Man blinded 10 years ago can see again

Thursday December 23rd, 2010
By Thomas Moore

A new artificial cornea has allowed a blind man to see for the first time in 10 years.

Corneal transplants from donor eyes failed and doctors said there was nothing more they could do.

But the artificial cornea - the window at the front of the eye - has improved his vision so much he can read newspapers and see his wife again.

"The first person I saw was Carmel. She came up to me and I could see her smiling face. That was lovely," he said. "I haven't seen her properly for 10 years.

"After the accident, we were going in a taxi to the hospital and I kept stroking her face and saying 'that's the last time I ever see it'. So this is just great."

The new device, called a kerato-prosthesis, consists of a plastic lens which slips through a stabilising ring.

Sandwiched between the two is a donut of donated eye tissue, which is stitched to the patient's eyeball to hold the device in place.

The operation takes two hours and can be done under local anaesthetic.

Sheraz Daya, medical director at the Centre for Sight in Sussex, said the technique could help around 5,000 patients who suffer from corneal blindness.

Medical Director Mr Sheraz Daya explains the advantages of the technique

He told Sky News: "They don't have to learn to read Braille and navigate.

"It's much easier for them and better for their quality of life to give them vision, especially when we know that it can be done."

Only a small number of patients in the UK have had the implant.

But research has shown that with daily antibiotic drops and regular check-ups the implant should remain healthy for many years.