A nurse in Britain has become the first person to have a tumor removed from her eye socket using keyhole surgery.

Ruvimbo Kavia, 40, from Leeds, had a meningioma removed from an area beneath her brain and behind her eyes.

Many tumors of this type were previously considered inoperable because they are located in an area called the cavernous sinus.

Experts at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust practiced the surgery several times with the help of 3D technology before Ms Kavia operated.

Previously, an operation to remove such tumors in the same part of the head required complex brain surgery, involving removal of a large portion of the skull and the risk of complications.

Ms Kavia said the tumor caused her to suffer headaches that “felt like electric shocks to my face”, which meant she was sometimes unable to eat or brush her teeth.

The mother-of-three said: “It was very stressful and difficult.

“So when they told me they were going to do surgery – they couldn’t say it would be perfect and there were risks involved.

“It was the first time they were doing this procedure. I had no choice but to agree because the pain was too much – I didn’t even think about it being the first time, I just needed it removed “

The operation, which was carried out in February last year, took just three hours and Ms Kavia was up and walking later the same day.

Neurosurgeon Aseem Shaikh said advances in technology meant treating tumors like Ms Kavia’s was now less risky.

He said: “This is an inaccessible area, and it allows direct access without compromising pressure on the brain.

“So it reaches us only in areas that were once thought to be dormant, but are now accessible.”

Biomedical engineer Lisa Ferri, head of the 3D planning service at the trust, created a model of the patient’s skull so the surgical team could rehearse before operating.

He said: “This technology enabled the team to study her anatomy in detail and prepare her for the procedure with unparalleled precision.

“Looking at the model and knowing that her contribution to this groundbreaking surgery is incredibly rewarding.”

Ms Kavia was left with a small scar near her left eye, but three months after the surgery she was back at work caring for stroke patients.

She said: “When I had the operation I thought I might have to stay in hospital for weeks or months and be home within a few days.

“I had double vision for about three months but everything else was fine.”

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