Last updated: July 22nd, 2024

An Optometrist Finds New Vision

Sue’s Patient Story w/LAL

Sue is a local Optometrist who had cataract surgery with the vision-correcting Light Adjustable Lens™ from RXSight^®. As an experienced eye doctor herself, she was happy to share her vision correction experience in order to inspire others to achieve their best possible vision. 

Sue’s Vision History

Sue, who has worn glasses since she was three years old, describes her vision before LAL surgery as “complicated”. She wore glasses for almost 50 years and could not see near or far without them. Dry eye problems made contact lenses uncomfortable, so she rarely used them. She reached for her glasses first thing in the morning and wore them until she went to sleep at night. 

Sue, who loves to swim and run, says that, “when you literally can’t see without glasses and you are an active person, there are a lot of times that glasses get in the way”.

Why the LAL at Summit Eye Care was the Right Choice for Sue

When she developed early cataracts, Sue was not scared to have surgery because she had co-managed cataract surgery patients and knew that the procedure and recovery were typically painless. Sue also knew that her choice of IOL would make a big difference in her quality of vision after surgery. 

She had previously met Dr. Vukich through her work in eye care. When she discussed her own vision options with him, he recommended the light adjustable lens (LAL). She was hesitant at first since it was new technology, but she realized that the LAL would give her the best chance at significant vision correction. She says now that her decision to have surgery with the LAL was one of the best decisions she has ever made. 

Sue’s LAL Surgery Experience

Sue’s surgery took place in the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Due to the precautions and restrictions at that time, she did not interact with most of the Summit Eye Care staff. However, Sue has since referred many of her patients, including her own office manager, to Summit. She reports that those patients rave about the kindness of the staff and how thorough Dr. Vukich and his team are in explaining how treatment works and ensuring that patients are at ease. 

As the only IOL that allows for prescription adjustment after surgery, the LAL involves post-surgical UV light treatments to adjust the lens prescription. Sue said that the non-surgical post-op treatments were quick and completely painless. She initially had her LAL adjusted for perfect distance vision, but she quickly realized that she wanted to also be able to see up close. At her second light treatment, she opted for a blended vision approach in which one eye stayed corrected for distance and the other eye was adjusted for near vision. With her new corrected vision, Sue can see both up close and far away.

Life with New Vision

Although Sue occasionally uses glasses for longer near-vision tasks such as reading a book, she is able to live her day-to-day life without glasses. She says that life with new vision, and being able to see without glasses feels “like a miracle.” 

She can drive without glasses and go for a run without glasses sliding down her face. She is also an avid swimmer and can now see underwater. Sue also emphasizes the small things that make a difference, like being able to tell her shampoo from her conditioner when she is in the shower—something that was a problem because her vision was so poor before surgery. 

When asked what advice she would give to someone considering vision correction surgery, Sue emphasizes realistic expectations. She says that many patients see cataract surgery and IOL selection as their chance to get out of glasses. While many IOL options cannot deliver perfectly corrected vision, she believes that the LAL is the best option for patients looking for personalized vision correction that will reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses.