A BLIND war hero can't wait to get his sight back – thanks to state-of-the-art spectacles made by university science experts.

John Hutchinson, 90, said he was “jumping for joy” when he tried the glasses and was able to see his wife for the first time in more than 10 years.

He told the Daily Record: “I had a tear in my eye when I tried them for the first time.

“It was very emotional, especially seeing my wife again.

“I couldn’t believe how clear they were.

“I was just ecstatic. It was the best feeling in the world.”

The incident that led to John’s gradual site loss started when parasites got into his bloodstream when he was serving with the Army, digging wells for famine victims in Ethiopia and Rwanda. He started to go blind 12 years ago and came to rely on his guide dog Bracken. His vision is severely restricted with four per cent vision, and describes his slight as "like looking through a pot of glue" and the prognosis is for it to get worse.

However, his life changed when he became one of only four people in the UK chosen by experts at Oxford University to test the OxSight Smart Specs.

The glasses use a camera system and computer vision algorithms to detect and highlight objects, separating them from the background in real time. This allows people with even the lowest amount of sight to make better use of their vision in challenging everyday scenarios.

Speaking to our sister paper, the Largs & Millport Weekly News, John said: "I was part of a research team with Oxford University and I was effectively the guinea pig and got the original invention – the prototype. I was really taken aback with them – it was marvellous to be able to see my wife again, but I had to send them back for further research. The whole project was recently completed and it has been handed over to a commercial firm."

The finished product will be available next month at a cost of £2,500.

The pensioner, from Largs, feared he’d never be able to afford a pair and he contemplated selling his war medals to cover the cost. But the Royal British Legion Largs branch and Fish Works takeaway started a fundraising drive and came up with the cash to buy him a pair.

The veteran said he’s touched that so many people donated.

He added: “I’m overwhelmed. It’s wonderful to know I’ll be able to see again.

“I’m hoping to have the glasses soon and I’m looking forward to getting out and about.

“Wearing them is like a rebirth – I’ll be able to do all the things I’ve missed out on instead of walking with a white stick and guide dog.

“I’m just so grateful to everyone who has helped. This really will improve my life.”