A CAMPAIGN has begun to stop a Hereford man from going blind.

Momentum is now with the bid to bank £14,000 for a specialist operation for James Howard.

The fundraising page was set up, unbeknown to the 22-year-old, by his friend Jemma Cash.

She asked for donations for a specialist eye operation, which is not currently offered by the NHS.

Mr Howard has a severe case of keratoconus (a degenerative disorder of the eye) which if left untreated could leave him blind.

He said: "Without the money being raised by this campaign I could lose the vision in both eyes leading to the loss of my job and way of life.

"Hopefully I will be able to raise the money, however, with the help I've received from my friends as well as the fundraising that I am doing myself.

"At the very least I hope that this campaign brings some social awareness of the condition which can affect up to 1 in 2,000 and is fairly hard to find information about or support for.

"I am incredibly moved that my friends have done this for me and don't think I'll ever be able to say thank you enough."

The page had already raised £1,650 in two weeks.

Mr Howard, from Chestnut Drive, Hinton, was diagnosed with keratoconus in 2010 at Hereford County Hospital and was told he had a severe case in his left eye and an intermediate case in his right.

Because of the slow progression of the disease it would be around five to eight years before it would start to impact on his day-to-day life.

But he has since had regular consultations with specialists and the vision in his left eye has deteriorated while the classification for right eye has changed from "intermediate" to "severe".

Mr Howard, a sales assistant at the Texaco Garage on Holmer Road, said the UK Keratoconus Self Help and Support Association helped him find out more information about the relatively rare condition. Less severe cases can be treated with corrective lenses.

Jemma Cash, who set up the page, said: "I felt like I had to do something, as much as it would probably annoy him. Time was running out and I took matters into my own hands."

Mr Howard said it was really touching to see the donations come in for the private operation.

He added: "Thank you to everyone who has shared or donated."

To donate go to www.gofundme.com/k0z1js