5 years after road accident, nerve from foot restores farmer's vision

A 30-year-old farmer from Jalna has regained vision after doctors in a city hospital used a nerve from his left leg to replace his damaged facial nerve.

- Malathy lyer

Sandeep lost vision in his right eye and suffered extensive nerve damage along his left side when, five years back, a truck collided with the car he was driving.

The operation which took place on May 24 at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, helped Sandeep gain near-normal vision in his left eye. "We expected his vision to get better in three months, but his eye got better within 15 days due to a newer technique we tried," said oculoplastic surgeon Dr Sunil Morekar.

Sandeep whose vision was limited to a couple of feet can now read signboards with huge letters.

Sandeep was only 28 years old and planning his daughter's first birthday when the accident took place en route to Amravati.

"I was in coma for two months, and when I regained consciousness, doctors in my hometown realised that my vision was severely impaired," he said.