Autocue was a blur before my miracle op: This Morning presenter Ruth Langsford says her sight is fixed for good
- TV presenter had lens replacement surgery to fix eye problem
- Ruth Langsford's sight began deteriorating in her early 40s
She's an unflappable presence on morning TV who hardly ever fluffs her lines – no matter how often her co-presenter husband interrupts.
But This Morning presenter Ruth Langsford has revealed how for years she lived in fear of making mistakes live on air because of her poor eyesight.
Miss Langsford, who presents the ITV show on Fridays with Eamonn Holmes, became so long-sighted in both eyes that she couldn’t read the autocue or check crucial facts while interviewing celebrity guests.
Eye-opener: Ruth Langsford, pictured with co-host and husband Eamonn Holmes, can see clearly again after having a lens replacement surgery
Now she claims she can see clearly after having ‘miracle’ surgery which replaced the lenses in both her eyes.
She says the procedure was so successful that Mr Holmes, 53, – who frequently disagrees with his wife on the show – is also considering it.
Miss Langsford, 52, said: ‘For years I was nervous I might slip up on screen. It has transformed my life. I feel liberated and rejuvenated.
‘I tried wearing a contact lens in one eye to help me focus on the autocue, but they would get make-up in them and I would suddenly find my vision was blurry as the cameras started rolling.
‘Without contact lenses, I had to use glasses. But when I was chatting away to a film star and suddenly forgot the name of a film, I couldn’t just check my notes surreptitiously.’
Struggle on screen: Ruth Langsford says she spent years feeling nervous about not being able to read the autocue or check her lines due to her bad eyesight
Popular: Eye surgery, such as LASIK laser vision correction, has become more popular as a way to combat bad eyesight for ever
Miss Langsford, who also presents Loose Women, said her eyesight deteriorated in her early 40s. She said: ‘I started holding restaurant menus at arm’s length and newspaper print would vibrate.
'If I went out walking the dog without my glasses I wouldn’t answer my mobile phone because I couldn’t see who was calling and I couldn’t read texts.’
CLEAR VISION IN AN HOUR
Known as ‘permanent lens replacement’, the procedure Miss Langsford underwent is a variant of cataract surgery.
The operation was performed by Robert Morris, of the Optegra eye hospital group, whose version of the procedure is branded Clarivu.
Under local anaesthetic, a 2mm incision is made in the eyeball. The natural lens is broken up using ultrasound and sucked out through the hole.
A new lens, made of medical-grade acrylic or silicone, is then injected into the eye and held in place with tiny legs.
Patients are able to see clearly within an hour or two of surgery, which costs £3,495 per eye.
Miss Langsford was told she was not suitable for laser eye surgery, because the procedure only corrects one eye.
Instead, she had two 20-minute operations to change her natural lenses for artificial replacements – and fix her sight for good.
She said: ‘It was as easy as going to the dentist’s – and less painful.
‘I didn’t need general anaesthetic. As soon as I got out, I noticed the difference.
'The first thing I read was a packet of shortbread. I couldn’t believe it. It felt like a miracle.’
Miss Langsford added: ‘Eamonn is quite squeamish, but he has said he will definitely consider it if his eyes start to get worse.’
