A blind woman has been fitted with the world’s most advanced bionic eye, and she has told of her “elation” at being able to see again.
Rhian Lewis,49, is the first British to receive a permanent electronic retinal implant as part of a groundbreaking NHS trial.
Now she can see her two 18 year old children, make out cutlery on the table and tell the time correctly.
She said: “it’s been eight years since I’ve had any idea what my children look like. Now when I locate something, especially like a spoon or a fork on the table, it’s pure elation- I just get so excited. “Rhian, from Cardiff,suffers from retinitis pigmentosa. It causes the deterioration of light -detecting cells in the retina.
There is no cure, but surgeons at Oxford eye hospital partially restored her vision by implanting a tiny chip in her right eye.
It contains 1,500 light sensors, which send electrical signals to nerve cells and allow patients to see objects. Five more Britain will now have the same operation.
Rhian story will feature on Trust Me, I’m a doctor on BBC Two at 8pm tomorrow.
