Sophie Wessex speaks for the first time about how her daughter Louise's sight problems inspired her to campaign for the visually impaired
- Sophie's daughter Louise, now 11, was born prematurely in 2003
- Caused strabismus, which left her with what 'profound' squint
- Inspired Sophie, 50, to raise support for others with visual impairments
The Countess of Wessex has told how she was moved by her daughter's vision problems to campaign on behalf of blind and visually impaired people around the world.
Sophie's daughter Louise, now 11, was born prematurely in 2003, causing a condition called strabismus, which left her with what the countess described as a 'profound' squint.
She has since had the problem corrected because cosmetically it was awkward for her, Sophie said, and she can now see properly.
Sophie, Counmtess of Wessex, has spokenly candidly for the first time about how her daughter Louise's sight problems inspired her to campaign for the visually impaired
Explaining Lady Louise's condition, the countess - wife of Edward, Earl of Wessex, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's youngest son - told the Sunday Express: 'Premature babies can often have squints because the eyes are the last thing in the baby package to really be finalised.
'Her squint was quite profound when she was tiny and it takes time to correct it. You've got to make sure one eye doesn't become more dominant than the other but she's fine now - her eyesight is perfect.'
Her daughter's sight challenges have inspired Sophie, 50, to raise support for other people who have visual impairments.
Explaining Lady Louise's condition, right, which has now been corrected, the countess, left, said : 'Premature babies can often have squints because the eyes are the last thing in the baby package to really be finalised'
The Duchess of Cambridge and Lady Louise Windsor watching the track cycling at the London 2012 Paralympic Games in 2012
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and his daughter Lady Louise Windsor, watch Scotland win Gold with Craig McLean and Neil Fachie in the Para Sprint at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome during the Commonwealth games in July last year
She is patron of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and a global ambassador for Vision 2020, an initiative aiming to eliminate avoidable blindness over the next five years.
Over the last decade has visited projects helping the blind and those with sight problems in Tanzania, Bangladesh and India.
She shared her personal experiences when she travelled to Qatar last week to mark World Sight Day, working with blindness prevention charity Orbis UK.
Sophie said: 'There is no smile quite like the one that is returned from eyes that once more can see.'
Prince Harry waves to the crowds with Lady Louise Windsor, who was a bridesmaid, in the procession to Buckingham Palace after the royal wedding in 2011
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