A local man who lost his sight overnight is now urging other people with diabetes to have their eyes checked.

Wayne Pugh woke up on New Year's Day 2009 at 28 years old and had lost all his vision overnight.

He didn't realise he had missed crucial symptoms and said: "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy".

Wayne later discovered that his diabetes, diagnosed at 12 years old, was damaging the blood vessels behind his retinas, known as diabetic retinopathy.

He said: "When I saw something floating in my eyes, I didn't think much of it and thought maybe it was stress, or something had gotten in my eye.

"I laugh now, but I even bought new windscreen wipers for my car because I couldn't see through the windscreen properly. I was also experiencing pain in my head, but I just took painkillers, like for a headache. I was blaming everything else except my eyes.

"As soon as I lost my sight, I lost everything. My world became very lonely."

Wayne with his guide dog Liberty and retired guide dog Vince (image via Wayne Pugh)

Now Wayne's calling for everyone with diabetes to get their eyes checked at the smallest of symptoms.

He said: "Anyone who is diabetic and experiencing any changes to their vision: stop everything you're doing, forget everything else, and go to an optometrist, go to an eye clinic, go to anyone that can check you out."

The NHS says it's not possible to cure sight loss caused by diabetic retinopathy, but early detection and treatment can help stop it from progressing.

Diabetic eye screening is recommended every one to two years and people are urged to seek help for any change in their vision.

Wayne's screening 12 months before he lost his sight hadn't detected any damage, and his first symptoms appeared a few months before he lost all his vision.

After five years of isolation and coming to terms with his sight loss, Wayne reached out to Guide Dogs to find more independence.

Since being partnered with his first guide dog, Vince, Wayne said that he had been inspired to live life to the full, which he documents on his Walking Tall with Wayne Pugh Facebook page.

He is now partnered with his second guide dog, Liberty, and Vince is in retirement living with Wayne.

Wayne abseiling accompanied by guide dog Liberty (images via Wayne Pugh)

Wayne said: "I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world with Vince and Liberty. I'm so grateful to Guide Dogs. I've been able to go on and live my life and make it as good as it possibly can be."

Wayne's also calling for the health system to connect people newly diagnosed with diabetes with people like him to hear first-hand what they need to look out for.  

He said: "When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I wish I was able to speak to people with the condition to tell me 'This is what can happen'.

"It would have had a big impact on me. Health services should be asking people like me to go and talk to others diagnosed. People need to be told by someone who's gone down that road that they could lose their sight and know how to spot the signs."

Diabetic retinopathy is thought to be the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness in the UK.

Guide Dog's Vision Rehabilitation Specialist Susie Baker explained how the charity can support people with diabetic retinopathy beyond its "life-changing" dog services.

She said: "Our team of rehabilitation experts are there every step of the way for someone with a diabetic retinopathy diagnosis.

"Whether that's teaching important life skills, like how to use tactile labels or prepare meals, tips to make the most of any remaining functional vision, or demonstrating how technology can support independence.

"Our services are so crucial to make sure anyone with a vision impairment can live as independently as possible."

Recalling the early years, Wayne said: "I had to relearn how to cook, clean, and even pour myself a drink.

"Sight is so precious. Managing your diabetes and looking for any signs and symptoms will help you protect your vision. If I can stop someone else losing theirs and going through what I went through, I would."