PAINT expert Annie Sloan sought specialist help when an early-stage cataract was affecting her vision.

Ms Sloan, founder of Chalk Paint now sold in 62 countries, has a shop in Cowley Road.

When the cataract impacted her appreciation of colour, the problem began to affect her work and she had a procedure at specialist eye hospital group Optegra, which transformed her sight and her enthusiasm for her work.

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Ms Sloan said: “Over the past five years I have been dependent on contact lenses, which were a pain to wear for long hours every day, but I felt my vision was never quite right.

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“My distance vision, especially, was blurred and not good enough which is a problem when I work on large-scale projects.

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“The two main things I found difficult were drawing, and being involved in the many photoshoots we do - I just could not see terribly well.

“A check-up with my optician in Oxford revealed I had early stages of cataract.”

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Ms Sloan was referred to specialist eye hospital group, Optegra Eye Hospital London, where she had a consultation with ophthalmic surgeon Amir Hamid.

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Following the procedure the paint specialist said: “I am now much more confident in what I can see. Now I can see all the tone and detail I need for my work.”