The laser that can vaporise cataracts in blink of the eye

A new treatment which "vaporises" cataracts in a second is being pioneered by a London clinic.

The London Eye Hospital is the first to offer the technique, bringing hope to thousands of sufferers.

More than half of Britons over the age of 65 develop cataracts, where the lens of the eye becomes "cloudy". This affects vision and can lead to blindness if not treated.

Until now, treatment removed the cloudy lens and replaced it with an artificial one. But a new technique uses a FemtoSecond laser to dissolve the cataracts. First, doctors create a 3D model of the eye, enabling the surgeon to perform the procedure with exceptional accuracy. The laser then makes a pin-prick sized hole in the lens and fragments the cataract so the pieces can be removed.

Businesswoman Cherry Porter, 58, from Farnham, Surrey, had early-stage cataracts and is one of the first patients to undergo the procedure. The mother-of-two said: "It's great - I don't have to wear glasses and my sense of colour has improved as well."

Bobby Qureshi, medical director at the London Eye Hospital, said the technique reduces the risk of complications such as damage to the fine membrane around the lens.