A female firefighter has been given pioneering sight-saving lens implants so she can continue in her job after she was diagnosed with cataracts at the age of 28.

Lynsey Philpott, who is stationed at Rawdon, was the first patient to be given the lenses at an NHS hospital.

The mum-of-one, who lives in Otley, underwent the procedure after consultations at St James’s Hospital, Leeds, because of the vital nature of her job.

Miss Philpott said: “Things like reading, lectures, having to move closer to the computer screen and driving at night became harder. It was like a blurriness.

“Since having the operation it is like seeing in Sky high-definition.”

She said the severity of her condition only became clear when she could compare sight from the eye that had been operated on with the one that had not.

“I couldn’t believe the difference,” she said.

People who develop cataracts are eligible to have lens replacement surgery on the NHS and would normally be fitted with the standard monofocal lenses, which only correct distance vision.

Miss Philpott was fitted with multi-focal intraocular lenses which have enabled her to see perfectly, including in environments with low lighting and smoky rooms.

James Ball, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at St James’s Hospital, said: “Most cataract patients are in their 70s and upwards. We think with Lynsey she probably had them from birth.

“Congenital cataracts is usually picked up early on. We think she had it quite mild and it got worse.

“We used a lens technology to give her a full range of vision without glasses, but it isn’t suitable for everybody.

“Because she is so young we needed to try to find a way to restore that range of vision. It was a bit of a leap of faith.

“I told her it was a good option and it would work and set her up well for her job.

“I’m delighted it has worked so well.”