“When I go out for a walk, I can see the trees and see the detail. I can see the colors. I can see everything.”
Cataracts can gradually make everyday vision feel less clear, whether you’re driving, reading, exercising, or simply trying to take in the details around you. For Howard Jacobsen, changes in his vision eventually reached a point where he knew it was time to find a surgeon he could trust.
At 80, Howard had previously undergone LASIK in one eye and knew he wanted a surgeon with the experience to handle his specific vision needs. After researching his options, he found Dr. Rajesh Shetty at Florida Eye Specialists.
For Howard, choosing the right eye doctor Jacksonville patients could trust was about more than finding someone to perform cataract surgery. He wanted to feel confident in the person caring for his vision.
Howard’s background in health care gave him a particular appreciation for quality patient care. Having previously worked as a pharmaceutical representative, he understood the importance of choosing an experienced physician and a practice he could trust.
When he began looking into cataract surgery, Howard researched his options carefully before deciding to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shetty. “I did lots of research on him, and I wanted to see him,” Howard said. “I wanted someone who really knew what they were doing.”
Because one of his eyes had previously undergone LASIK, Howard appreciated the time Dr. Shetty spent understanding his medical and vision history before moving forward. He felt confident in Dr. Shetty’s approach and the personalized care he received throughout the process.
By the time Howard began considering cataract surgery, his changing vision was affecting more than his ability to see clearly. He noticed the difference when he went to renew his driver’s license.
“I’m 80 years old, and when I went to renew my driver’s license, I couldn’t pass the test without glasses,” he said. For someone who enjoyed staying active and spending time outdoors, Howard knew he didn’t want to keep adjusting to declining vision. He decided it was time to address the problem.
Given his LASIK history, Dr. Shetty recommended an advanced approach using femtosecond laser technology and the Light Adjustable Lens™, tailored to Howard’s individual needs. “While he’s very businesslike, he’s not cold; he comes across like he knows you,” he said. Having a surgeon who took the time to understand his history made a huge difference.
Howard noticed a significant improvement in his vision following surgery. In the eye that had previously undergone LASIK, his vision improved from 20/70 to 20/20 within a week. The other eye also improved significantly, going from 20/40 to 20/25.
The changes were especially noticeable in the details he had been missing. “When I go out for a walk, I can see the trees and see the detail. I can see the colors. I can see everything,” Howard said. “It’s a little scary, quite frankly, because I can see my wrinkles.”
Restoring his vision has also helped Howard look forward to getting back to his normal routine. Before his procedure, he regularly spent time at the gym and was eager to return to his workouts once he had recovered.
Being able to see the world more clearly has given him another reason to get back to the activities he enjoys. The improvement has also changed the way he experiences simple moments, from walking outside to noticing details and colors that had become difficult to see.
Looking back on his experience, Howard has one simple piece of advice for anyone who has been told they may need cataract surgery.
“What I would suggest to someone considering this is, don’t wait,” he said. “If the doctor recommends doing it, do it. You’re only wasting your time. You’re taking moments of your life where you could be seeing and wasting them. Go do it.”
For Howard, finding the right surgeon and moving forward with cataract surgery gave him back a level of clarity he had been missing. “He’s the best,” Howard said of Dr. Shetty. “He did exactly what I needed him to do.”
If cataracts are making it harder to drive, read, exercise, or enjoy the details of everyday life, cataract surgery may help restore the clarity you’ve been missing. Schedule an evaluation with the cataract specialists at Florida Eye Specialists to discuss your vision and treatment options.
