The couple removed the bandages on Saturday morning

The 75-year-olds underwent surgery within minutes of each other at the University Hospital of Wales on Friday.

Following the successful cataract operations Roy and Phyllis Templeton from Hengoed - who have been married 54 years - said being together is even better now they can see properly.

Mrs Templeton said: "He looks more handsome now than he ever did. I can now see his blue eyes.

"We feel so lucky that we have been together for so long.

My wife has always been beautiful to me but now all the colour has got better and I can see even better Roy Templeton

"We never row, we have a little quibble now and then but we never go to bed unless we are friends.

"That's one of the secrets."

Cataracts affect one in four people over the age of 75.

The condition causes impaired vision and, if left untreated, can result in blindness.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens. Vision becomes blurred or dim because light cannot pass through it to the back of the eye.

The couple were told less than 24 hours before the operation that a space had become available.

Painless

Roy Templeton said he was glad to get it over with.

"It is marvellous, absolutely marvellous to be able to see again.

"The way it was done was fantastic there was no pain and the staff were really good.

"My wife went down first and I went down 20 minutes after.

"Now I have got my glasses off but I can see very well.

"My wife has always been beautiful to me but now all the colour has got better and I can see even better."

"My eyes have been bad for about five years and Phyllis's eyes have been bad for a few years."