Johannesburg - I felt like I was in the movie. I could see all the colours.”
This was the excited reaction of Philani Thwala, 20, formerly blind, who was transported into his first movie through his new eyes using 3D glasses.
Thwala was born with perfect eyesight, but lost it at the age of 7 when he was diagnosed with keratoconus.
Now, following his second successful cornea transplant in February, he feels like he has been born again.
“Growing up, my eyes caused me so much misery and they kept getting worse.
“I lost hope in everything,” he said.
However, Thwala has now been given another chance and the gift of sight to be able to enjoy the little things we take for granted like watching a movie.
On Thursday night, Thwala enjoyed his first big-screen movie at Ster-Kinekor. The movie - Avatar - was chosen for him by fellow South Africans following a social media campaign, #openeyes.
“It is a very great movie!” he said.
The past 10 years have been devastating for Thwala, who could only see grey and shadows.
“Everything looked the same to me,” he said.
Thwala, who says he has gained confidence after receiving his cornea transplants, says he was always trying to pass off as a person with perfect sight.
“I never wanted people to know that I couldn’t see because I didn’t want to be the laughing stock of the community.
“There are some disrespectful people out there,” he said.
With his eyesight back, Thwala wants to focus on his education. He is eager to graduate from high school and get a qualification in sound engineering.
“When I was young, I was into cars, I wanted to be a mechanic, but when I lost my eyesight, I also lost that dream.
“As a result, over the years, sound has become my thing,” he said.
The operations were made possible by Ster-Kinekor through its corporate social development (CSI) fund called Ster-Kinekor Vision Mission which helps underprivileged children and focuses on eye care.
People booking movie tickets can opt to donate R2.50 towards this project.
The company raises about R500 000 every year and usually assists with spectacles and testing.
But, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the fund last year, they decided to embark on a special project and restore Thwala's vision.
CSI manager Geraldine Engelman said: “We decided to look deeper into eyesight and thought we could do something bigger.”
Betrice Thwala, Philani’s mother, smiled on Thursday at the cinema watching her son anticipating the movie.
“I am relieved; I can't begin to explain how happy I am and very grateful to everyone who helped him,” she said.
Thwala's mother said this wouldn’t have been possible without her employer of 20 years who sought help for Thwala on social media.
She also thanked Dr Akiel Asvat who performed the transplant surgery without charge and will be monitoring the corneas for the next 18 months.
The Star