Eighty-two-year-old Don Karkos, who lost sight in his right eye when he was hit by a shrapnel in combat during World War II, miraculously regained his eye sight after being head butted by a race horse.

For 64 years, Karkos said he tried treatment from various doctors to regain sight on his right eye but all in vain until pedigree racehorse "My Buddy Chimo" hit him in he head.

He told the New York Daily News that hours after the racehorse hit him in exactly the same spot as the shrapnel gashed his forehead in 1942, he started regaining his vision.

Karkos said, "I was putting a collar around his chest, and he whacked me real hard with his head. Being kicked is part of the job, but I've never been hit that hard. I was pretty shaken up, kind of dazed. Then, later that night, I started to get the vision back in my right eye.

"It was unbelievable. I've been seeing doctors all my life, and they've always told me there is nothing can be done."

The man, who now works as a security guard, said his vision is still not perfect but can see about 15 feet with his damaged eye since the incident at the Monticillo Raceway racecourse in New York.

Although he said he was grateful for the head butt and adds, "I'm on very good terms with that horse now, and he gets special care from me."

Dr. Douglas Lozzaro, head of ophthalmology at Long Island College Hospital, said the blow could have knocked a dislocated lens back into place.