“I CAN SEE BRILLIANTLY NOW”
How the right lenses can change your life Intraocular lens innovations meet high expectations for exceptional vision and a renewed quality of life after cataract surgery.
Last spring, Eric Sunstrum and his wife were sailing their boat, and Eric noticed he couldn’t see navigation aids out on the water. Assuming it was time for new glasses, Eric made an appointment with his optometrist. To his surprise, he was diagnosed with cataracts. Eric says he did some research online and went to meet with his surgeon under the impression that when choosing lenses, he’d need to prioritize distance or near vision. “I mentioned that I need to see in the distance on our sailboat. My surgeon said, ‘Well, that’s all very good, but what if you want to look down and check something in front of you?’ He explained that in my particular case I could regain vision at all distances." Cataract surgery has improved a great deal over the years. Today, there’s a high expectation of good vision without glasses, and there are many more options for multifocal intraocular lenses, like Alcon® PanOptix® lenses, which allow you to see clearly whether something is close up, mid-range or far away with less reliance on glasses. According to Dr. John Blaylock, Medical Director & Chief Surgeon at Valley Laser Eye Centre in BC, one size does not fit all when it comes lenses. “Your surgeon needs to understand what you as a patient want, the kinds of activities you engage in and your expectations. For example, do you rely on near vision as a reader or distant vision as a cyclist.” Eric was amazed at how easy the surgery was. “I’m a guy who’s afraid of the dentist,” he says, “But it went swimmingly.” During cataract surgery, the surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens tailored to your eyes and vision needs. The surgery, which Eric described as “painless,” generally takes less than 30 minutes. Eric says the surgery’s impact was almost immediate. “After 50 years, I no longer have to put my glasses on first thing in the morning. Everything is so much clearer.” “The options and the process is going to be a little different for everyone,” he adds. “Pay attention to your eyes and trust the professionals to guide you.”