Mark Williams facing 'really frightening time' as snooker great has World Championship chances written off

 The Welsh Potting Machine has openly admitted that he's struggling to see and contact lenses are proving a challenge

Mark Williams has been battling issues with his eyesight throughout the season

Triple world champion Mark Williams is facing the most frightening challenge of his career as he battles issues with his vision, according to Alan McManus.

The Welsh Potting Machine has admitted struggling with his eyesight in recent months, and tried out playing with contact lenses for the first time at the Tour Championship - where he exited at quarter-finals against Kyren Wilson.

Whilst veteran Williams has put on a typically brave face, pundit and former Masters champion Alan McManus believes the struggles will be worrying him.

He told the Snooker Scene podcast: "Mark has gone through the last 10 or 15 years having to deal with a lot of things. Being out of the top 16, out of the top 32 actually going back a bit.

"But this is the biggest question, I think, when it has to do with your visual health. You’ve got to be able to see to knock the balls in. That’s obvious.

"How he’s going to deal with this one, I don’t know. I think it’s a really frightening time for him. As a snooker player, if you stave your thumb or hurt your ankle, then you’ll get over that in two or three months' time and be good to go.

"This thing, there is no written formula. I agree with Neal (Foulds) about the laser surgery. I haven’t had it, so I don’t have anything to go on personally - but that seems to be the way. However it will be a long process.

"There are different ways of doing it: glasses, contacts, the Dennis Taylor specs or the laser. But it must be a fearful time for him.

"Thankfully, he has some wins in the bag, like last year’s Tour Championship, and he’s done well in Saudi. So he’s got some time on his hands. I’m sure in the fullness of time he’ll come up with the correct answer, but I fear not at the Crucible. I don’t see him as a strong contender."

Williams celebrates his 2018 world title at the Crucible

Fellow pundit and former pro Neal Foulds believes that age could prove a vital factor at the Crucible last year, with the previous two champions in their 30s when they lifted the biggest prize in snooker.

He continued: "That Saudi event he played so well in and he was a ball away from picking up half a million. And he won the Tour Championship last year. You can’t write him off. I think he should just have laser (eye) surgery and be done with contact lenses.

"The other thing is that he’s 50 years of age and the last two winners have been a lot younger. Maybe it is difficult for the Class of 92 to win now in their 50th year. We have to bear that in mind.

"In two-and-a-half weeks it maybe is difficult for them to keep their concentration. I wouldn’t fancy Mark for this year. But he has surprised us before."

Speaking about the issues he's faced, Williams said: "If I am totally honest with you, my eyes have completely gone. For the last six months, it has deteriorated quite badly. It was just long ones that were blurry, but now everything is blurry."