Eric's story
Eric
Retired Gisborne cartoonist, graphic designer and sports historian, Eric Hoggins has spent a lifetime creating fine art work.
He is surprised that with the nature of his working life as a graphic designer and cartoonist, he did not start wearing glasses until the age of 84. He did very fine work, drawing cartoons by hand in a time well before computers.
Friends have told him that being a non-smoker may have helped the quality of his vision last late into life. Eric put on a pair of his late wife's glasses one day and found he could read a lot better - everything was much clearer so he had his eyes checked.
This was when they found he had a serious defect in his right eye. He had macular degeneration.
"It is important to get the word out about how important early detection is", Eric says.