New artificial cornea allows blind man to see for the 1st time in 10yrs

LONDON - A man, who lost his sight in an accident 10 years ago, can now see - thanks to a new artificial cornea.

Norman Simpson, who badly damaged the front of his one eye in an

accident, had dropped the hope to see again as corneal transplants from donor eyes failed, reports Sky News.

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. I haven’t seen her properly for 10 years,” said Simpson.

The new device, called a kerato-prosthesis, consists of a plastic lens that 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. (ANI)