An APPEAL has been launched to buy a state-of the-art £150,000 eye surgery simulator for Arrowe Park Hospital's Eye Team.

Traditionally, trainee eye surgeons practised on pigs’ eyes before moving on to real patients.

Now they have the opportunity to train in a perfectly safe, virtual environment on a human eye.

The hospital's Forsight Appeal wants to raise cash to purchase an EYESi Simulator, which exactly replicates exquisitely delicate surgical procedures and means junior doctors can practise over and over again, perfecting their technique quickly – and before they start to work on real patients.

The simulator was at the hospital for two days last week allowing students from local schools to experience training on it.

Once bought, the Arrowe Park simulator will be available to junior doctors from all over the region, not just those training in Wirral.

The Royal College of Ophthalmology’s lead on the EYESi is Mr Mark Watts – a senior member of the Wirral Eye Department Team.

The College says every teaching hospital should have one – or access to one. There are currently only four EYESi simulators in Britain and all are south of the Thames.

The Forsight Appeal will also be raising money for special screens which help the diagnosis of eye problems in the very young.

If you would like to help, you can call appeal co-ordinator Marie Stacey on 07976 016 354.

Or email marie@forsightappeal.org.uk; with your offer of help.