A PATIENT who had a life-changing eye transplant featured in a new two-part BBC documentary series.

Tom Fitzgerald, 24, from Poole, suffers from a rare degenerative condition called Keratoconus which meant he had to quit his studies to be a quantity surveyor.

But, thanks to a donated cornea, Tom’s vision has been restored and he will be returning to university this autumn.

Tom was one of 62 patients at Southampton General Hospital to benefit from a corneal transplant last year.

Tom’s surgeon, Mr David Anderson, said: “A cornea graft is a life-changing option for patients like Tom who have a pre-existing condition such as keratoconus which distorts their cornea and affects the way the light enters their eye. As a surgeon, it’s amazing being able to improve someone’s sight so they can get back to living a normal life, but we are only able to do this because people are willing to donate their eyes when they die.”

Eyes are one of the most in-demand tissues and must be retrieved within 24 hours of someone’s death to preserve their cells.

Unlike other tissues, eyes can only be stored for one month, so a constant supply is vital to keep up with demand.

Tom said: “I’m really grateful that someone I will never know has given me my sight back. The surgery has really changed my life and I can’t wait to back to university in the autumn.”

Helen Gillan, general manager at NHS Tissue Services, part of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “I hope viewers will see how patients, such as Tom, depend on the generosity of donors’ families, how colleagues treat donors with respect, and how dedicated the team is to providing life enhancing tissues to hospitals up and down the country.” To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, visit organdonation.nhs.uk.