THE growing demand for laser eye surgery has seen a North-East clinic reach an impressive milestone.

Keir (31) from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, has just undergone the 1000th laser eye treatment performed by the Newcastle clinic of laser eye specialists, Ultralase.

The company, which counts Olympic swimmer and sports commentator, Sharron Davies, ex-Hollyoaks actress Sarah Manners and Durham and England cricketer, Paul Collingwood amongst its former patients, treated Keir using the latest LASIK technique - allowing her to throw away her glasses and contact lenses after 16 years.

"I'd been thinking about laser eye surgery for over a year, but was a little nervous about it, being one of those squeamish people who hates going to the dentist," she said.

It was her husband who eventually persuaded her to take the plunge. "The operation itself was quick, it took about 20 minutes, and was completely painless - I wouldn't even describe it as uncomfortable." Since opening in September 2001, Ultralase's Newcastle clinic has been performing more every month.

The growing demand in the North-East prompted the company to open consulting rooms in Middlesbrough to offer Teesside patients the alternative of having pre-operative and follow-up consultations nearer to home.

Keir: "It's been fantastic since I had the treatment - swimming is so straightforward and I'm looking forward to going skiing later in the year without worrying about losing a contact lens on the slopes."

With more than 11 years' experience, Ultralase is the UK's longest established and largest laser eye treatment group, establishing the UK's first commercial clinic at Clatterbridge on the Wirral in 1991.

To date has performed over 50,000 laser eye treatments in the UK, of which more than 40,000 have been Lasik treatments performed since 1995.