London: When Gil Balfour had the first signs of cataracts and other vision problems, she was concerned she could never get her eyesight fully back.
But a new trial of an artificial lens now enables her to see in high definition.
Surgeons begin the process by implanting the lens into the eye, replacing the patient's own lens with the artificial one. Then, they can accustom the focus of the lens several days later. The technique gives patients such sharp vision that it is even better than 20/20, the best an adult can normally hope for.
Balfour was one of the first patients to be fitted with this lens at the Spire Gatwick Park Hospital and she is very impressed by the results.
"It is incredible, absolutely incredible to have been tailor made for yourself. And you know any imperfection, they can sort of match them in. I think it's incredible. I think it's the way forward really, isn't it?" says she.
The lens, which is made from a special light-sensitive silicone, can correct both cataracts and the long-sightedness that usually comes with age.
Bobby Qureshi is the first ophthalmic surgeon in the UK to perform the Light Adjustable Lens procedure.
"The change is so precise and accurate that we can actually make the lens bifocal of varifocal as well. So in addition to give them good vision at distance, we can actually give them good vision for reading intermediate and distance, so they won't need their glasses at all," he says.
Surgeons can sharpen the image seen by the patient and change the lens' shape and curvature, by shining ultraviolet light on specific parts of the lens.
The lens can be adjusted several times over a period of days until patients have perfect vision.
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