Eye donation 'an enormous gift', says recipient

A man whose sight was saved by donated corneas has urged people to consider eye donation after death, describing it as "an enormous gift".

Cornea transplants can restore vision to people with partial or total blindness caused by some conditions. There are currently about 6,000 people on the waiting list across the UK, including 50 in Gloucestershire.

Justin Hunter received a transplant 18 months ago after being diagnosed with a rare condition that can cause blindness.

"It's just such an enormous gift to give on passing," he said. "You cannot quantify the gift that you give."

Hunter said he was diagnosed "almost by mistake" after a referral by his high street optician revealed the rare congenial condition Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy, which can cause blindness.

He said knowing he was losing his sight had been "extremely dramatic in an internal way".

"I'm a husband, a father, I live in a house I'm used to living in, I drive, I travel, I love theatre, I love sports, I love live music, so really you confront the possibility of all of those things disappearing," he said.

With loss of vision a guarantee, Hunter chose to undergo a new form of surgery in Cheltenham using donor corneas.

"When you're told you can have this surgery but it might not work, you just say yes," he said.

"I'm a new person because in my head I lost it all and so I'm one of the few people who can enjoy everything. I enjoy things I never used to see.

"There's more of a shortage of eyes because people often feel very sensitive, either spiritually or literally, about donating their eyes."

Head was among recipients, donor families and medical professionals who shared their experiences at a special service at Gloucester Cathedral.

Iain Dobie's wife Alison died unexpectedly from sepsis in 2022 and had volunteered to donate.

"My wife gave her eyes so that someone might see," said Dobie. "It feels some compensation during a time of mourning.

"We got a letter some time after she died that explained how a 68-year-old man had received one of her eyes and the other had gone to medical research into eye diseases and treatments.

"It gave, even at that most agonising time, some solace."

Dobie wants to encourage families to consent to donation.

"There's a long waiting list for eye transplants, more than other organs and tissues," he said.

"I know they're meant to be the windows to the soul and people don't like to think of their eyes being lost, but what I would say is bizarrely, eyes, because they're so personal, they're the greatest gift they could give."

Dr Paul Tomlins, a consultant corneal surgeon who performed Head's operation, said one donor could help multiple people.

"One patient can donate two eyes and two eyes can be used for four patients, so there's a large number of patients that can benefit from one person," he said.

"Many people aren't able to donate organs for many reasons, but eyes can be donated by the vast majority of patients.

"Corneas can be transplanted up to 24 hours after people pass away."

Those wishing to donate their eyes can register through the NHS Organ Donor Register.

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