A WOMAN who feared she would never see again has been given the gift of sight by a pair of miracle glasses. Partially-sighted Helen Cusnir had got used to seeing only dark shadows in a foggy haze.

She was forced to give up her job as a careworker in 1994 when her sight worsened and she was diagnosed with the incurable disease macular dystrophy. But the 47-year-old, of Castle Hill, Rochester, never gave up hope and eight years later she has tracked down an opticians' she has dubbed "miracle makers".

Miss Cusnir said: "I am still in shock. I can't believe it. I would been put on the scrapheap as I couldn't even see bus numbers. I was living life in a foggy haze.

Now I can walk along the High Street and I can see all the shop signs, faces of shoppers and enjoy the architecture. It's nothing short of a miracle.

"I was really cheesed off after being fobbed off by about six opticians and trying on numerous pairs of glasses. I know I'll eventually be blind, but I never gave up hope and this is the perfect temporary solution."

Niall O'Kane Opticians in Strood High Street used the latest hi-tech machinery to pinpoint the exact problem in Miss Cusnirs eyes. A prescription was then drawn up and the correct strength lenses were made for her in Germany.

Miss Cusnir, who works for Hands Voluntary Bureau in Rochester, only received her new glasses last week, but has already enrolled for evening classes in computer skills, counselling and health and safety at work.

She added: "I have a new lease of life and I want to thank the opticians for helping me."

Niall O'Kane said equipment including a laser machine was used to look at the optic nerve. He added: "Hopefully the glasses will be a solution for some time as progression of this condition can be quite slow."