A NOTTINGHAM doctor has developed a new surgical device which could make cataract operations safer for millions of patients.

The cutting tool designed by John Stokes – a consultant ophthalmologist at the Queen's Medical Centre – makes it easier for doctors to replace cloudy lenses.

Mr Stokes and his team have now been given £300,000 to develop the device after winning the Wellcome Trust Translational Award.

Nottingham University Hospitals Trust is the first sole NHS trust in the country to receive the award – which is usually granted to research institutes and universities.

It is hoped the new tool will be available to be used in hospitals around the world within three years.

Mr Stokes, 43, from West Bridgford, said: "We are delighted our new surgical device is receiving national recognition.

"Once manufactured, this innovative piece of equipment will help to make cataract operations – already one of the safest and most commonly performed procedures in the NHS – even safer for patients.

"The device will reduce the risk of human error and enable surgeons to operate with an even greater degree of accuracy."

Cataract surgery is used to replace the lens in the eye when it becomes cloudy, usually due to old age.

One in three people over 65 in the UK are thought to suffer blurred vision because of a cataract.

Currently surgeons performing the procedure have to use a needle or forceps to cut open the surrounding lens capsule so the cloudy lens can be sucked out.

But the new equipment will use a cutting device controlled by the surgeon to make a neat circular hole in the capsule.

Mr Stokes said the innovation would make the most intricate part of the cataract surgery easier for doctors.

After coming up with the idea two years ago, the father-of-three got the device to prototype stage with the help of Warwick Design and NHS Innovations East Midlands.

He said: "Potentially it could be used by millions of people if it gains wide acceptance.

"We feel that if this stage of the operation is made easier that will be a great benefit to patients.

"This project truly reflects the great potential of collaborations between the NHS, industry and organisations such as the Wellcome Trust."

The device has also won an NHS Innovations Award and was highly commended at the Da Vinci Health Technology Innovation Awards 2008.

robert.parsons@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk