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A sight for sore eyes

Journalist Jennifer Bradbury found the spotlight turned on herself for her latest reporting challenge.

She had agreed to undergo laser eye surgery – and have the operation featured in the Evening Chronicle.

Before the £2,000 high-tech treatment, the Newcastle reporter admitted to being a little nervous.

But she confessed she was unable to get along with contact lenses, and was fed up of falling asleep with her glasses on only to wake up and find she’d been sitting on them, so decided to go ahead.

A few weeks before the operation, Jennifer had to undergo strenuous tests to check her eyes were suitable for treatment, and on the day of surgery she was given anaesthetic eye drops and a tablet to help her relax.

She said: “This was the terrifying part for me as I really wasn’t convinced a few eye drops could knock my eyes out so I wouldn’t feel anything during surgery.”

  • Delicate op
  • During surgery a thin layer of corneal tissue was lifted from the surface of the eye, remaining attached at one side while the other was folded over to expose the surface beneath, which was the part treated by the laser.

    Jennifer said: “It’s a weird experience. It really doesn’t hurt but it does feel uncomfortable. Within 20 minutes it was all over.”

    After the procedure she was given plastic shields to protect her eyes at night and a pair of new glasses with plain glass to protect her eyes from dust and grit while they healed.

    She said: “On the first night after treatment my sight wasn’t very good. I couldn’t focus to read or watch the television. The next morning, after removing the shields the outlook was slightly improved and my vision was definitely getting better.

    “On the second morning after the operation I woke up and couldn’t open my right eye as it was stuck together. When I did eventually open it I then discovered I was ultra-sensitive to light and had to walk around in sunglasses.”

    By the next day Jennifer was feeling a little better, although she had to wear sunglasses to work, and over the next few days her sight became sharper.

    She said: “However, after having been attached to my glasses for so long (more than 20 years) over the next few weeks I did find it hard getting my head round the fact that I could see for myself.

    “My near sight is as good as it ever was and my distance sight is as it was with prescription glasses.

    “But if I’m honest, I do miss my glasses. I might even have to take up wearing those fashion ones with clear glass.”

  • Pictures courtesy of Newcastle Evening Chronicle

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