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I have recently experienced what is a miracle for me, and want to share with others that may have a similar problem or know someone who does that might benefit as well.
I was born in the small desert town of Lancaster CA during WWII. When it came time for me to enter the world there were only two doctors in town, as all others had been drafted into or joined the military. One doctor was a Podiatrist and the other an ENT. My Mother traveled to the nearest city that still had a Family doctor for her prenatal checkups. But, when her water broke and she went into labor there was little time to get her to the city, and the only doctor available in Lancaster at the time was the ENT. As it turned out, medical Forceps were required to assist in my birth, which was not uncommon in the day. In the process, the Forceps slipped and one if the sides of the Forceps cut my left eye, severely scratching the eyeball, and caving in part of my head. The doctor managed to reshape my head, but, the damage to the eye was so bad that it soon became pretty much useless and resulted in a severe astigmatism. Thus, all my life I have had very little or no vision in my left eye, and the most recent measurements in August 2011 showed only a level of 5.7 vision.
On Thursday, Sept 29th, 2011, I had eye surgery to remove a cataract and replace the lens with a brand new, just FDA released Toric lens in my left eye, and for the first time in my life, I actually can see out of that eye. For me, it is truly a miracle. My biggest fear all my life was that one day something would happen to my right eye, the only one I could ever see with, and I would be all but totally blind. The lens is far more effective then I ever dreamed or hoped for. While vision in that eye is not ever going to be as good as the right eye, which is now just under 20/20 since the new regular lens replacement and cataract removal surgery on that eye in January this year, the sight in the left eye has improved to fairly near that level, with a level of 80-85% improvement. Even the day after the surgery I could read 14 pt text out of that eye, and see real images, not just blurry blobs of color. In my follow-up exam the next morning the doctor said that the eye was still somewhat dilated and there was still some inner-eye swelling that will dissipate in the next week to 10 days and my vision will improve even more during the coming months as things readjust to the new lens.
To say that I am extremely elated and overjoyed is putting it lightly. As now, if something did happen to the right eye, I can still function independently. It is one thing to be blind and be able to hear, or deaf and be able to see, but, to be both deaf and blind has been a life-long fear, as I am hearing impaired and wear a hearing aid in one ear and am deaf in the other due to a known family inherited hearing defect. I am so truly grateful that, even at this point in my life, I can now live out the rest of my life in peace and know what it is like to see out of two eyes.
There will be an adjustment period not only for my vision, but, for my brain, as it will have to re-associate with my left eye, which it has more or less ignored all my life as it was so useless. I have never had cross-hairs, which are necessary for depth perception and other visual needs, and now that this is also being provided with the new lens and will take a bit of getting used to.
It is a very exciting and uplifting event for me, and one I wanted to share with those here on the Vine. It occurred to me that some of you have vision problems too, and you will understand how much of a miracle it can be to finally be able to see things from all normal perspectives, and also to let people know about this wonderful new lens. While Toric lenses are not new in the vision world, there has never before been a lens made that was strong enough to help the severe type of astigmatism that I have, and, obviously, I'm not alone and others have the same kind of problem. I want to let them know about this new lens, which was just approved in May 2011, and released by the FDA for general use in August 2011 and that it is now available. I was my Ophthalmologist's first patient to get the new Toric lens and he is also very excited about the results compared with the severe lack of vision in my left eye. The severity of damage to the cornea and eyeball itself presented a challenge for the doctor, but, the severity of the astigmatism and associated conditions is exactly the kind of problem this new Toric model SN5AT9 lens was developed for. And....I do not need to wear prescription glasses. I have fixed lenses in both eyes for far vision and can see clearly for driving and good distance sight. For reading, working on the computer and other close-up work all I need is a simple pair of 125 strength reading glasses that can be bought for under $20.00 at Wal-Mart, Rite Aid or other drug or discount stores. No more $400.00-$500.00 pr special lens glasses for only one eye, as there was never anything but a clear lens for the left eye as there was never any lens that could help the left eye.
So, that is why I have decided to post this article. To let folks here know about this new kind of lens that is now available for severe astigmatisms that have up until now been untreatable. So, if you have such a problem, or know of someone who does, please check out the information about this new Toric lens with your eye doctor, or pass the information along to someone who may also benefit from it. It could be a miracle of sight for others as well.
