Essex teacher talks about "life changing" eye transplants on World Keratoconus Day
The rare condition affects the eyes
An ACL Essex teacher is raising awareness of a rare eye condition that can lead to significant vision loss.
It is World Keratoconus Day, and we are hearing from Kemal Khan, who has had three eye transplants to fix his vision.
He tells us that over 6000 people are waiting for corneal transplants in the UK, and that there are a shortage of donors.
Today, he works for ACL Essex, with Essex County Council, and has thanked them for giving him the opportunity to get back into work, and to influence people's lives.
"I was 13 years old, and I was playing rugby.
"One of my teammates kicked the ball into the air, and I stood there, looking to find the ball. I couldn't see it. The ball just disappeared.
"Keratoconus affects the eye as it grows. It is supposed to be a concave shape, but mine is not like that.
"As the light hits the front part of the eye, instead of going into the retina, it just disappears.
"It is like if you are looking through a camera lens and you completely thrown the lens out and you twist it until it is zoomed out.
"I had my first transplant when I was 19, and my second when I was 20.
"I lived a life because of these people, because of people that donated their corneas.
"Now I've had another transplant, a couple of years ago here in Colchester Hospital, and I received that eye from an 89 year old woman from Liverpool.
"Since I have had that transplant I have got 20/20 vision, I don't wear glasses anymore.
"I am teaching now, and I teach children and young men and women that have got disabilities.
"I understand their frustrations when they can't read and write, I understand why that is the case.
"There's a connection there with me and the students.
"There's over 6000 people waiting for corneal transplants in the UK, and a real shortage of transplants."