How a cruise to New Zealand left a Brisbane teen blind in one eye

A Brisbane teenager with aspirations to play rugby league at the highest level is now blind in one eye after the sudden and rapid spread of a sinus infection.

From leading his rugby league team out onto the field to surfing waves and practicing moves on the basketball court, 15-year-old Riley Adams is described by his dad as a talented sportsman, "very active and fun to be around".

Riley was enjoying a cruise to New Zealand with his parents when the infection took hold and had a devastating effect that has left his parents Jason and Jodi shattered and desperate for help.

After boarding the cruise ship, Riley went to bed with a headache and woke up with his eye blown up to the size of a golf ball.

While still out at sea he was given antibiotics, but he had a painful 24-hour-wait until the ship reached Dunedin, where he underwent emergency surgery.

But by then, it was too late.

"The length of time that the pressure was pushing on his optical nerve has cause permanent blindness," Jason Adams said.

It's hoped that the teenager will fight off the infection, but he will never regain sight in his left eye - a deep blow to his dream of becoming a professional rugby player.

Now, his parents are trying to raise $30,000 online to help pay for ongoing surgeries and treatment.

"He now has to retrain his brain in his 2D perception as he has lost his ability to see in 3D," Riley's Go Fund Me page states.

"Depth perception and spatial awareness also has to be taught again.

"As parents we are just so sad for our beautiful boy at 15 to have lost his sight in one of his eyes - this tragedy is devastating at any age, but at 15 it breaks our hearts."

If you want to help support Riley's recovery the details are on the 7News Brisbane Facebook page.