Boxing world champion, Ricky Hatton MBE, has had his vision transformed with a pain-free lens replacement treatment which he describes as ‘life-changing’.
The 45-year-old Manchester boxer, who is now a professional trainer and runs Hatton Boxing health and fitness centre, reflects on his journey to 20:20 vision at Optegra Eye Hospital Manchester.
“From the minute I turned 40, I felt like my vision deteriorated and that at each subsequent eye test, my vision seemed to get considerably worse.
“It was like someone turned a switch – I could not read my phone, a menu in a restaurant, anything. And I travel a lot so not being able to see the Sat Nav was really annoying! I run my life through my phone – all my planning, meetings, emails, so suddenly I found myself constantly, all day long, putting glasses on and off just to manage. Every time the phone rang I had to find my glasses.
“And if I lost my glasses, or forgot them, I was in real trouble! All day long, ‘where are my glasses?’ – it affected every day, I was so dependent on them. In the end I just could not see well enough to do what I needed in life.
“A few of my friends had mentioned Optegra Eye Hospital Manchester and said vision correction surgery was the best thing they did, so I booked in for a consultation where I was told I could have lens replacement surgery.
“Even on the day of the op I could tell there was a big improvement, my vision was considerably different. By day two it was pretty much bang on perfect, but over the next few weeks my eyesight has just got better and better, and now I can see brilliantly!
“The treatment was very quick and that surprised me to be honest. I also expected it to be a bit painful. It certainly was not, just a bit uncomfortable with putting the lens in, fixing it and keep it lubricated. But it was over so quickly – half an hour and all done.
“Optegra made me feel so comfortable all the way through. It’s natural to panic a bit about an eye operation, but they made it so relaxed in the lead up, they let me know everything that was going to happen and kept me up to speed the whole way. At my six-week check, I was told that I now have perfect 20:20 vision.
“I have a hectic schedule and like to keep really busy – my eyes were holding me back really, just with the frustration and hassle of glasses. Life is so much easier now, people who wear glasses will know exactly what I am talking about – not to have that weight anymore, it is the best thing I have ever done. I know this may sound a little drastic, but it’s life-changing. It has actually changed my life and made it so much easier. It is night and day!
“Boxing has been so good to me – it was a fantastic career and now I am in a position where I have a comfortable life and can support my family. I even got awarded the MBE from King Charles, then Prince of Wales, in 2007 which I never would have dreamt would have happened to me. If I can bring the next boxer through and give someone the type of life that me and my family have through boxing, then that is great – I want to give a little back.”
