SEEnic tour at Aoraki Mt Cook gives back sight

<p>An Australian woman got far more than she bargained for last Saturday (1 October) when an Argo tour of Mt Cook’s Tasman Valley, delivered much more than the promised adventure in a majestic environment. <br /> <br /> Mrs Joan Gluer was travelling with her daughter when they decided to join a Tasman Valley Tours (4WD & Argo) in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. Mrs Gluer (age 77) got bounced around a fair bit but loved the trip and just loved her tour guide (Graeme Slatter) who she nicknamed ‘Handsome Harry’ “I liked his moustache!” <br /> <br /> But best of all, after returning to the Hermitage, she found she could see clearly from her bad eye which previously had very limited vision.<br /> <br /> “We got a few spins in on the Argo and off we went over rocky terrain, up and down like yo-yos – lucky we had no milk!” said Mrs Gluer. “After the glacier walk that’s part of the tour, Handsome Harry let me sit in the front – it was fabulous. We got back to the hotel and had a coffee and short rest. Then I realized, hang on a minute, I can see!”<br /> <br /> ”It was a bit like looking through a dirty window, but I could see. We don’t know if it was the jolting about or not but it’s just amazing for me... It didn’t fix my hearing though.”<br /> <br /> Mrs Gluer’s daughter Bernadette said her mother was almost crying with happiness that she could see. “I WAS crying with happiness,” said Mrs Gluer.<br /> <br /> Mrs Gluer’s eye trouble started about three years ago when she lost 75% vision in her left eye. Following several uncomfortable procedures, including needles in her eye, her sight only improved to 50% vision with no centre (tunnel) vision. Further needle treatment was to be undergone after her return from New Zealand but that now seems unnecessary.<br /> <br /> In layman’s terms Mrs Gluer has blood blisters obstructing around one third of the back of her eye which cause black spots in her vision.<br /> <br /> To test the newly found sight, the women went straight to see Mount Cook Magic, a 3D movie showing in The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at The Hermitage, (3D effects require vision in both eyes) and sure enough both eyes were working.<br /> <br /> “I nearly jumped out of my skin a dozen times, I absolutely loved it,” said Mrs Gluer who was able to see the full 3D effect clearly.<br /> <br /> Several days later, Mrs Gluer and her daughter are in Dunedin and Mrs Gluer is still enjoying clear vision without the black spots.</p> <p>“I really think we’ve fixed it. I think this is permanent and I’m delighted.”<br /> <br /> For more information visit: <a href="http://www.mountcooktours.co.nz/">www.mountcooktours.co.nz</a></p>