A ray of hope for the blind! A British surgeon has developed a laser eye surgery which he claims could cure short-sightedness in people thereby preventing millions of anile adults from going blind.

According to Professor John Marshall of King's College London, the short pulse laser technique can delay the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) -- the leading cause of blindness in over 60s in the western world.

"With this laser it's been specifically designed so we don't cause any damage to the light sensitive cells or to any cells," he was quoted by 'The Daily Telegraph' as saying.

Prof Marshall said the treatment delayed the effect of ageing, a process he calls "retinal rejuvenation", without damaging any other cells. "The treatment is really treating ageing," he said.

In fact, the technique works by stimulating enzymes to remove waste material from a thin membrane behind the retina, called Bruch's membrane.

Improvements to sight were reported after the treatment was used in a clinical trial involving more than 100 diabetics. And, a new trial will treat patients suffering from AMD in one eye with the aim of saving the sight in the better eye for as long as possible.

Prof Marshall said once people have advanced AMD in one eye, studies show the condition usually develops in the second eye in 18 months to three years. "If you can delay the onset by three, four, six, seven or 10 years, it's proof of the principle."

The surgeon said he hoped the treatment would be available within two to five years and one day people in their 40s who have a family history of AMD could choose to have the treatment as a way of preventing the onset of the condition.

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