Bowler has eyes on the prize after lens replacement surgery

After undergoing lens replacement surgery, Paisley-based Freddy Nisbet is seeing success on the bowling green.

Freddy, 55, who has been playing bowls competitively since 1988 first noticed his eyesight deteriorating in the mid-1990s while working in a store room.

“It was more of a nuisance than anything at first, but my vision kept getting worse and became a real issue,” he said. “I noticed that I needed progressively brighter lights and stronger glasses to read newspapers; it made me very self conscious.”

After visiting the Braehead Optical Express clinic, Freddy was diagnosed with glaucoma; a degenerative but treatable eye condition. Optical Express suggested that he undergo lens replacement surgery to prevent his condition from worsening.

“I jumped at the chance of finally getting rid of my glasses,” said Freddy. “They prevented me playing bowls in the rain, using the sauna and steam room at my gym and really badly affected my confidence.”

“Once I’d booked the appointment at Optical Express’s treatment clinic in Glasgow there was no looking back. I only got nervous in the waiting area. The whole thing was over before I knew it and my vision was soon better than ever.”

Since undergoing lens replacement surgery Freddy has found success in his bowls, becoming club champion of Ralston Bowling Green and fending off 16 other clubs’ champions to win the Govan Champion of Champions title.

Freddy said: “My lens replacement surgery gave me a new lease of life. I feel so much more confident without my glasses, which has definitely helped improved my bowls.

“I no longer have to reschedule matches when it’s raining, and I can read in conditions I never could have hoped for a few years ago. It’s difficult to express how liberating the treatment has been for me, but it’s fantastic and I’d recommend lens replacement to anyone.”

Optical Express is a sponsor of Bowls Scotland which represents 66,000 members at 874 clubs nationwide. All members of clubs affiliated to Bowls Scotland receive an exclusive membership benefit card which they can use to obtain discounts on glasses, contact lenses, laser eye surgery and natural lens replacement.

Lens replacement surgery is now one of the most commonly performed elective surgery procedures for correcting vision and is especially suited to those aged 40 or over. The treatment involves the insertion of a small lens into the eye. It functions in a similar manner to a contact lens except that it is left in the eye permanently and cannot be seen or felt by the patient.

Jill Campbell, Clinical Director at Optical Express, said: “It’s great to hear that Freddy is knocking his competitors for six after lens replacement surgery. Good eyesight is an important part of a player’s game.

“As demonstrated by Freddy, lens replacement is guaranteed to have a huge impact on the lives of patients – no matter what their age – allowing them to live a glasses free lifestyle.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For further information or images regarding Optical Express services please contact oepr@bigpartnership.co.uk or call Patrick Baxter on 0141 333 9585.

About Optical Express:

The Optical Express Group was founded in 1991 and is now a global leader of selected healthcare services.

Worldwide, Optical Express surgeons have together performed over 2 million refractive surgery procedures and their ophthalmic surgeons have a combined surgical experience of over 1,000 years. They treat more patients than all other laser eye surgery providers combined, as confirmed in the UK Government Competition Commission Report, November 2013.

In a recent survey of over 252,179 Optical Express patients, over 99% said they would recommend Optical Express to their family and friends.

In a study completed in September 2014 of nearly 336,381 Optical Express patients, over 99% achieved 20/20 vision or better following treatment.

The company employs over 2,000 people, utilising ophthalmologists and optometrists across more than 160 locations throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, Croatia, Germany and The Netherlands.

oegroupadmin

oegroupadmin

Leave a Reply