An Ilkley woman can see clearly now, thanks to revolutionary surgery for ageing sight.

Lesley Hutchinson has been fitted with specialised implants and now no longer has to wear glasses to carry out everyday tasks such as reading.

As well as improving her near, far and intermediate vision, the artificial lens means she will not need to have cataract treatments later in life.

The implant is fitted in just 20 minutes while local anaesthetic eye drops are administered.

Yorkshire Eye Hospital’s Shafiq Rehman, who carried out the operation on Lesley, said the procedure had many advantages over other vision correction treatments such as laser eye surgery.

“Lesley suffered from the common condition of presbyopia, the age-related deterioration of sight most commonly associated with reading vision,” said the surgeon.

“It is already extremely prevalent in middle-aged people and is growing further in line with our ageing population.

“Anyone over the age of 45 looking at laser eye surgery would be advised to consider lens exchange surgery to give freedom from glasses at distance, intermediate and near vision.”

Mrs Hutchinson, who enjoys hiking with her husband John and their two West Highland terriers, said she was now able to enjoy long walks, whatever the weather, and was even able to knit and sew without glasses.

The 59-year-old said: “I know how inconvenient it is to have to constantly carry several pairs of glasses around, including prescription sunglasses. I had many pairs and at one stage even needed to pop them on to eat a meal.

“Very soon after the procedure, the improvement in my vision was incredible and I just can’t describe how marvellous it was to wake up in the morning and be able to see.