A pensioner celebrated his birthday with a ground-breaking eye procedure – the first of its kind in Europe – at Colchester Hospital
It was the best present William Ewers (82) could have wished for, as he no longer needs eyedrops, following the glaucoma operation.
William Ewers (left) and Edwin Weller with Mr Chrys Dimitriou (centre).
The Frinton-on-Sea resident had the operation on New Year’s Eve – a day before his birthday – having become the first patient in Europe to receive the procedure, on his other eye, earlier in 2025.
The Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) with Nasal Trabeculostomies (iSTENT + MINT) lowers the pressure inside the eyeball. It can be performed alongside cataract surgery.
It takes less than 30 minutes to complete, and recovery time is two to three days. Other procedures that offer the same result can take up to two hours with a recovery time of about six weeks.
The procedure was performed by Mr Chrys Dimitriou, consultant ophthalmic surgeon and glaucoma lead at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals.
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. It usually develops slowly without warning signs or any symptoms in its early stages.
Early detection, via routine eye exams, can help prevent vision loss.
Mr Ewers, said: “I could see clearly after about three days.
“It’s very quick and there was no pain. It’s wonderful. My father had glaucoma most his life and he couldn’t have such a procedure.
“If you’re given the chance to go without eyedrops for the rest of your life, it’s a no-brainer. I had the procedure the day after my 82nd birthday and it was the perfect birthday present.
“I wasn’t aware of the significance of the procedure – Colchester being the first hospital in the UK to perform it. I’m amazed.”
William Ewers (82), left, and Edwin Weller (60) have both had a ground-breaking glaucoma procedure.
Edwin Weller (60), who also had the procedure, said: “It’s fascinating to be part of such pioneering surgery.
“I would recommend the procedure to anyone.”
Mr Dimitriou, the only ESNEFT ophthalmologist to win a National Clinical Impact and Excellence Award – from the Department of Health & Social Care – said: “MINT is part of a family of glaucoma treatments that are minimally invasive.
“It involves lowering the intraocular pressure inside the eye with a well-under-half-an-hour intervention.
“When the pressure is high, the optic nerve suffers, and fluid needs to be drained away at a certain level. This is to prevent progression of the disease and to stop any further damage to the optic nerve.
“The majority of our patients with glaucoma at an early stage show no symptoms.
“They don’t have a palpable problem and are unaware they have damage to their optic nerve until it’s quite late. This is when the central vision starts to deteriorate.
“All MIGS procedures, combined with cataract surgery, can offer the patient the best of both worlds; they get better vision; and they no longer need eyedrops.”
Mr Dimitriou also won a Pan-European Award at the European Awards in Medicine in 2024 for his work to jointly treat glaucoma and cataracts with combined minimally invasive surgery.
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