A man whose eye was left resembling a raisin after a severe car crash has had his sight partially restored through eight meticulous surgical procedures. Chris Hurd, 37, from Basingstoke, suffered the devastating injury while on a city break in Budapest in 2023.
Devastating Accident
Mr Hurd was in the front passenger seat of a taxi when a drunk driver ran a red light and T-boned the vehicle. The impact shattered the windscreen, sending a shower of glass into his face. He sustained a broken neck, multiple fractures, and severe eye injuries. His eyelids were torn away, his iris disappeared, and he suffered a detached retina. The eye had large puncture wounds, leaving a gaping hole.
Mr Hurd was told it was likely the eye could not be repaired. He was put into an induced coma, and surgeons performed initial procedures to save his eyelids and remove glass. A second procedure was unsuccessful, and he was informed he would probably lose the eye.
Return to the UK
When stable enough to return to England, Mr Hurd was referred privately to Professor Roger Shimizu Wong, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the London Clinic. At that point, his eye was more like a raisin than an eyeball. Professor Wong performed a series of operations, starting with reattaching the retina, removing blood, and stabilising the globe.
Further surgeries included a fake iris made of silicone, a donor filter to clean the eye, and multiple retinal repairs. Mr Hurd now has partial vision in the injured eye, with shape and colour perception and peripheral vision. He uses his good eye for most tasks but relies on the damaged eye for depth and spatial awareness, enabling him to drive.
Emotional Journey
Mr Hurd described the experience as emotional, especially hearing he might lose his eye. He praised Professor Wong's skill and the long healing process. Professor Wong noted that ruptured globes often result in vision loss, so restoring any sight is remarkable. He performed the surgeries step by step, first ensuring the globe was intact before improving vision.
Mr Hurd and his fiancée Katie Plimmer plan to marry after his rehabilitation. He expressed gratitude for the medical care and the chance to regain some sight.
