Yorkshire jeweller can see again after surgery at UK first clinic in Hull

A generous benefactor is putting Hull on the map when it comes to medical advancements including eye surgery. Catherine Scott reports

When jeweller Adrian Fletcher started to lose his eyesight, it affected his livelihood as well as his life.

Adrian was just 56 but was diagnosed with cataracts first in his right eye, but then also in his left.

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“I thought I was too young to have cataracts as I thought they were something that mainly affected older people,” say Adrian who lives near Driffield.

Jeweller Adrian Fletcher, from near Driffield, has become one of the first patients to benefit from a new lazer eye treatment in Hull.

Picture : Jonathan GawthorpeJeweller Adrian Fletcher, from near Driffield, has become one of the first patients to benefit from a new lazer eye treatment in Hull.

Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe
Jeweller Adrian Fletcher, from near Driffield, has become one of the first patients to benefit from a new lazer eye treatment in Hull. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

“To start with, I’d barely notice the effects of the disease. The decline was so gradual that I’d unconsciously adapt and compensate, and everything would seem normal.

“However, last year was the straw that broke the camel’s back. My work as a jeweller was suffering; setting stones was becoming laboriously slow and I’d been forced to give up driving, reading and oil painting – all my life’s passions. Blind spots and floaters were sapping the joy out of everything and threatening my livelihood.

“Even daily life was an annoyance. I remember once putting down a mug of tea, only to find I’d completely missed the table. Shadows would play tricks on my eyes and lights would glare and cause my eyes to ache.”

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He came dependent on his wife Jools to drive him around, especially at night.

Jeweller Adrian Fletcher can do close up work once again aftrer cataract surgery in Hull.
Picture : Jonathan GawthorpeJeweller Adrian Fletcher can do close up work once again aftrer cataract surgery in Hull.
Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe
Jeweller Adrian Fletcher can do close up work once again aftrer cataract surgery in Hull. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

“I’d been to see an optician but she said I just needed stronger glasses but I knew it was more than that.”

By early 2020, Adrian was desperate for surgery to correct his vision and says he was very lucky because, despite Covid-19, he managed to get a consultation in February.

Adrian was seen by Colin Vize, consultant eye surgeon and medical director at Hull University Hospital.

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Professor Vize explained that he would need surgery on both eyes a few weeks apart. But due to lockdown and only emergency procedures being carried out, Adrian had to wait until July for surgery on the first eye.

Adrian Fletcher's eyesight had been deteriorting for six yearsAdrian Fletcher's eyesight had been deteriorting for six years
Adrian Fletcher's eyesight had been deteriorting for six years

Three weeks later, and the second eye was booked. This time it would be different: Instead of a surgeon making the incision in his eye, it would be a new state of the art laser.

“Its precision meant it would speed up healing time and let me get back to life sooner, the surgeon explained that I would be the third ever patient to undergo the procedure in the brand-new laser suite in Hull.”

The new refractive laser suite is the first of its kind in the country – providing a full range of Bausch + Lomb technology in one place for a range of eye conditions. The suite includes the Victus® Femtosecond Laser, which offers eye surgeons precision and control for cataract and corneal surgical procedures, and the Teneo™ 317 M2 – the fastest laser of its kind, which enables surgery to be done more quickly, benefiting the patient and the hospital.

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The creation of the unique suite named The Allam Refractive Laser Suite has been made possible thanks to generosity of local businessman and philanthropist Dr Assem Allam who last year announced he would donate £8m to improve and expand health services in Hull and East Yorkshire.

Colin Vize says the new equipment will help speedup surgeryColin Vize says the new equipment will help speedup surgery
Colin Vize says the new equipment will help speedup surgery

“Hull has been my adopted home for more than 50 years and I am extremely proud of it,” Dr Allam, who also owns Hull City FC, told The Yorkshire Post.

“When Colin Vize came to me and said they desperately needed these new lasers and what a positive impact it would have on waiting times for people I was happy to help. It is money the NHS just doesn’t have at the moment and I am very proud that Hull now is the first place in the country to have this equipment.”

The Allam Refractive Laser Suite will be used to treat NHS patients throughout the North of England – making Hull one of the leading national centres for these procedures.

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Commenting on the new facility, Chris Long, Chief Executive of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching this innovative new facility, and kindly thank Dr Allam for this valuable contribution to the hospital. This state of the art technology, brought together in one service, represents a true national ‘first’ for the NHS. Not only will the Allam Refractive Laser Suite benefit numerous patients throughout the region, any income generated from these procedures will be re-invested directly back into new research and technology, so we can continually enhance our services for patients.”

Colin Vize adds: “Up to this point, we have relied on highly-skilled surgeons to perform corneal transplants with steady hands and a keen eye. Current manual dissection techniques literally require a surgeon that can estimate a dissection plane to the level of microns. That’s sometimes even smaller than a grain of sand – all without assistance. With the technology in the new Allam Refractive Laser Suite, these procedures can be performed with greater precision and control. This means that patients can benefit from even more reliable and improved outcomes, so they can enjoy their sight again and embrace life to the full.’’

As for Adrian he has never looked back.

Philanthropist  Dr Assem Allam gave the money for the lazer suite in Hull - the first of its kind in the countryPhilanthropist  Dr Assem Allam gave the money for the lazer suite in Hull - the first of its kind in the country
Philanthropist Dr Assem Allam gave the money for the lazer suite in Hull - the first of its kind in the country

“I was amazed. Just ten minutes and the whole thing was done. It was painless and, as the surgeon promised, the eye under going the new surgery healed much faster. With both eyes done within three weeks, an eye test confirmed I had perfect vision – better than I’ve ever had and I can now finally ditch my glasses. Better still, I’m already back to driving and oil painting. I feel absolutely marvellous: I look at the sky and clouds when I’m walking the dog with new appreciation and wonder.

“I’m so thankful to Mr Vize, and his brilliant team at the Hull Eye Hospital.”

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