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Man gains normal eyesight after stroke at 70
Chris Laker2 Sep 2009
A grandfather revealed today that a massive stroke miraculously cured his ailing sight.
Malcolm Darby, 70, had worn glasses since the age of two due to measles.
But after suffering a stroke, he found he could suddenly see without any help at all.
Mr Darby, from Oakham, Rutland, Leicestershire, today said he now has "six pairs of glasses I don't need".
He said: "I've worn glasses my whole life. I even had them on when I had my stroke.
"I was doing some work in my study in May last year when I noticed a 'drip, drip, drip' and started having a nosebleed.
"The next thing I knew was 'bang' and I had collapsed."
The 70-year-old was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot, and was left paralysed and unable to speak.
But as he started to recover, he noticed it was not only his speech he was getting back.
"It wasn't until about four or five days later in hospital when a nurse walked past me with a newspaper under her arm and I could read the heading. I could never have done that before," he said.
"I didn't think anything about it because I was still suffering from the stroke.
"But after I got home I realised I could watch my television without my glasses.
"I've got six pairs of glasses now that are no good. I only use one pair of reading glasses if I'm trying to read what's going to be on the TV and it's dark in the lounge."
Today the father of two is talking again and manages to walk four miles a day.
But recovering his sight was not the only strange effect of his life-changing stroke - the 70-year-old has lost his ability to speak French.
He added: "I'm on the mend now, so every cloud has a silver lining, especially with getting my sight back.
"But before the stroke I used to be able to speak French, and now I just can't get a word of it out."
