I can see clearly now

1:43pm Thursday 20th March 2008

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PIONEERING surgery has given Bella Roberts the chance to see clearly now how beautiful her three children are.

The mother of three was classed as clinically blind without glasses before she became the first person in the country to have new laser eye correction treatment.

Now 32-year-old Mrs Roberts has better than 20-20 vision and is enjoying seeing things that used to be a blur.

The treatment corrects short sight and is claimed to be safer than other operations because it doesn't use a blade to cut the surface of the eye.

Mrs Roberts was treated with Z-LASIK equipment in January after her husband Nigel, 46, found out about it and suggested she volunteer.

It was brought here from America and Switzerland by eye specialist David Allamby, who practises from his surgery near Harley Street in London.

Mrs Roberts, who has three children, Catherine, ten, and seven-year-old twins Maya and Luke, said: "Before I couldn't do anything without my contact lenses or glasses. Now I can see more clearly than I've seen since I was 11.

"I had looked into laser eye surgery before but was worried about the blade procedure. Your eyes are so important.

"I did think at some points I'm a mother of three children and what if I go blind?"

"I volunteered to be Mr Allemby's guinea pig and within a day of having the surgery I could tell how much clearer my eyesight was.

"I was quite dubious about being the first person but the consultant really is one of the best in the UK."

Other sight treatments use a mechanical blade to cut a flap on the surface of the eye.

This is then folded to the side before the cornea is reshaped using a laser.

The procedure Mrs Roberts tested uses laser energy for both stages, which is said to be quick and painless.

Mrs Roberts added: "Now I can jump out of bed without having to reach for my glasses.

"I am a keen runner so I can run without my glasses steaming up.

"I cannot believe the difference a simple operation has made to my life.

"The main things I have noticed more are my children. They look so much more beautiful.

"I didn't notice how strikingly beautiful they were before because contact lenses can only sharpen your vision so much.

"My garden as well is also much sharper and I never squint or blink a lot, which I did before."

At the moment the treatment is only available privately and costs around £595 per eye.

Mrs Roberts said: "I think more and more people should be aware of this treatment.

"You can't put a price on perfect eyesight. It is precious. It really, really would change people's lives."