UK surgeons carry out world's first robot eye surgery
UK surgeons carry out world's first robot eye surgery
British surgeons have performed the world's first robotic
operation inside an eye.
9 September 2016 at 11:46pm
Father William Beaver, 70, an associate priest at St Mary
the Virgin Church in Oxford, reported that his eyesight was returning following
the pioneering procedure.
The priest had been battling distorted vision which he
described as similar to "looking in a hall of mirrors at a
fairground".
His eyesight is now returning after surgeons completed
the procedure at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.
Now it is hoped that the successful operation could
revolutionise the way such conditions are treated.
Professor Robert MacLaren, one of the surgeons, said:
"There is no doubt in my mind that we have just witnessed a vision of eye
surgery in the future".
The procedure had become necessary as Father Beaver had a
membrane growing on the surface of his retina, which had contracted and pulled
it into an uneven shape.
That membrane was about 100th of a millimetre thick and
needed to be dissected off the retina without damaging it.
Surgeons normally attempt this by slowing their pulse and
timing movements between heart beats, but the robot could make it much easier.
During the procedure, medics used a joystick and
touchscreen outside the eye to control the robot while monitoring its progress
through the operating microscope.
This gave them a notable advantage as significant
movements of the joystick resulted in tiny movements of the robot.
My sight is coming back.
I am delighted that my surgery went so well and I feel
honoured to be part of this pioneering research project
– FATHER WILLIAM BEAVER
Last updated Fri 9 Sep 2016
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