Living a life without glasses — it seemed almost impossible for patient Barbara Oukrop until she met Dr. Rajesh Shetty, a cataract surgeon with Florida Eye Specialists. He recommended performing her cataract surgery with the transformative Light Adjustable Lens™ (LAL).
The LAL is a new cataract lens implant that can be adjusted after cataract surgery. This technology allows patients to test drive their vision and customize their prescription to their lifestyle, just like with glasses or contacts. Learn more about Barbara’s experience with this groundbreaking new procedure.
Dreaming of a Life Without Glasses
Growing up with 20/20 vision, Barbara took it for granted that she never needed glasses or contact lenses. But that all changed in her 40s. She started a new job that required long hours in front of a computer screen. Eventually, she realized she needed to use reading glasses all the time to see clearly.
Being so reliant on reading glasses frustrated Barbara. She sought vision correction through a conductive keratoplasty (CK) procedure in one eye. Unfortunately, the results didn’t last. She was back in glasses within just five months. After that, she thought she’d be stuck with glasses for life.
Finding Hope in Cataract Surgery
Now 66 years old, Barbara naturally developed cataracts — just as we all do with age. Her eye doctor recommended she see Dr. Shetty for cataract surgery. Thanks to advances in technology, many patients correct their vision during cataract surgery and see better than ever. That filled Barbara with hope.
“But Dr. Shetty was concerned because of my old CK procedure. It kind of screwed up my eyes and made it harder to predict my prescription,” Barbara remembered. “I really wanted to get rid of glasses, so Dr. Shetty said I’d be a perfect candidate for the new LAL.”
Dr. Shetty explained that Barbara would receive the same cataract surgery as normal — where the cloudy lens of her eye would be replaced with a clear one. The difference would be in the lens itself. The LAL is made with a photosensitive material that can be adjusted using light.
For patients who have had prior vision procedures (such as LASIK) or eye conditions (like glaucoma and macular degeneration), it can be difficult to predict vision outcomes after cataract surgery. That’s why the LAL gave Barbara so much peace of mind — she knew that she had the power to control her sight.
“I was counting down the time until I could get my cataract surgery. I knew my sight would be so much better,” she said. “I wasn’t nervous at all.”
Seeing Clearly Thanks to the Light Adjustable Lens
After her cataract surgery, Barbara saw Dr. Shetty three times to receive light treatments and customize her prescription. The treatments were quick and easy — even faster than she expected.
“The light treatments didn’t hurt at all. It was like looking at a kaleidoscope,” she explained. “They put this little round thing up to keep your eyes open. Then it’s all over before you know it.”
Now that her vision has been “locked in” with one final light treatment, Barbara is thrilled with the results.
“Oh my god, it’s amazing! I’m out of my glasses and I’ll never go back to having bad vision,” she said. “I used to have to wear glasses for everything, now I almost never need my readers. I’m so thankful I got it done.”
Schedule a Cataract Consultation With Florida Eye Specialists
If you have cataracts, you don’t have to suffer from blurred, dull vision or give up the activities you love. At Florida Eye Specialists, our eye surgeons use cutting-edge technology and premium lens options so you can see better than ever before.
“I would say absolutely, do it!” Barbara said. She explained that while premium lenses like the LAL may come at an added cost, it’s absolutely worth the results. “How much does your eyesight mean to you? Because it means everything to me.”
Barbara is truly grateful for both the outstanding results and the personalized care she experienced working with Dr. Shetty. “I’d love to thank Dr. Shetty. He really cares about people, and that kind of doctor is hard to find,” she said. “He’ll be my eye doctor forever.”
The experienced cataract specialists at Florida Eye Specialists have performed over 100,000 cataract surgery procedures, so you know you’ll be in good hands. Schedule an appointment with a cataract consultant today.