A student doctor ‘went blind’ for 24 hours to raise awareness of, and money to combat, childhood blindness in the developing world.

Dr. Hessom Razavi, who studies ophthalmology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, put on his blindfold at 8pm on May 18.

The next day, with the help of guide Puneet Sayal, Razavi navigated regular life before removing the blindfold in a ceremony to introduce a lecture on childhood blindness.

During the stunt, Razavi said: “I am fearful around roads, it is disconcerting to hear trucks roaring past you. But there are also irrational fears, of low ceilings, and open doors.

“Although being blind for 24 hours is nothing like being blind for ever, because in the back of my mind I know I can whip this off at any time, I have a bit more empathy for a blind person now. It is not easy.”

The money raised through Razavi’s efforts will go towards research into childhood blindness.

There are over 1.5 million blind children in the world, 70 per cent in Africa and Asia. Half of those are victims of conditions that could be treated or prevented. The vast majority of these cases of childhood blindness are caused by a deficiency in vitamin A, due to poor diet or measles.

Taking the blindfold off, Razavi said: “Being blind is very stressful, you feel vulnerable, lost. To see again is like getting out of prison.”

If you would like to make a donation to childhood blindness research, visit http://www.justgiving.com/BlindforBlindness2008

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Blindness, charity