Influencer Kitty up for top award

Teenager who woke up blind sheds light on her life with TikTok videos

- PAIGE OLDFIELD

WHEN Kitty Hinde first met her boyfriend Sam, the teenager was excited about her new whirlwind romance.

But just a few weeks into the relationship, the 19-year-old's eyesight began to deteriorate - she then lost her precious vision when she woke up totally blind.

Kitty, from Stockport, had suffered vision problems since childhood. She was in primary school when she was diagnosed with glaucoma following a routine eye test. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve, which is crucial for vision. This damage often happens due to increased pressure inside the eye.

Kitty, now 20, underwent various treatments, including a cornea transplant, in a bid to preserve her eyesight. But as she entered secondary school, her vision only worsened.

This led to a transplant in her right eye where her damaged cornea was replaced with healthy donor tissue at the age of 14.