Dad of 3's Eye Is Saved After an Acid Attack Thanks to Donated Placenta: 'Absolutely Crazy'

Mar. 15, 2025

Paul Laskey, who hails from the English town of Newcastle, was squirted in the left eye with batteryacidwhen a man tried to mug him and his son in February 2023, he recalled to theBBCin an interview posted on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

“It was just burning. Instantly I couldn’t see anything,” the dad of three told the outlet. “It was horrific.”

He was promptly brought to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), where he said doctors immediately suggested the procedure that involves using tissue from a donated placenta to encourage the eye to heal.

The Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.Ian Forsyth/Getty

Ian Forsyth/Getty

Laskey appeared on the Thursday, Feb. 20 episodeGood Morning Britainwith Victoria Carroll, a nurse who works on the placenta donation program, to discuss the procedure, sharing that he can see outlines now, but still struggles with depth perception.

“I was burning myself a lot on the oven and things, it’s just something you’re not used to,” he said. “You think you’re further away than you are.”

However, his eyesight has improved, and may continue to improve in the future.

When asked what he first thought of the proposed procedure, Laskey recalled thinking it was “absolutely crazy.” He added that he initially didn’t think doctors would be able to “do anything” to save his eye until the unique procedure was proposed.

He continued: “It is incredible to think that this is possible due to the generosity of a mother, donating the organ that she has grown to help grow her child. It really is remarkable.”

As theAmerican Academy of Ophthalmologyexplained in one case study on a similar procedure, “The placenta tissue is made up of components that reduce inflammation and scarring, lower bacteria levels and promote faster tissue healing.”

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Each donation can help up to 100 people, she added.

source: people.com