A DUNFERMLINE man has thanked donors after being undergoing eye surgery.

Martin McNicoll received two cornea transplants to improve his vision after suffering from glaucoma since birth.

The 39-year-old was born with only 25 per cent of his sight and his condition caused further damage in his twenties, leading to further impairment.

He said: “The best way to describe the effect of the cornea damage is that, every morning when I opened my eyes, it was like looking through steam. I tried to adjust but my eyes were taking longer and longer to clear, and the frequent haziness drove me up the wall.”

The possibility of corneal grafts was raised by Martin’s specialists in 2013, however, his glaucoma meant the surgery wasn’t straightforward, with success rates reduced.

Martin knew that he couldn’t avoid the problem, and his first cornea transplant in his right eye in 2014 was a success, helping remove the haziness.

His second transplant in his left eye in 2016 didn’t go as smoothly, resulting in complications which left Martin with further reduced vision.

He said: “My initial surgery was complicated due to the shape of my eye. I would describe it as trying to put a patch from a football on a rugby ball. But the transplant worked and eliminated the haziness from my vision which brought such relief.

“The result from the second transplant unfortunately wasn’t as positive but I knew that, because of my glaucoma, this could be the outcome. However, leaving things alone wasn’t an option.

“I’m still trying to get used to the reduced vision in my left eye and relying only on my right eye, it’s like looking at the world through a periscope.

"But I know that without my donors, I would have been completely stuck. It’s difficult to get your head round what that person has done for you after they have gone and I’m grateful to have been given that chance.”

People in Scotland are being encouraged to consider donating organs and tissue after they die, with 339 cornea transplants taking place in 2017/18.

Joe FitzPatrick, minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “Life without sight is unimaginable for many of us. One donor can potentially save or improve the vision of up to four people, showing how life-changing the decision to donate organs can be.

“When joining the NHS Organ Donor Register, you can specify which organs and tissue you wish to donate, and it’s vital that family members understand your decision.”