Brain surgery through eye socket spares patient major operation

Summary

A 61-year-old grandfather in Leeds avoided traditional brain surgery after surgeons accessed a potentially fatal blood vessel bulge through his eye socket—a UK-first procedure. By making a small incision beside the eye and creating an opening in the socket wall, surgeons placed a metal clip on the aneurysm without touching brain tissue. The patient spent one night in hospital instead of a week and returned to work within weeks.

Quick Facts

• Surgeons accessed the brain through the eye socket rather than removing skull bone
• Patient went home after one night compared to a week for conventional surgery
• A 3D-printed model of the skull allowed surgeons to rehearse the procedure in advance

Why It Matters

Minimally invasive surgery reduces recovery time, hospital stay, and risks while achieving the same medical outcome.