REMARKABLE EYE OPERATION

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1934, Page 15 (Supplement)

REMARKABLE EYE OPERATION

Sight Restored After 35 Years Blindness WOMAN HAS EYES FROM TWO OTHER PERSONS r pWO patients at a London eye hosX pital, by reason of disability which necessitated the removal of an eye in each case, have been able to restore sight to a woman who had been blind for 35 years. The delicate operations were performed at the Central London Ophthalmic Hospital by Mr Tudor Thomas, a Cardiff eye specialist who was formerly attached to the hospital. The two patients do not know to this day the extraordinary service they have given. This remarkable story was told to a “Daily Mail” reporter by Mr George Watts, the secretary of the hospital. Minute membranes, five millimeters in size, vzere sewn with hairlike gut to the sightless eyes. Two operations were performed—in November last year and January this year. For months the woman’s eyes were heavily bandaged, and now she is being taught to see. “The training,” said Mr Watts, “consists in part of blackboard drawings. For instance, a ship is drawn and the patient is asked to add the funnel.

“It is hard to conceive how difficult the training is,” continued Mr Watts. “Shown a printed card, the patient still endeavours to trace or ‘feel’ out the various letters as she would in Braille.” There are no other records of sight being restored after so long a period as 35 years. The woman, who had been blind since the age of two weeks, came from abroad. She is a Braille system expert, and has given great service to the blind in many countries.

A BUILDING used formerly as a Congregational church was sold recently by auction for £75 at Castle Carrock, North Cumberland.