POLICEMAN SEES WITH SHARPER, CLEAR VISION AFTER LENS EXCHANGE SURGERY        (Issued by AMO, By Janice English, 1 May 2008)

PC Joseph Brady is no longer reaching for his reading glasses while out on the beat, thanks to some day surgery that has enabled him to keep a sharp focus at all distances.

Joseph, who is based in West Drayton, close to Heathrow, is unlikely to need specs ever again, thanks to the treatment that came about when cataracts were diagnosed at any unusually early age.

Noticing a deterioration in his night driving vision and his ability to read newsprint Joseph contacted his GP who referred him to see Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Vik Sharma FRCOphth., Clinical Director of the London Ophthalmology Centre, and glaucoma lead consultant surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital.

Mr Sharma, a specialist in cataract surgery, explained that as well as removing the troublesome cataracts he could also eliminate the need for Joseph to wear glasses all together.

During a short day surgery procedure, using NO injections and through a micro incision, Mr Sharma removed the diseased natural lenses of Joseph’s eyes, where the cataract had formed, and replaced them with new multifocal man-made lenses.  After detailed consultation of his visual needs, for both work and leisure, Mr Sharma selected a ReZoom lens for one eye and a Tecnis lens for the other providing advanced lens powers for custom-matched optimum vision at different distances.

“We are able to wind the clock back with our eyes’ functionality with these new lenses.  In fact in many cases we can now give patients better sight then they have ever had, and certainly the need for reading glasses and distance help can be overcome with careful selection of the correct lens for the patient’s lifestyle, making them free of specs, in most cases, for the rest of their lives,” explained Mr Sharma.

PC Brady is delighted with the outcome, which has exceeded his expectations -
“I have a lot of paperwork and computer generated forms to fill in.  I was reaching for my reading glasses every two seconds.  It was especially tricky when I was on the street trying to use my pocket book during the course of the day.

“I really hadn’t realised how good these lenses would be.  I now have really good vision and I don’t need glasses any more. I hadn’t realised what a time saving it would be,” he said.

Issued by AMO
By Janice English
1 May 2008

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