Patients in the UK are having high-density (HD) optical lenses fitted to improve their eyesight beyond 20:20 vision.

Sky News reports that ophthalmic surgeon Bobby Qureshi is the first to use the technique in the UK. The new lens allows a patient’s vision to be tweaked for several days after the standard cataract operation – and the surgery can also be used to correct age-related long-sightedness.

Mr Qureshi described the advance as a ‘hugely significant development’ in ophthalmology:

‘We have the potential here to change patients' vision to how it was when they were young,’ said Mr Qureshi.

‘The change is so accurate that we can even make the lens bifocal or varifocal – so as well as giving them good vision at distance, we can give them good vision for reading. They won't need their glasses at all.’

The lens is made from a special light-sensitive silicone – its shape can be changed by the surgeon by shining ultra-violet light onto certain parts of the lens to meet the individual needs of the patient. A final ‘blast’ of light then fixes the patient’s ‘prescription’.

Gill Balfour was fitted with the new lens at the Spire Gatwick Park Hospital, in one of the first operations involving the technique. She told Sky News:

‘It's absolutely incredible – to think it's been tailor-made for you, matching any imperfections. It's the way forward, isn't it?’

Ms Balfour was suffering from early-stage cataracts and had other visual problems.

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