Bespoke glasses help West Yorkshire brass band performer to continue to play
Oliver Wiggins, who plays tenor horn in Horbury Victoria Brass Band has been supported by an eye specialist at St James University Hospital in Leeds, who has created a spectacle-mounted Galilean telescope for him.
Oliver, 55, has had reduced sight since he was a baby and has had blurred vision all his life, but his sight has further deteriorated since 2013 due to retina macular degeneration.
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Hide AdThe bespoke glasses mean he now has a much bigger field of view, helping him as a musician who needs to be able to read sheet music whilst playing his instrument and marching with awareness of his surroundings. Madeleine Drake, senior dispensing optician, has also created specific glasses to allow Oliver to read music while playing his guitar.
Oliver said: “I think this demonstrates that if one is visually impaired and has the determination to succeed at something at a high level, then with the appropriate assistive technology, there is no reason why one cannot reach one's goal." Maddie added: “It’s really positive that we’ve embraced technology and new skills to find something that works really well for Oliver.”