PRESS RELEASE
Monday, March 9, 2015
Northampton optometrist saves man’s sight with new contact lens after 10 year battle
An award-winning contact lens expert from Northampton has stepped in to help a patient witness the birth of his baby daughter, despite fears he would never be able to see again.
Kevin Marshall, aged 30 from East Hunsbury, has fought a 10 year battle with Keratoconus – a degenerative eye disorder which distorted his vision to such an extent that he could no longer drive or see more than three feet in front of him.
Having been told by several eyecare professionals there was nothing they could do for him, Mr Marshall was eventually referred to Brian Tompkins, owner of Tompkins, Knight & Son Optometrists in Kingsley Road, Northampton.
Within a matter of minutes, a state-of-the-art scleral lens, which creates a tear-filled vault over the cornea, had been fitted and Mr Marshall’s sight had been restored.
He said: “It felt like a miracle. I had got to the point where I genuinely thought I wouldn’t be able to see again.
“I had to give up work, I couldn’t go out and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to see my baby, but literally within minutes of meeting Brian it had all been resolved. The word ‘life-changing’ doesn’t even come close.
“I can now do all the little things people take for granted but which I wasn’t previously able to do. I can watch the TV at night, I can go swimming and I can play with my little girl, Lalie, which means the world to me.”
Kevin’s condition meant his corneas were conical rather than spherical, distorting his vision.
He underwent a full corneal graft on his left eye but the surgery meant that normal lenses would irritate the scar tissue, making the problem worse.
Mr Tompkins said: “It was a tricky one as we had to find a lens which didn’t sit directly on either eye. The left eye had the graft scars and the right eye still had Keratoconus.
“The scleral lens creates a vault over the cornea, removing any chance of irritation of either the graft scars or the sensitive thin conic cornea but still achieving superb vision.
“I’m delighted that it has had such a positive impact on Kevin and he is now able to enjoy family life once again.”
Kevin has now secured a new role as a recruitment manager and added: “I feel as though I have been given a second chance in life and I can’t thank Brian and the staff at TKS Optometrists enough for what they have done for me.”
For more information on Tompkins, Knight & Son visit www.tks-optometrists.co.uk
Notes to editors
• For further details, to arrange an interview or more photographs, email daniel.owens@ojpr.co.uk or call 07909 916668.
• For more information about keratoconus join us on Facebook or Twitter @keratoconusGB
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