A TEAM of sight specialists in Ringwood have stepped in to treat a Ukrainian refugee suffering from blurred eyesight after fleeing his home country.

Having lost his glasses and suffering from impaired vision, Ukrainian refugee Arkadii Kapustenko visited Specsavers in Ringwood shortly after arriving in the UK with his wife and 18-month-old daughter.

With the aid of Google translate, optometrist director Bruce Fitzgerald was able to conduct a free sight test – during which Arkadii was told he had cataracts and was referred onto a consultant ophthalmologist for further evaluation of cataract surgery.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “The family have been through a very turbulent time and encountered challenges en route to the UK. The very least that we could do was to ensure that Mr Kapustenko is able to see properly and enjoy reading again, particularly as he is an author and reading is one of his passions.

“Indeed, both he and his wife Anna said that they were very grateful for the sight test and the glasses.”

The Kapustenko’s are staying with hosts Mr and Mrs Wright who have been helping them adjust to life in rural Dorset. Commenting on why she and her husband took in the refugees, Kate Wright said: “We are very lucky in that we have an annexe, so the family can live independently. It also seemed the right thing to do.”