A mum who spent decades “living in a blur” has shared the emotional moment she finally saw her son’s face properly on his 21st birthday.
Sara Rogers had never clearly seen her son Nathan growing up, instead relying on his voice, touch and closeness to recognise him.
She had long suffered with myopia and astigmatism, leaving her unable to properly see and, despite years of trying, even strong glasses eventually stopped helping.
READ MORE: I died twice from an ectopic pregnancy – and woke up unable to breathe
But after life-changing eye surgery, the 53-year-old has been able to see every detail for the very first time.
“After the surgery, it felt like someone had turned my life up to HD,” Sara, from Powys, Wales, told Need To Know.
“I could see the writing on the emergency fire leaflet across the room.
“I could see the coffee, tea and sugar packets and even read the brand names.
“I just lay there thinking, I can see everything.
“I could see hair grips in women’s hair, cracks between paving stones, laces on stranger’s shoes and tiny buttons on pedestrian crossings.
“It was all in 3D technicolour.
“It was unbelievable and life changing.
“I was walking around open-mouthed, gawping at everything.
“People were avoiding me like I was some kind of lunatic.”
But the most powerful moment came days later during Nathan’s 21st birthday celebrations in Turkey.
Sara said: “This time, I looked at him in the sunshine and suddenly saw all the tiny details on his face.
“His eyelashes, his grin lines and his eyes when he laughs.
“He was overjoyed that the surgery had gone well and there were no complications.
“He was happy to get mum back the next day, as planned.
“When I told him I could see him, he asked me to count his eyelashes.
“Then he asked me if I could see his freckles and I told him I could see him properly.”
Now Sara says her life has been completely transformed.
She said: “I can tell shampoo from the conditioner in the shower.
“I can read my phone and then look into the distance without swapping glasses.
“I can even read ingredient labels while shopping.
“I was terrified of falling over something I hadn’t seen or misjudging a doorway.
“A huge weight has been lifted.
“I can see my son clearly.
“I can see emotions, expressions and moments.
“I’m safer, more confident and honestly happier.
“I feel like I’ve stepped back into my life.
“Everyone say I look brighter.
“I think it’s because I can finally see my world.
“If I see a leaf catching the light, I’ll just stand there and marvel at it.
“I didn’t realise what I’d lost until it came back.
“Before, I was careful, but now I’m confident.
“I can see hazards, I can judge spaces properly and I feel present in my body again.”
Sara said it was “incredibly difficult” to not be able to se her own baby after first welcoming Nathan.
Everything changed on 6 August last year when she underwent complex surgery after nearly backing out at the last minute.
She was offered a trifocal lens replacement using advanced ZEISS lenses by consultant ophthalmic surgeon Mfazo Hove.
Sara added: “I didn’t expect a miracle.
“I just hoped things might be a bit less foggy.
“It sounded like magic but I was willing to try.
“You don’t realise how fortunate you are when you can’t see more than ten centimetres in front of your nose – the world can feel like a very frightening place.
“For me, it isn’t anymore.”
READ MORE: Bride-to-be left ‘disfigured and near blind’ after microneedle treatment for wedding photoshoot
