The first patients in Britain have had lens implants that gives them 'high definition' vision. The artificial lenses improves the wearers sight to such an extent that it is sharper even than the ideal 20/20.
Eye surgeon Bobby Qureshi, who led the pioneering team at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital, described the tecnique as a 'hugely signifcant development.'
'We have the potential here to change patients’ vision to how it was when they were young,' he said.
The process involves implanting the lens into the eye using the standard procedure for cataracts and then fine-tuning the focus.
The lens, made from a special light-sensitive silicone, is the first that can be adjusted after it has been implanted.
It is altered several times over a period of days and ultraviolet light is used on specific parts till it reaches perfect vision.
A final blast of light then permanently fixes the lenses’ shape.
'The change is so accurate that we can even make the lens bifocal or varifocal, so as well as giving them good vision at distance we can give them good vision for reading,' Dr Qureshi told Sky News.
'They won’t need their glasses at all.'
The lens is a permanent fixture that the makers claim will never need to be removed or replaced.
Gill Balfour was one of the first patients to receive the lens and used to have cataracts.
She said: 'It's absolutely incredible. To think it's been tailor-made for you, matching any imperfections. It's the way forward, isn't it?'
Poster Comment:
Pretty cool