Brighton embroiderer regains sight after cataracts removal

Sara Bennington-Flair, 52, of Upper Bevendean Avenue in Brighton, began losing her sight in June 2021.

She was diagnosed with having cataracts in both eyes, and faced losing not just her sight, but her independence, also.

“I said to my daughter that I can’t see well – she had to guide me,” she said.

Sara, from Brighton, had cataracts in both eyes

“When I was crossing the road I couldn’t see the road properly, it was like walking in fog. I had to get my daughter to look at the things for me because I couldn’t see them clearly enough.

“There were days when I felt like I couldn’t carry on with embroidery.”

Sara, who works in the NHS, began embroidering as a hobby when she was 18, but found it increasingly tough to continue up as her vision deteriorated.

She did not give up, and would send updates of her work to a friend for encouragement, who would tell her not to stop embroidering.

Sara's completed embroidering of Brighton's landmarks

Now, however, Sara has undergone two operations to remove the cataracts, which were successful, and she has begun embroidering once more - finishing her creation of Brighton landmarks, which she started before her sight began to fade.

READ MORE: £50m support announced for businesses in the creative industries

“It’s really excellent. I saw an embroidery of Brighton online, and I decided that would be my next one.”