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Katie Piper has unveiled her new prosthetic eye after ‘years battling’ with her eye health.
The Loose Women star, 41, was left blind in one eye when she was the victim of an acid attack in March 2008.
Katie’s ex-boyfriend, martial arts expert Daniel Lynch, was convicted five years ago of arranging for Stefan Sylvestre to throw the corrosive liquid at the former model.
Lynch received a life sentence behind bars with a minimum term of six years in 2009. He was released on licence in 2018.
Meanwhile, Katie suffered severe facial disfigurement and has worked hard to rebuild her life and her confidence, setting up her own foundation for survivors of burns and people with scars from traumatic incidents.
However, taking to Instagram this evening, the campaigner revealed she has ‘reached the end of the road somewhat’.
As a result, she made the decision to try a prosthetic eye shell.
The NHS describes a cosmetic shell as a thin artificial eye individually manufactured for an individual. It fits over a blind and damaged eye to improve its cosmetic appearance.
Katie shared a video of the shell being inserted into her eye, writing in the caption: ‘This marks the start of a journey to have an artificial eye, with an incredible medical team behind me.
‘As always I’m incredibly grateful to all those in the NHS and private health care system for their talent and kindness.
‘I will share my journey, I’m hopeful and nervous about being able [to] tolerate it and would love to hear from any of you in the comments if you’ve been on this journey or have any advice…’
Sure enough, the comments section was soon flooded with messages of support, with fans hailing her as ‘truly inspirational’.
‘You will boss this and inspire others’, commented boyleallyson.
Helsbels222 also wrote: ‘You’re an absolute hero and an inspiration to us all. I hope it eases things for you.’
At the end of 2023, the model had surgery with the hopes of saving her left eye, and it was sewn shut. She told fans that her recovery had been stalled by a defect and an infection that was becoming ‘really hard to treat.’
She also admitted it was ‘mentally hard’ to continue undergoing surgeries and living with the injuries she sustained.
Katie was just 24 when her ex plotted the vicious attack against her, leaving her in need of 400 operations.
Lynch, who had a previous conviction for pouring boiling water over a man, was then convicted of rape, GBH, and ABH.
He was recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions in 2022.
It’s said the steroid-fuelled attack on Katie was launched after Lynch became obsessively jealous following their brief relationship.
He and Sylvestre were told by a judge that they ‘planned and then executed an act of pure, calculated, and deliberate evil’.
After attacker Sylvestre was released from prison, he fled the country.
Following the trial, Piper waived her right to anonymity as a rape victim, and her recovery was featured in a documentary. She has also been awarded an MBE for her campaign work.
She continually uses her platform online and her TV appearances to speak about her experiences and raise awareness for fellow survivors.
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