A Leeds nurse has made medical history as the first person in the UK to have a tumour removed through her eye socket using keyhole surgery. Ruvimbo Kaviya, 40, underwent the procedure to remove a meningioma located in the cavernous sinus, a hard-to-reach space beneath the brain and behind the eyes, which would previously have been considered inoperable.

Specialists at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust prepared for months, practising the surgery with 3D technology. Traditional methods would have involved highly invasive brain surgery, requiring the removal of a large portion of the skull and carrying significant risks. The new approach allowed surgeons to access the tumour directly, minimising complications.

Ms Kaviya, a mother-of-three, had been living with debilitating headaches described as “electric shocks” in her face, which left her unable to eat or brush her teeth. Despite being told the procedure carried risks, she agreed to it due to the severity of her pain. The operation, performed in February last year, lasted just three hours, and she was walking the same day.

Neurosurgeon Asim Sheikh highlighted how advances in technology are revolutionising treatments for previously untreatable conditions. The surgical team rehearsed using a 3D model of Ms Kaviya’s skull, prepared by biomedical engineer Lisa Ferrie. Ms Kaviya, now fully recovered and back at work, said she was amazed by the quick recovery, adding that the surgery left only a small scar near her eye.