British TV presenter Katie Piper has shared her decision to have an artificial eye fitted, 16 years after suffering an acid attack.
Piper has undergone hundreds of different medical surgeries since she was attacked, in an incident orchestrated by her ex-boyfriend in 2008. Both of Piper’s attackers were convicted and sentenced to life in prison (one was released in 2018).
She has now shared in a post on Instagram She “had more or less reached the end of the road, and the decision was made to try a cochlear implant.”
āThis marks the beginning of a journey to obtain a prosthetic eye, with an amazing medical team behind me,ā she wrote.
āAs always, I am extremely grateful to all those working in the NHS and the private healthcare system for their talent and kindness.
āI will be sharing my journey, I am both optimistic and nervous about my ability to endure it and would love to hear from any of you in the comments if you have been on this journey or have any advice.ā
BBC reports Piper lost sight in one eye at the time of the attack, but doctors worked to restore it. She waived her right to anonymity the following year, and made a documentary with Channel 4 about her experience in 2009, titled Katie: My pretty face.
Piper later set up her own foundation to help people with burns and scars, and was awarded an OBE for charitable services and helping victims of disfigurement in 2021.
