Eye surgery has changed the life of an adventure enthusiast, giving her new freedom both in and out of the water.
Sarah Canning, 63, had struggled with myopia (short-sightedness) since childhood, which began to impact her love of open-water swimming.
A 15km swim challenge around the Isles of Scilly in 2023 became a turning point.
During the swim, Ms Canning found herself repeatedly veering off course because she could not see clearly.
She decided to undergo lens replacement surgery after consulting colleagues at Newmedica Worcester, where she works as lead optometrist.
Ms Canning said: “The main impetus behind me having this surgery was my open-water swimming.
“My issue was that I was so dependent on glasses and contact lenses, but they weren’t compatible with my swimming, and I could never find a pair of prescription goggles that didn’t leak.
“My myopia was so limiting when I was in the water, I couldn’t really see where I was going.”
Lens replacement surgery involves removing the eye’s natural lens and replacing it with a synthetic prescription lens.
Sarah Canning’s myopia meant she couldn’t see properly in the water (Image: Newmedica Worcester)
Ms Canning said: “I wanted to be able to swim confidently, and I thought that having my natural lenses replaced would also pre-empt the likelihood of getting cataracts when I’m older.
“It seemed like the sensible decision to make because it’s now given me a future without glasses and freed me up to pursue the active life I want.”
Since her surgery, she has fulfilled her dream of swimming with sea lions in the Galapagos and now plans to complete three open-water events in Snowdonia and Devon this summer.
Ms Canning said: “Since the surgery, it’s given me an extra freedom.
“It’s been a revelation.
“I feel like I’ve had a barrier removed, which has made me feel younger and energised.
“It’s been life-changing.”
The Newmedica Worcester clinic in Berkeley Business Park is owned and run by consultant ophthalmologists and operations director Josh Raden.
The clinic provides both private and NHS-funded eye treatments to reduce waiting times and improve patient outcomes.
More information about the clinic is available at www.newmedica.co.uk/clinics/worcester.
