Doctors and medical researchers at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital, a medical facility near Sussex in the UK, have completed the most advanced artificial lens implant to date and have endowed patients with vision better than the most able humans traditionally have.

The process to get "high definition" vision begins with the implantation of an artificial lens, using the standard procedure for cataracts.  Where as some lens implants are made of plastics PMMA or acrylic, the high tech lenses use special light-sensitive silicone.

Several days after the implant, doctors zap the lens with UV light, fine tuning it.  Over days, the lens is carefully tuned to overcome defects in the eye until patients have perfect vision.  A final blast of light fixes the lens in a final configuration.

The typical net result is that the recipients' vision significantly surpasses 20/20 sight, the best vision typically found in adults. 

Dr. Bobby Qureshi is the first ophthalmic surgeon in the UK to use the new lens and calls it "a hugely significant development".  Its not being used to give supervision to the masses quite yet, but rather is targeting patients with cataracts and long-sightedness, typically age-related conditions. 

Describes Dr. Qureshi, "We have the potential here to change patients' vision to how it was when they were young.  The change is so accurate that we can even make the lens bifocal or varifocal, so as well as giving them good vision at distance we can give them good vision for reading.  They won't need their glasses at all."

The patients are amazed at the results.  Gill Balfour, one of the first patients to receive the lens recalls how she used to have cataracts and other vision problems.  Now the world is a richer place for her.  She comments, "It's absolutely incredible. To think it's been tailor-made for you, matching any imperfections. It's the way forward, isn't it?"