Pam White

I have been wearing contact lenses for over 40 years since my first year at university because of very bad astigmatism and I have never been able to tolerate glasses.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, which up until last year never bothered me. It was quite sudden the change from good sight with lenses to virtually no sight in my right eye, my left eye was fine and you realise how precious the gift of sight is.

I decided to speak to my optician in the UK (I live in Lanzarote) and he referred me to Mr Daya (quoting that if he had to have any procedure on his eyes he would only be treated by him). Mr Daya advised toric lenses to replace my cataract lenses, these have to be placed exactly in the eye to correct my astigmatism.

The procedures were booked in for a Monday in May followed by the next eye on the Wednesday. I was naturally apprehensive on the days but to my relief I found out that no injections were necessary (friends had told me how painful that could be) instead (like all patients) my eyes were anaesthetised by drops and I had a line in my arm for sedation, if necessary. The longest part was the hour or so of constant numbing drops into the eye, the actual procedure took about 20 minutes. I had a little sedation which had no after effects, (I was able to walk out after the procedure) and I felt no pain then or afterwards.

The next morning I was dreading taking off the eye patch but to my relief I could see everything so clearly, colours were brighter and sharper. At the final check up I was told I had 20 .20 vision …amazing! I also needed to know if it was ok to fly home the next day, Mr Daya confirmed that there was no air bubbles in my new lenses and that flying was fine.

I am now back home enjoying my sight. I still can’t believe that I don’t have to wear glasses or contact lenses ever again. I haven’t been able to see like this since I was a teenager. I can’t wait to go swimming and open my eyes under water and be able to see everything for the first time.

I can’t thank the people at the Centre for Sight enough, they were all brilliant from Mr Daya and his wife down to the ladies at the desk.