A Scots grandad who suffers from a degenerative eye disease hopes a hi-tech headset will grant him the priceless gift of seeing his grandchildren's faces for the first time.
Scott Ramsay first noticed problems with his eyesight around 20 years ago and was referred to an eye specialist who found marbling in his eyes.
The 58-year-old, from Dundee, was told he had Stargardt disease, a rare genetic eye disease that occurs when fatty material builds up on the small part of the retina.
The disease has slowly stolen Scott's vision and cost him his job and independence over the last two decades.
The grandad has lost his driving licence, and eventually his job as a commercial window cleaner which he told the Record was like 'getting his legs cut off'.
He recently discovered IrisVision glasses, a breakthrough technology headset, which will enable him to see the faces of his four beloved grandchildren, Carra-leigh, 14, Brook, 12, Jack, 10, and Ford who is just three weeks old - but it will cost him £3,000.
Scott told the Record: "When I was told I would lose my sight, it went right over my head but my wife was so upset about it.
"When I came home, I thought, did he just say what I thought he said? My wife burst into tears.
"He said they'd never seen Stargardt disease before with the amount of marbling I had in my eye. He took photos of the inside and back of my eye to take down to a conference in London to show eye surgeons.
"When he came back, he contacted me and said none of them had ever seen anything like it before. It's the only diagnosis I've ever had."
Scott is now registered blind and has had to give up his job, hobbies and social events as the disease slowly robbed him of his vision.
He can no longer do simple tasks such as going to the supermarket without assistance.
He continued: I'm a plasterer to trade but have always done driving jobs like driving lorries and taxis. My last job was a commercial window cleaner which took me all over the North East of Scotland. It was a big loss, like getting my legs cut off.
"Things went from bad to worse when I lost my driving license, my job and had to get a guide dog. My eyesight is progressively getting worse."
Scott is now fundraising to cover the cost of a pair of IrisVision glasses - which will allow him to see his family's faces again.
So far he has raised £215 of the £3,000 total - but he says the expense will be worth it as 'you can't put a price on seeing your grandkids' faces'.
He continued: "I've never been able to sit with my grandkids and see what they're doing.
"When I go shopping, I need help from shop staff or my friend, Martin, to tell me what's on the shelf.
"I like working with my hands, tinkering with woodwork and carpentry, and I used to go fishing a lot but you can't do that now. It's the simple things that you take for granted.
"Being on benefits, the glasses aren't something I can afford off my own back. But it would make a massive difference in my life and be a big step towards independence."
To donate to Scott's fundraiser, click here.
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