Blind reverend waited 14 years to see again

A US reverend spent 14 years completely blind, but a severe headache would prove the “miracle” he needed for doctors to restore his vision.

A US reverend has claimed the miracle he waited 14 years for has finally restored his vision.

Rev Philip Dunn, from West Virginia, works at the Valley Christian Assembly in Charleston and says his new-found gift of sight has allowed him to relive his daughter’s wedding through photos and videos, and see the faces of his four grandchildren for the very first time.

The 61-year-old lost his vision after developing cataracts and macular degeneration 14 years ago.

He refused to give up his job despite his impaired vision and instead listened to the Bible on tape to prepare his services.

“I knew in my heart I was going to be able to see again, I just didn’t know when,” Rev Dunn told local television station WCHS.

Reverend Dunn says regaining his sight has been a miracle. Picture: Valley Christian Assembly

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, a cataract, which is the clouding of the eye’s lens, is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, as well as the leading cause of vision loss in the US.

The condition can occur at any age, for a variety of reasons, with an estimated 20.5 million Americans, aged 40 and older, having a cataract in one or both eyes.

Rev Dunn was told by doctors that the diagnosis wouldn’t bother him for a few years, but within months he was seeing black dots in the corner of his vision.

“That was the beginning of macular degeneration,” he said.

Rev Dunn believed he was going to be able to see again one day. Picture: WCHS

The reverend’s secondary condition, also referred to as age-related macular degeneration,

results in damage to an individual’s sharp and central vision.

It is a condition with no known cure.

“Even as my vision got worse and things got more difficult, I just, every day I woke up, I woke up with an expectation that maybe today I would get my miracle,” Rev Dunn told WCHS.

Rev Dunn applied for his driver’s licence after his ‘miracle’. Picture: Valley Christian Assembly

His miracle came in August last year, when he began experiencing a severe headache in his left eye.

Doctors reportedly determined the pain to be a ruptured cataract.

He underwent surgery to remove it, and when he removed the patch, he realised his sight had been restored.

“I went into the kitchen, my wife said, ‘Honey, you took the patch off,’ I said ‘Yeah,’ she said, ‘What do you see?’ I said, ‘I can see you!’” he said.

“She was the first face I saw in 14 years.”

A second surgery reportedly restored sight in his right eye as well.

Rev Dunn and his wife following surgery on his right eye. Picture: WCHS

Rev Dunn said his ordeal and miraculous recovery has inspired him to urge others to “celebrate every moment,” and “maximise each day”.

He isn’t sure if his sight will remain permanently, so shortly after he was able to see again, he took a road trip to California in the mini-van he hadn’t been able to drive for years.

“For the last 14 years I’ve dreamt of doing it, and I didn’t realise when that was going to come and it was finally a reality,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission