EASTLEIGH hairdresser Gerri Keane has given his glasses the chop and also helped an eye surgery company reach an impressive milestone.

Forty-two-year-old Gerri, who owns the Green Room Hair and Beauty Salon in Twyford Road, has just undergone the 50,000th LASIK laser eye treatment performed by Ultralase.

His short-sight and acute astigmatism was corrected at the company's Guildford clinic using the latest LASIK technique - allowing him to throw away his glasses after almost 30 years.

Gerri has now joined a list of distinguished Ultralase patients, which includes Olympic triple jumper Jonathan Edwards, swimmer and sports commentator Sharron Davies, ex-Hollyoaks actress Sarah Manners and Durham and England cricketer Paul Collingwood.

He said: "I did a lot of research before making any decision, not just about having the treatment but the level of attention given before and after. Perfect sight is a precious gift."

Since opening in March 2002, Ultralase's Guildford clinic is establishing itself as one of the company's busiest.

Clinic manager, Rob Tye, said: "The more traditional forms of correction - glasses and contact lenses - have their limitations for people with active lifestyles, which is why laser treatment is now proving extremely popular.

"It is already the most commonly performed elective medical procedure in the USA."