Artificial eye restores sight

A revolutionary artificial eye lens has been used in Australasia for the first time, rolling back decades of deterioration in the vision of a South Canterbury woman.

The lens, which was surgically implanted in a Geraldine high school teacher by Christchurch eye surgeon Dr David Kent, can restore the sight of cataract sufferers and offers hope to the thousands of New Zealanders with age-related eyesight problems.

Jane Donald, from Geraldine, in South Canterbury, has had the implants surgically inserted in both eyes. The French language teacher, who suffered from cataracts and moderate myopia (short- sightedness), says she is "absolutely stunned" by the difference they have made.

She has far better distance vision than she has had in years and is confident the same will be true of her near vision once she is through the first 10 days, during which patients are told to keep using reading glasses as the implants stabilise.

"I still have to catch myself from putting the plug in the basin in the morning ready to clean my contact lenses," Donald said. "Last night - just 28 hours after surgery - I lay in bed and looked up at the stars. They were so clear and so beautiful. I have always appreciated being able to see at all but there is a new dimension to my life now."

Approved for use in the US last July, the lens differs from previous implants in that it mimics the natural function of the eye so that it can change focus from a distance to a near object - a process called accommodation.

"This allows not just clear, undistorted vision for distance tasks such as driving, watching TV and going to the movies but also the ability to see a computer screen and to read a newspaper without the use of glasses,"Kent says. "It's a major advance, particularly for people with cataracts."

Cataracts, which cause blurred vision and can lead to blindness if not treated, are a common problem among older age groups. It is estimated those aged between 52 and 64 have a 42% chance of developing a cataract, while people aged 85 and over have a 95% chance. Glasses can help address the symptoms of early stage cataracts but only the replacement of the natural lens can permanently treat the condition.

- © Fairfax NZ News