'Going blind stopped my alcohol addiction'

A man who once drank up to four bottles of vodka every day has told how he only managed to quit alcohol after developing a visual impairment.

Ray Clements, from Liverpool, said he had been an alcoholic for all of his adult life, ever since his first drink at the age of 15.

But after waking up with blurred vision on his 49th birthday, he was diagnosed with a hereditary eye condition and later registered blind - which he said finally led him to take action.

"I know it sounds weird but probably the best thing to happen to me in the past 20 years was sight loss," he said.

Ray, now 53, has since taken up sports tailored for people with visual impairments and has won medals representing Great Britain in blind baseball.

Looking back, he said there were "red flag" warnings about just how bad his drinking had become, including drinking up to nine glasses while friends were drinking just three.

He said the problem began to "spiral" with the stresses of caring for his mother, who has Alzheimer's disease, and his father, who was diagnosed with leukaemia.

He was also homeless for a period, adding: "I just struggled with normal living and drink became the solution."

• If you have been affected by any issues raised in this article, please visit BBC Action Line

After his vision suddenly deteriorated in 2021, he "sat with fear for a couple of weeks", drinking even more before eventually asking for an optician's appointment.

"The thought of taking my life was very prevalent," he added.

But a friend who started alcohol addiction recovery then "planted the seed in my head" of going to group therapy sessions.

"I don't think this friend understands how he saved my life."

He said listening to other group members share similar experinces of loneliness and alcoholism's affect on families made him feel he had "landed home - that I was with people who understood".

"We went to a cafe and I couldn't hold a cup without shaking. Another lad looked at me and said 'that'll get better' and it did," he said.

"It takes a while for the fog and tremors to stop. But the peace that came over me and the self-worth did build."

Further eye tests led to him being diagnosed with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in February 2022.

Two days later, Ray woke up next to a glass of vodka but chose to finally go "cold turkey" and give up. He said he had never looked back since.

"I've been clean and sober since 17 February 2022. It boggles my mind how but it's a gift," he said.

He is now assisted by his guide dog Garson and has taken up blind baseball and goalball, which sees teams rely on hearing and touch as they play on a tactile court.

Ray has also set up the organisation Finding the Solution to encourage people of all abilities to get involved in sport, and said he particularly wanted sighted parents to be able to play with children who have visual impairments.

He also helped form the Liverpool organisation Help, which campaigns for affordable social housing for everyone and has spoken in parliament.

"I still struggle on a daily basis but I now face life from a different angle," he said.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.