Earlier this month, the Centre of Excellence for Eyes (CEE) at the NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter successfully completed a cataract operation on its 1,000th patient, with one of the lowest-recorded complication rates in the world.

Since opening in 2022, the CEE has been offering low-complexity high-quality cataract surgery to people across Devon, and this latest milestone highlights the vital work being done to help reduce the local waiting times for these procedures.

Margaret Main, the 1,000th patient to receive cataract surgery, said: "I've had two experiences with the Nightingale because I had both my eyes done in this hospital and I can say that the staff has been always wonderful, caring and very professional. If anyone has any worries about being operated at the Nightingale Hospital, please do not. It's been a pleasure to have been operated in this hospital."

The centre, which recently completed 21 cataract operations in a day, also provides diagnostic imaging for monitoring and diagnosing glaucoma and medical retina problems, and a successful new pilot is making it quicker for patients to get their glaucoma diagnosis, reducing the initial appointment time from two hours to just 30 minutes.

Dr Elizabeth Wilkinson, Clinical Director of CEE, said: "The Centre of Excellence for Eyes is living up to its’ name by providing truly excellent, world-class cataract surgery here in Devon. Most patients only have to come to the CEE once within weeks of referral, making it a better and quicker experience for patients, and is helping us to reduce our waiting lists, which is why we’ve hit this fantastic milestone so quickly. Well done, team, I’m very proud of everyone!"