Botched laser eye surgery left a woman unable to watch TV without wearing sunglasses.
Joanne Hartley, from Wawne, West Yorks, had the op last year in a bid to improve her vision but things went wrong – and she has now been awarded damages.
She recalled saying 'I can't see, I can't see' after routine surgery left her with a large open hole in her eye.
Joanne, 53, had been referred for surgery as she had ‘narrow angles’ in her eyes.
The common condition causes pressure to build, leading to headaches and pain.
The issue is resolved through laser surgery, with a small hole made at the top of the iris to help the fluid drain better, with the hole covered by the eye lid when the eyes are open.
But Joanne says she knew straight away that something was wrong after the surgery at Hull Royal Infirmary Eye Hospital as she couldn't see anything at all.
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust admitted they'd breached their duty of care and Joanne was paid a settlement this March.
Joanne added: “I was light sensitive as soon as I had the procedure and I have suffered every day since.
"My husband, Mark Hartley, 60, had to guide me to the car as we left and when we got home I had to go straight to bed.
"My vision was very blurred and my head was pounding. I felt terrible.
“The only advice I was given was that my sight would be blurred initially and would be improved after a few hours.
"I wish I’d never had the surgery now, but I wasn’t really presented with any other option.
"I have been left so sensitive to light in my right eye that I now has to wear wraparound sunglasses when watching television or using a smartphone, or when the main ceiling light is on in her living room."
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust admitted the procedure had been substandard and performed in the wrong place.
It also admitted the surgery on Mrs Hartley’s left eye had not been to standard, leading to it having to be performed again.
Solicitor Lauren Dale, of Hudgell Solicitors said: “This was a procedure which was supposed to be straight forward and uncomplicated and relieve Mrs Hartley of the headaches and pain she had been suffering.
“The error has had a life-changing impact on her and her husband as she constantly has to live with her light sensitivity, pain and discomfort."
A spokeswoman for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We would like to reiterate our apology to Ms Hartley.
"The trust has admitted a breach of its duty of care in this case and we are pleased to have reached a settlement."
