Brightness and colour is so enhanced, I did not expect that!

For renowned boxing coach Dominic Ingle, his career was becoming challenged by poor vision as he struggled to judge punches in the boxing ring.

Lens replacement surgery at Optegra Eye Clinic Sheffield has given him a new lease of life, as his deteriorating vision was affecting both his work at the gym and his life outside it.

And, ironically, his poor vision even meant Dominic – who has spent decades training some of the country’s top boxers – had found himself on the receiving end of a few unexpected punches.

Sheffield born and bred Dominic, 59, was brought up in a famous boxing family, and inspired by his late father Brendan Ingle, who trained world champion Prince Naseem Hamed during the 1990s. Today, Dominic runs the renowned Ingle Gym in Wincobank, which has produced a string of world and British champions, such as Kell Brook.

But despite being at the top of his game professionally, Dominic’s eyesight has been a challenge as it has been deteriorating for years.

He has worn glasses and contact lenses since the age of 40, but as presbyopia, the age-related changes that make it harder to see things up close, developed, managing his vision became increasingly difficult.  The blurred vision was pushing him to his limits.

And in a sport where split-second reactions and the ability to judge distance are essential, it was becoming a real problem. Dominic explains:

“When training young people, we do a lot of pad work, where I hold the boxing pads and kids punch them as hard as they can. You need to have good all-round vision or can miss the shot, and my peripheral vision is not what it was so I have been caught a couple of times!

“Judging distances was getting harder which affects me as you need to have really quick reactions – it is essential in this sport.  I’ve had to wear different contact lenses in each eye for different distances, but it is really hard work to focus and that was tiring, it can mentally wear you out.  My vision was really becoming an inconvenience for my lifestyle and my work.”

Away from the gym, Dominic was finding everyday activities increasingly frustrating. Reading had become more difficult, while his passion for playing guitar was also affected as he struggled to see the frets clearly and read music.

Even driving to matches at night was becoming a challenge, as it was harder to judge distances and read his dashboard clearly.

Having considered vision correction for some time, it was the advice and enthusiasm of one of his personal training clients, who had been treated at Optegra, which spurred him on to act now. Dominic went to Optegra Eye Clinic Sheffield, near Meadowhall, and following extensive eye health checks was told he was suitable for lens replacement surgery.

This procedure removes the natural lens of the eye through a tiny incision, and replaces it with a bespoke, tailored lens for that individual patient – providing the exact prescription they need.  It lasts permanently and has the added advantage of the patient never getting a cataract in the future, as their natural lens has been removed.

Asked about his procedure, Dominic said: “I was a bit apprehensive because I’ve never had surgery before, but my surgeon explained it all really thoroughly. To be honest, if he had not told me what he was doing through what he was doing during the op, I would have had no idea! All I could feel was water on my eyes. It was absolutely pain free and so quick – in fact the drops beforehand was the longest part!

“And now, my vision is perfect, absolutely perfect! My only regret is that I did not do it much sooner – I have gone 15 years with poor vision and the frustration of glasses and contacts, having to struggle getting ready every day.

“The worries I had about the op just went away – it was nothing like I imagined, and honestly I would rather have this done every day of the week than go to the dentist for a filling!

“And now, I just get up at 5am, quickly get ready and head to the gym straight away, saving so much time not having to mess around with my eyes.  I can see straight away, and everything is so clear – at work, in the ring, when driving.  And the actual brightness and colour is so enhanced, I did not expect that!”

Dominic was treated by Optegra Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Mr Fadi Alfaqawi, who said:

“Boxing depends on split-second timing and judging distance, so for Dominic, clear vision isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity for his job. It was a real pleasure to see how quickly he got back to the gym and enjoying life without reaching for glasses or contact lenses. “Presbyopia affects almost everyone from their mid-forties, and many people put up with it for years, just as Dominic did. The good news is there are now several ways to treat it.

“Lens replacement was the right choice for Dominic, but for others, Presbyond Laser treatment may be an option. It uses laser to reshape the cornea so the eyes work together, giving clear vision near, far and in between.

“Not every treatment suits every patient, which is why a thorough assessment matters. I’d encourage anyone who is struggling with their vision to come and find out what their individual options are.”