A Still Game star has opened up about his experience dealing with sight loss after being diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration over a decade ago.
James Martin played the much loved character of Eric in the hit TV show and proudly served in the Royal Navy before embarking on his 40-year acting career.
He joined up aged just 17 in 1949 and served seven years then five years with the reserves.
The star, who turns 90 in March, was diagnosed with an eye disease which affects central vision over 10 years ago and there is currently no cure.
As his sight deteriorated and it became difficult for him to read and recognise faces, James got in touch with Sight Scotland Veterans in 2019.
The Glasgow born and bred actor, who is now based in Musselburgh, said: “I had never heard of macular degeneration when I was diagnosed and had thought there’d be something to cure it, but soon found out that there isn’t currently.
“My sight loss was very gradual, but I started to realise my central vision wasn’t as good as it should be and I couldn’t recognise faces – I now have to go by recognising voices.
"It was a funny thing. I can see all around me but when I try to pinpoint things in the middle of my vision it’s blurred.
“It’s mainly impacted my reading – I used to be a prolific reader but now due to my sight loss I find it a chore. I think recently it’s slowly got a little bit worse. I hope it’s reached its peak.
“I’d had no other support for my sight loss at all prior to joining Sight Scotland Veterans. The charity has been wonderful.
"The things I’ve been provided with to aid me are incredible. They’ve sourced me a talking watch and specialist lighting for reading.
"It just gives you your independence back. I love my cups of coffee, and one of my favourite things is a gadget that vibrates to let me know when the water has reached the top of the mug.”
Due to James' service background he was able to get support for the charity as their specialist equipment and support have been invaluable.
The charity also sourced a Synapptic tablet for the Still Game star which features software specifically designed for people dealing with sight loss.
James was able to attend a digital training session in West Lothian before the pandemic and still has regular phone calls with his outreach worker Dawn Smith as staff quickly adapted to restrictions and continue to provide support remotely.
He added: “They were very good at the centre and when the restrictions allow and the centre reopens I’d like to get back there to do some more training on the tablet.”
“Talk about kindred spirits – it’s quite like that with my outreach worker Dawn.
“Throughout the pandemic she’s been giving me a call to check in and I can give her a call too. She understands the challenges of sight loss and it makes a difference to have someone there who knows about the impact.
“Sometimes when you talk to people and say you’ve got macular degeneration they’ll say, ‘what’s that?’
"But Sight Scotland Veterans know what macular degeneration is all about. Having the support of the charity there, you’re talking to people who understand and can help you to adapt to life with sight loss.”
As President of the Royal Naval Association in Edinburgh, the busy veteran is determined not to let his sight loss get in the way of keeping active, and he still works out every day.
He is now calling for fellow veterans in Scotland to rake the brave set of reaching out for support and wanted to assure people there is help out there as he compared the "camaraderie of serving in the Navy" to the support received at Sight Scotland Veterans.
Mark O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland Veterans, added “It’s fantastic to hear of the impact Sight Scotland Veterans has had for James.
"The majority of the veterans we support today have sight loss due to age-related conditions such as macular degeneration, like James, or as a result of an accident or illness.
“We know there are thousands more veterans with sight loss in Scotland, including those who served National Service, who are eligible for Sight Scotland Veterans’ support.
“If you are a veteran with sight loss, or you know a veteran you think we could help, we would love to hear from you. We’re providing support in any way we can as restrictions continue, and we look forward to the day we can recommence our support face-to-face along with our social activities and events across Scotland.”
