Posted by: Georgia Eye Physicians and Surgeons in Featured Patient
It’s never too late to improve your vision. Just ask Thomas, the Georgia Eye Physicians and Surgeons September spotlight patient. A 69 year old retiree from north Georgia, Thomas spent most of his life with severe myopia, or nearsightedness, but that never really slowed him down. After a long career working at the National Archives, he now spends time relaxing at his house on Lake Lanier and enjoying his six grandchildren. Thomas also maintains several rental properties in the area, and it was while maintaining these properties, which frequently required the changing or re-tooling of locks, that he developed an interest in locksmithing. However, he found that his vision was growing worse and that he was unable to perform the fine, close-range work that was required. A visit to his local optometrist confirmed that he had started to develop cataracts in both of his eyes.
“It was my daughter-in-law who first recommended Dr. Segal,” Thomas explained. “I normally wouldn’t have even considered driving all the way to Duluth, but she is a doctor herself, and both she and her mother had been patients of Dr. Segal for years. Now that all is said and done, I am really glad that I decided to go a little bit out of my way.”
The most common cause of blindness worldwide for adults over the age of 40, cataracts cause opaque clouding of the lens of the eye. Typically, cataracts develop slowly, gradually obscuring vision over the course of several years. However, in some cases, cataracts can progress more rapidly, making prompt medical intervention necessary. The treatment of cataracts involves replacing the damaged lens of the eye with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) composed of plastic, acrylic, or silicone. Many different types of IOLs are available, ranging from simple monofocal lenses, to more advanced toric and multifocal lenses that can help address astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Thomas opted for ReSTOR® premium multifocal lenses with advanced apodized diffractive technology that allows the lens to more easily focus between close and far distances.
“Dr. Segal did both eyes separately, about two weeks apart,” explained Thomas, “but even after just getting the first eye done I could tell the difference. I remember noticing on the drive home that I could make out street signs and even license plates clearly without having to use my glasses. I’ve worn glasses ever since I was eight years old, but I took them off when I went in for the first procedure and haven’t put them back on since.”
For the surgical treatment of cataracts, Dr. Segal uses the LenSx® laser system, the most technologically advanced system available. This advanced technology is important, because the computer-assisted precision of the LenSx® laser helps to ensure that each cataract treatment achieves optimal results as quickly and efficiently as possible. “The surgery itself took just minutes and was completely painless,” said Thomas. “I actually spent more time in the waiting room than I did getting my eyes fixed.”
If you are a past patient interested in sharing your experience with Dr. Segal, or a new patient with questions about the health of your eyes and the procedures that we perform, please contact Georgia Eye Physicians and Surgeons. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more patient stories and tips for healthy eyes.
