Robot surgery restores sight
The PRECEYES system is in use at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital
We reported back in March that Professor Robert MacLaren’s team at the University of Oxford was to begin a clinical trial to test the PRECEYES surgical system. It’s a robotic device for high-precision eye surgery that could one day be used for drug delivery to the retina.
The system is now in use and Saturday’s Telegraph reported that it has given sight back to Rev Bill Beaver, who had lost most of his vision in one eye. Professor MacLaren guided the robot with a joystick to remove an ultra-thin membrane that was covering Rev Beaver’s retina (the light sensitive layer of the eye).
There’s a fascinating video in the Telegraph story about a different type of eye surgery, but just to warn you – you probably don’t want to watch it if you’re squeamish. It’s safer to watch the animiation showing the PRECEYES system instead!