Tag Archives: cataract surgery

Eyeology with Dr. Verdier

August 14, 2015 emmapalova 1 Comment

New eyes one year later

By Emma Palova

EW Emma’s Writings

Grand Rapids, MI- It’s been exactly a year since I’ve had surgeries to remove cataracts from both eyes. The process took close to two months at the Verdier Eye Center in Grand Rapids.

In May, I went almost completely blind to a point where I could no longer drive or write because I couldn’t see the computer screen or the windshield. And that’s exactly what a cataract is- a dirty windshield or lights on the car. Some cataracts take years to develop, mine only took two years from the first consultation. They don’t necessarily just strike older people, which is also one of common misconceptions.

Verdier Eye Center — Dr. David Verdier, a recognized eye surgeon

I couldn’t see the TV screen, so I couldn’t do my yoga practice. I cried hard. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to see my son Jake and daughter-in-law Maranda at their wedding on Oct. 25.

I knew Dr. David Verdier from earlier stories that I had written for Advance Newspapers and Gemini Publications about his worldwide work for Orbis. He is a well-known eye surgeon who brought to West Michigan subspecialty skills of modern corneal transplantation and external eye diseases, cataract removal and intraocular lens implantation.

Dr. Verdier is recognized by his peers as a member of The Best Doctors in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in Medicine and Health Care and Who’s Who in American Education.

As such other ophthalmologists have to recommend you to get to him. I asked my eye doctor Holzer that I want Dr. Verdier to do the surgery.

“You’ll have to wait to get in, but he’s worth waiting for,” said Dr. Holzer.

The whole process took several visits to the eye center, but it was well worth it. I overheard some patients waiting for the surgery say, that it is a frivolous surgery.

I would never call any surgery, a frivolous affair. It was done under local anesthesia and with an anesthesiologist present. The prep time for it took two hours.

Today, one year later I still don’t need eye glasses because Dr. Verdier also implanted lenses into my eyes that corrected the vision. I carry patient lens implant identification cards on me.

I am grateful to Dr. Verdier for his expertise and for “Taking my eyes to heart.” I even got a plant Kalanchoe to get well. Both, the plant and my eyes are doing well.

Here are the links to last year’s stories grouped in a mini-series “New Eyes with Dr. Verdier.”

https://emmapalova.com/2014/09/06/new-eyes-with-dr-verdier/

https://emmapalova.com/2014/09/13/new-eyes-with-dr-verdier-3/

https://emmapalova.com/2014/10/01/new-eyes-with-dr-verdier-iii/

https://emmapalova.com/2014/10/21/new-eyes-with-dr-verdier-iv/

eye disease, opthalmology

New eyes with Dr. Verdier IV

October 21, 2014 emmapalova Leave a comment

The Grand Finale delivers 20/20 vision

Note: This is the fourth installment in the mini-series called “New eyes with Dr. Verdier” about cataracts and eye surgeries. It rightfully carries the bold title, “The Grand Finale.”

The series tracks Emma Palova’s journey from near blindness to new eyes with 20/20 vision. The third part “The Surgery” was published on Oct. 1.

The second part “The evaluation of cataracts” was published on Sept. 13.

The first part “Eyes set on Dr. Verdier” was published on EW Emma’s Writings http://emmapalova.com on Sept. 6.

The Grand Finale

By Emma Palova

EW Emma’s Writings

Grand Rapids, MI- I went into the second surgery even more scared than the first eye because I already knew what was going to happen.

“Each eye is different,” I remembered the anesthesiologist saying.

Dr. David Verdier previously informed me that he was going to adjust the lens for the left eye so it won’t see as far into the distance, but more close-up. That way the two eyes don’t fight, and the result should be a perfect 20/20 vision.

Dr. David Verdier, a recognized eye surgeon

The fear from the surgery caused my blood pressure and pulse to skyrocket. I was sweating in spite of the fact that it was cold in the operating room. I had trouble dozing off under the local anesthesia.

I could feel the work done on the left eye and yellow balls and circles were dancing in front of me. I got a perforated shield on the left eye as well to protect the eye for seven days after the surgery.

When I was hauled into the post-operating stall, I could see my husband as clear as the night sky. Very sharp.

Crisp new 20/20 vision after cataract surgery

I was again the youngest person on the operating premises. Certain type of cataracts strike “younger” people, and unlike the regular cataracts they move very fast causing deterioration of the eyesight.

“It’s like a dirty windshield,” said Dr. Nathan Schlotthauer during the initial evaluation. “New layers keep adding on to it.”

At the height of the cataract ordeal that started two years ago, I could not see myself in the mirror or drive.

Resting in the post-operational stall, I was glad it was all over.

Dr. Verdier entered the stall, “It went very well.”

Next day’s check-up proved my 20/20 vision, and the technician was just as excited as I was.

“You won’t need eyeglasses,” he said.

I got the last schedule for eye drops that would run through Sept. 19. The medication schedule called for the tapering of prednisolone eye drops. Prednisolone eye drops reduce redness, burning and swelling.

As the AcrySof IQ lens implant adjusted in the eyeball, I could see orange circles on the periphery. Sometimes there was tension in both eyes, but the vision remained beyond expectations.

“You see like a hawk now,” said my husband Ludek.

The last appointment at the Verdier Eye Center was on Aug.22. The first evaluation was on July 11.

“You look great,” concluded Dr. Verdier after recording the case. “You have new eyes. We’re very pleased. You were an excellent patient to have.”

“I am ecstatic doctor,” I cried with joy. “I am a new woman.”

In two weeks I saw my referring eye doctor Dr. Holser back in Lowell, who confirmed the 20/20 vision.

“You probably will never need eyeglasses,” he said. “Dr. Verdier is the best. He is worth waiting for.”

For more information go to: www.verdiereyecenter.com

East Paris Surgical Center, LLC http://eastparis-surgicalcenter.com

A few facts about cataracts according to American Academy of Ophthalmology:

In a normal eye, light focuses precisely on the retina.

In an eye with a cataract, light scatters throughout the eye instead of focusing precisely on the retina causing cloudy vision.

Common symptoms of cataracts are: a painless blurring of vision, glare or sensitivity, poor night vision, double vision in one eye, needing brighter light to read, fading or yellowing of colors.

Most age-related cataracts progress gradually over a period of years, and may be different even between the two eyes.

Other cataracts in younger people may progress rapidly over a short time.

Surgery is the only way a cataract may be removed. However, if symptoms are not bothering you much, surgery may not be needed. Sometimes a simple change in eyeglass prescription may be helpful.

No medications, dietary supplements or exercises have been shown to prevent or cure cataracts.

Cataract surgeries:

More than 1.8 million people have cataract surgery each year in the United States. More than 95 percent of those surgeries are performed without complications.

During cataract surgery, which is usually performed under local or topical anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, the surgeon removes the cloudy lens from the eye. In most cases, the focusing power of the natural lens is restored by replacing it with a permanent intraocular lens implant.

The ophthalmologist performs the delicate surgery using a microscope, miniature instruments and other modern technology.

In many people who have cataract surgery, the natural capsule that supports the intraocular lens may become cloudy over time. I f this occurs, the surgeon may perform an outpatient laser procedure called capsulotomy.

For more information go to: www.aao.org