Pioneering operation saves woman, 50, from blindness

Julia Clarke, from Nottinghamshire, was referred to the hospital’s eye department with rapidly deteriorating eyesight. She had been suffering from a thyroid-related condition.

In spite of intensive treatment with medicine, her eyeball swelled up within its bony cavity leading to almost complete blindness.

It is thought that any further delay could have led to her permanently losing her sight.

Consultant ophthalmic surgeon Omar Hadid then led a team to carry out a three-and-a-half hour operation which was the first orbital decompression for thyroid disease ever carried out in Doncaster.

After 24 hours, the operated eye recovered completely with normal vision.

A follow-up operation last week found that Ms Clarke’s eye is now “back to normal”.

She said: “I am delighted with the treatment I’ve had. I can’t fault it, and I’m thrilled to be the first patient in this pioneering operation.”

Carrying out this type of surgery is challenging for medics, owing to the nature of the inflamed and swollen orbital tissues.

Previously, patients from the Doncaster area would have had to travel to large teaching hospitals, such as in Sheffield, for such a complex and dangerous operation.

Shahed Quraishi, clinical director for head, neck and ophthalmology at the hospital trust, said he was pleased with his colleagues’ achievements.

He said: “This was our first operation of this kind and I’m delighted at the way things have gone. The lead surgeon has only been with us a few weeks.

“We had to borrow some essential equipment from Sheffield and we’re very grateful to colleagues there.

“But it shows that, with the right skills and equipment, we can do this sort of surgery on patients’ doorsteps.”