Attacked teenager fears permanent blindness

A Wellington teenager fears he may go completely blind after being attacked in Picton early on New Year's day.

Jason Miller, 18, was attacked with a bottle while walking on Waikawa Rd about 1.30am suffering lacerations to his left eye, causing him to lose sight of that eye.

The Marlborough Express reported that yesterday doctors told him he may also lose sight in his right eye because there was a chance he could have sympathetic ophthalmia.

"I can handle just having one eye but to be blind would be quite bad," he said.

Sympathetic ophthlamia is an autoimmune disease where a penetrating injury to one eye produces inflammation in the other with a gradual loss of vision.

"There's a small risk of it but it's still a risk," Mr Miller said.

"It's a scary thought, [going blind] and I hope it doesn't happen, but there was also a small risk of getting bottled on New Year's."

Mr Miller had surgery at Nelson Hospital to stitch his eye and mouth, and back in Wellington has to have his eye drained and attend two doctor appointments a week.

Constable Mike Whitty, of Blenheim, said police were investigating the incident. Anyone who saw four or five men in a white or silver sedan in Picton on New Year's Day should contact police.

- NZPA