought advice, an optometrist identified a bleed behind the eye and an urgent referral was made. She has since undergone treatment including injections used for wet age related macular degeneration and has also experienced a retinal tear and recurring uveitis in both eyes, a condition she describes as very painful.

There is currently no cure for PIC and Joanne has had to come to terms with permanent vision loss. With support from the low vision team, she now uses a guide cane, magnifiers and a range of other tools to help with day-to-day life. Coming to terms with significant sight loss in her 30s was not easy, but Joanne has continued to show up, for her colleagues, customers and herself.

Joanne said: 'Thirty years is a long time and there have been moments along the way that I genuinely didn't know how I would keep going. PIC is a condition most people have never heard of and living with progressive sight loss is something that affects every part of your life. But this job, and the people I work with, have given me a reason to keep finding ways to adapt. I want people to know that it is possible to have a meaningful, fulfilling career alongside a visual impairment, it just looks a little different. I'm proud of every one of those 30 years and I'm not done yet.'

Joanne’s favourite part of the role is dispensing, all while building relationships with customers and helping them find the right frames and lenses for their needs. With the support of her colleagues across both stores, Joanne is able to carry out most of the responsibilities she has always held and has no plans to stop.

Laura Gardner, retail director at Specsavers Wigan, Skelmersdale and Ashton-in-Makerfield, said: 'Joanne is one of those people who makes a team what it is. Thirty years of dedication, warmth and genuine care for every customer she works with isn’t something you can manufacture and it's not something you take for granted.

‘What Joanne has navigated over the past 17 years, while continuing to show up and do the job she loves, says everything about who she is. We are incredibly lucky to have her and I hope her story inspires others to understand what is possible when you have the right support around you.'

The Wigan, Skelmersdale and Ashton-in-Makerfield Specsavers stores offer comprehensive eye care services including eye examinations, contact lens fittings, hearing tests and a wide range of glasses and sunglasses.