When your passions depend on clear vision, struggling to see can mean having to compromise on the activities you love. Pamela, a passionate painter and nature enthusiast from Forfar in Angus, Scotland, knows this all too well.

“I like to paint, it’s one of my very favourite things to do. I also love the countryside and I just wasn’t seeing clearly enough like I like, you know, I like to see the mountains and it was just so fuzzy and spoiling my enjoyment.”

She shared with us how her declining vision was affecting her ability to fully enjoy the things she loved, particularly her painting and time spent outdoors. Faced with the reality of waiting for a year due to long NHS waiting lists, Pamela realised she couldn’t wait any longer - she needed to take control and find a way to speed up the process so she could get back to living life to the fullest.

“One day, sitting beside my husband in the car, I realised I wasn’t seeing the signs on the road very well and that’s when I realised I really mustn’t drive anymore until I do something about my sight. Because my sight had got so bad, I thought well it’s going to be another year out of my life at least, waiting for the NHS so I thought right, I must do this.“

With her first appointment in Dundee, Pamela went on to have cataract surgery in both eyes in Apex House in Edinburgh and tells us of her incredibly smooth journey.

“The staff at Optical Express were wonderful, they couldn’t have treated me better. “I’m just happy with the overall treatment I’ve had and aftercare and friendliness of the staff. I can’t wait to get in the car and have a drive to go and see my friends and see the greens properly and the purples on the mountains and the heather.”

Pamela’s story is one that deeply resonates with so many, highlighting the frustration and emotional toll that poor vision can have on a person’s life. Through advanced treatments and expert care, we’re able to restore clarity and improve vision, allowing people like Pamela to reclaim the activities and passions that bring them joy. We’re proud to play a role in giving someone back not just their vision, but the freedom to live life fully again