World Sight Day 2025

World Sight Day 2025 is a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about vision impairment, blindness, and the importance of eye health. This day serves as a reminder of the need for regular eye examinations, early detection and treatment of eye conditions, and the importance of eye cornea donations. 

This is my story:-

Back in November 2022, after many years of illness, my husband Geoff died peacefully in the care of Queens Hospital with myself and our daughters by his side. As a family we were devastated to lose such a wonderful man, but his legacy was to live on.

The following morning we took an unexpected call from the organ donation department at the hospital.  They explained that as Geoff carried a donor card would we agree for his corneas to be removed to help others suffering from a vision impairment, this is a procedure that has to be done within 24 hours of death, so we had to make this difficult decision immediately.  In respect of his wishes, we agreed, but it wasn’t easy.  I remember at the time also feeling for the person having to make the call asking the question.  It made me realise just how difficult this must also be for the nurses and doctors at the hospice who ask this question on a regular basis.

Having agreed I own up to blocking the whole process, until 6 months later.  I received in the post a silver heart and the most beautiful letter of thanks advising that my husband’s corneas had given sight to two men aged 53 and 62.  Did we cry, of course we did, were we proud of Geoff and our decision, most definitely.  This is one of my favourite photos taken at our wedding in 1991.