Paul Laskey, who was attacked with battery acid, shared how a donated placenta treatment helped save his eye. The 43-year-old was targeted after confronting a mugger who had robbed his son in Newcastle. Following the attack, Paul experienced severe eye damage, with his cornea layers melting due to the acid. He underwent extensive surgery, including two cornea transplants, but the real turning point came with the use of a donated placenta. Image: Paul was injured after acid was thrown in his eyes ‘This saved my eye’Paul received three amnion grafts made from tissue taken from a donated placenta. These grafts stabilized his eye and prevented further damage, giving him hope for recovery.After the procedure, Paul was able to return to work and resume coaching his son’s football team, although he still faces challenges with his depth perception. Image: The amnion graft The attacker, Robbie Scott, was sentenced to ten years in prison for the assault on Paul. Despite the challenges he faced, Paul expressed no regrets about standing up to protect his son.Reflecting on the experience, Paul called the surgery involving the donated placenta «very special» and credited it with saving his eye and potentially restoring his vision in the future. In 2024, NHS Blood and Transplant provided 882 amniotic membrane grafts for eye surgeries, highlighting the importance of such donations in saving lives. Donated placenta treatment saves eye of battery acid attack victim

Paul Laskey thought he would lose his eye after being squirted with battery acid, but a donated placenta helped save his sight.

Paul, 43, was attacked after confronting 21-year-old Robbie Scott, who had mugged his son in Newcastle. Scott had pulled a knife on his son and stolen his gold chain.

After being squirted with battery acid, Paul was rushed to the hospital where he was told he had severe damage to his eye. He underwent extensive surgery, including cornea transplants, but it was a donated placenta that ultimately saved his eye.

‘This saved my eye’

Paul received amnion grafts from a donated placenta, stabilizing his eye and saving his vision. He underwent a long recovery process but is now back at work and coaching his son’s football team.

Scott was sentenced to ten years in prison for the attack on Paul. Despite the challenges he faced, Paul has no regrets about confronting his son’s attacker.

‘Very special surgery’

In 2024 NHS Blood and Transplant provided 882 amniotic membrane grafts for transplantation, specifically for eye surgery.

Paul’s eye injury was one of the most severe his consultant has treated, but a donated placenta helped save some of his sight. Each donated placenta can be used to make up to one hundred amnion grafts, treating patients for a variety of conditions including eye injuries. Claire Price, national retrieval manager at NHS Blood and Transplant’s Tissue and Eye Services, emphasized the importance of placenta donation and thanked all the mothers who donate. Professor Francisco Figueiredo, consultant ophthalmologist at Newcastle Eye Centre, highlighted the significance of rapid treatment for chemical eye burns and the role of grafts in saving vision.

After being attacked with battery acid, Paul Laskey faced significant eye damage, but the use of amnion grafts from a donated placenta helped stabilize his eye and save his limited vision. The grafts allowed his eye to heal and prevented further damage. Paul expressed his gratitude for the procedure, which he described as a «light at the end of the tunnel.» He has since returned to work and coaching his son’s football team.

He still faces challenges with his depth perception, only able to perceive shadows from his left eye. Despite this, Paul remains hopeful for the future, expressing gratitude that his eye was saved and optimism for potential sight restoration through future procedures.

Scott was sentenced to ten years in prison for the attack on Paul, to which he pleaded guilty without providing any explanation for his actions. Paul, despite losing his sight in one eye, has no regrets about standing up to his son’s attacker. He emphasized that he would rather endure the consequences himself than see his son suffer the same fate.

In 2024, NHS Blood and Transplant facilitated 882 amniotic membrane grafts for eye surgeries, with Paul’s case being among the most severe treated by his consultant. Each donated placenta has the potential to produce up to one hundred amnion grafts, offering treatment for a range of conditions from eye injuries to burns and diseases.

Claire Price, national retrieval manager at NHS Blood and Transplant’s Tissue and Eye Services, described the surgery involving placenta donations as «very special.» She highlighted the ease of donation and the significant impact it can have on patients in need. Price expressed gratitude towards all mothers who choose to donate their placentas, emphasizing the importance of various types of donations including blood, plasma, organs, and stem cells.

Professor Francisco Figueiredo, the consultant ophthalmologist who treated Paul, emphasized the critical nature of chemical eye burns as a medical emergency. He credited the amnion grafts with saving the vision Paul still retains and enabling progress towards further treatments to restore his lost sight.

Paul’s journey serves as a testament to the life-changing impact of medical interventions and the generosity of donors who contribute to life-saving treatments. Through the collaboration of medical professionals, donors, and patients like Paul, advancements in medical science continue to offer hope and healing in the face of adversity.

Extensive surgery, including two cornea transplants, took place over the next eight months. However, a donated placenta brought hope to the situation. Paul received three amnion grafts made from the inner lining of the placenta, stabilizing his eye and saving his limited vision. The procedure allowed his eye to heal and prevented further damage.

After six months off work due to light sensitivity, Paul returned to work and coaching his son’s football team. Although he still struggles with depth perception, he remains hopeful that future procedures will improve his sight. Despite losing his sight, Paul has no regrets about confronting his son’s attacker, who was sentenced to ten years in prison for the acid attack. He believes it could have been his son in that situation and would do it again to protect him.

In 2024, NHS Blood and Transplant provided 882 amniotic membrane grafts for transplantation, with each donated placenta capable of producing up to one hundred grafts. Paul’s eye injury was considered one of the most severe cases treated by his consultant. This type of surgery is deemed «very special» by Claire Price, the national retrieval manager at NHS Blood and Transplant’s Tissue and Eye Services, as it utilizes an organ that is usually discarded after birth. Donating is simple and has no impact on the baby. She expressed gratitude to all the mothers who donate their placentas. «While we currently have enough placentas, Paul’s experience serves as a reminder of the importance of various types of donation, such as blood, plasma, organs, and stem cells,» she added. Professor Francisco Figueiredo, an ophthalmologist at Newcastle Eye Centre who treated Paul for his injuries, emphasized the urgency of chemical eye burns. «They can lead to significant vision loss that greatly affects the patient’s quality of life, so prompt treatment is essential,» he explained. «It’s evident that these transplants have helped preserve the vision Paul still has and enabled us to pursue further treatment to restore his lost sight.»

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