A RETIRED Donegal couple are among the first people in the Republic to undergo an innovative corrective eye surgery which restores vision to older people.
Former garda Tony Canning (68) and his wife Marie (63) had 15 pairs of glasses between them in their Castlefin home. This did not stop them from arguing over who owned which spectacles, they recalled yesterday.
Because of their age, the couple were deemed unsuitable for laser eye surgery. Instead, they had M-plus multifocal lenses fitted at the Cathedral Eye Clinic based at the University of Ulster in Belfast last October.
Mr Canning, originally from Mohill, Co Leitrim, said the results were “unbelievable”.
“I started wearing glasses when I was 40, and my eyesight had deteriorated ever since,” he said.
“I can see everything clearly now and driving is a pleasure again. When I say it is life-changing, it really is...
“I had two sets of glasses, and I was forever lifting the wrong ones. I have to admit the operation has even improved my temper – I’m no longer frustrated looking for glasses around the house.”
The procedure, carried out at the Belfast clinic by Prof Jonathan Moore, can restore 20/20 vision in most patients, regardless of age.
“It is absolute freedom,” said Ms Canning, originally from Shercock, Co Cavan. “All the little things you do every day have become so easy again. I can do simple things like reading the paper or threading a needle on my sewing machine. There’s a lot less tension in our house these days.
“Neither of us is fumbling about the house any more looking for glasses – and blaming each other for lifting them.”