Carmela Zanzarella has seen her share of changes since she moved to the Sunshine State.

“I have lived in Florida since 1955,” she says, “and Florida is wonderful.”

Unfortunately, in recent years, Carmela was noticing some changes in her vision that had made her world here grow disappointingly dull.

“I took it for what it was, but colors meant nothing to me anymore,” she explains. “I’m eighty-three, so I thought, Well, I’m getting older now. I guess this is what happens. If it looked like white, I guessed it was white; if it looked like blue, it was blue. You just get used to it, and you don’t realize that you’re not seeing correctly.”

The problem was actually cataracts, the gradual clouding of the eyes’ lenses. In Carmela’s case, the slow onset of cataracts began to affect not only her perception of color but also her ability to enjoy simple tasks like reading or driving.

“I couldn’t drive at night, and I had a hard time during the day,” she confides. “What was happening was that when headlights were coming toward me, they didn’t look like headlights anymore – they were like bars going across. It was hard for me to distinguish if there were one, two, or three cars. That’s how bad it was.

“Reading was impossible,” adds Carmela. “I had to buy the large print in order to read, but then that didn’t work either. I thought, I need to get these glasses changed.”

Ultimately, Carmela was referred to Jeffrey M. Davis, MD, a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist with Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic.

“I went to see Dr. Davis,” she says, “and it was the best thing I could ever have done. He was wonderful.”

Lifestyle lenses

Dr. Davis explains that cataracts are actually a common, naturally occurring process.

“A cataract occurs as the natural lens of the eye hardens,” says the skilled surgeon. “This makes it difficult for patients to see well, and many experience nighttime glare when driving and have difficulty reading or watching television. These are often the first symptoms patients develop.”

He explains that the so-called “lifestyle” lenses include ReSTOR and Crystalens.

“Everyone has options, but a standard intraocular lens does not correct any astigmatism in the eye nor does it provide improved ability to see up-close,” says Dr. Davis. “Therefore, patients who opt for a standard lens are often still in progressive glasses or bifocals afterwards.

“For people who want to be less dependent upon eyeglasses, Crystalens is my favorite choice among the lifestyle lenses. We are now multiple generations into the Crystalens line, so it’s a proven technology that’s been a consistent performer.”

About Crystalens

Dr. Davis notes that the unique design of the Crystalens is one of the main reasons for its high rate of success.

“When you look up-close, the muscle in your eye contracts and shifts the lens,” he explains. “When the lens moves forward, it changes the focus from far to near, and you are able to focus on things at more of a near range.

“The Crystalens works most closely like the regular lens of your eye when you were young. It flexes and is able to move forward and back and help you see at a distance, at intermediate range, and up-close. That’s why I like the lens: it mimics the natural lens of the eye and gives you a great range of vision. Because of its design, there’s less likelihood of having glare and haloes, so the chances that a patient is going to be happy with it are really high.”

Dr. Davis notes that in Carmela’s case, there was an additional reason Crystalens was a good option for her.

“Carmela had a history of some dry eye, and the Crystalens is a great choice to use in dry eye patients or patients with other types of corneal or retinal problems. When I have a patient who has dry eye like she did, that’s definitely the lens that I would choose to recommend.

“It’s highly rewarding to offer these lifestyle lenses to patients,” reflects Dr. Davis. “We really do get excellent outcomes, so patient satisfaction is high with them. And it’s great to get someone out of glasses, even if they are in their seventies or eighties.”

Thankful patient

For Carmela, the Crystalens made all the difference.

“I had the left eye done first, then the right eye,” she says. “The first time I drove, I could see perfectly with the one eye done; once I had the other one done, I was in heaven! I was amazed.”

Today, Carmela sees perfectly without glasses for the first time in years.

“I couldn’t be happier,” she assures. “I am so pleased. It makes a new person out of you: you can see, so what more can you ask for? I still can’t get over it: I think it’s just fabulous.”

She appreciates Dr. Davis and his staff, adding that his skills are just part of what made him her number one choice.

“Dr. Davis and his crew are so special,” says Carmela. “They make you feel like you are the only person who they’re dealing with at the time, which is so important.

“I thank Dr. Davis from the bottom of my heart.”

FHCN – Michael J. Sahno