“I was having some serious vision problems,” says Don Miraco. “My wife and I were decorating a new house in Sarasota, and we kept going back and forth over colors. I just couldn’t see colors very well. Also, I’m in the computer field, but I was having trouble seeing colors on the computer screen and getting proper reproduction in graphics.”

The problem: cataracts, the progressive clouding of the eye’s lens.

“You don’t realize it’s happening because it’s a very subtle change,” explains Don. “My night vision was going, and that was very slow, too. I had reading glasses in my car and in my office, and I couldn’t go anywhere without them.”

He consulted Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic.

“I’d been to their practice after an accident where I got a stone chip in my eye,” recalls Don. “A doctor at the emergency room recommended them. During a follow-up, they noticed I had a growth in the corner of my eye, which turned out to be a little cancer. Dr. Eric Berman operated on that, and he did a wonderful job. If it wasn’t for him, I’d probably have a nasty scar.

“Then I consulted Dr. Friedberg about my cataract problem.”

Comprehensive treatment

Murray L. Friedberg, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist. He explains that one aspect of providing treatment that differentiates Manatee Sarasota Eye Clinic is that patients can see the surgeon from their initial consultation through their follow-up appointments.

“People come in and see me for their exam. I decide whether or not I think they should have surgery, discuss the different options with them, plan and perform their procedure, and follow them postoperatively,” he assures.

Dr. Friedberg also emphasizes that cataract procedures are personalized to meet the patient’s specific ocular requirements.

“We customize every surgery to meet each patient’s needs. We examine each patient’s eyes before making a recommendation about the choice of lens, and evaluate their ocular health to be sure no conditions are present that could adversely affect, or be affected by, the procedure.

“If a patient has other ocular conditions, we have board-certified, fellowship-trained specialists in all the different conditions of the retina, macula, cornea, and so on. So, for example, if someone has a cornea problem in addition to their cataracts, I will treat each as a single unit.”

Weighing the options

Dr. Friedberg notes that the most recent developments in cataract lens technology are now available to virtually all patients.

“Medicare now allows patients to pay the difference between the cost of a regular lens and the cost of a more technologically advanced lens. We offer a variety of lenses to meet these patients’ needs.

“Basically, there are two lens categories: one is a category that corrects astigmatism, the AcrySof Toric , which gives you sharper distance vision. However, it doesn’t really provide a near-vision function. The second category, the presbyopic lens, allows for better near and distance vision.”

Presbyopic lenses include Crystalens and ReSTOR. “Which one we select is a balancing of patients’ needs and what type of side effects might bother them,” explains Dr. Friedberg.

“These lenses are called multifocal lenses because they have more than one focus on the lens itself. The ReSTOR lens has raised ridges that provide near vision. Because they have more than one focal point, patients may experience glare and halos and can have loss of contrast.

“On the other hand, the Crystalens is a single-focus lens, just like the old-fashioned lens, but with a hinge on the arms that hold it in place. When you look up-close, the eye muscle contracts in your eye and shifts that lens. When that lens moves forward, it changes the focus from far to near, and you see more near.

“The main advantage of the Crystalens,” adds the doctor, “is that you’re less likely to experience glare, halos, or loss of contrast sensitivity.”

Consequently, Dr. Friedberg often finds himself recommending Crystalens.

“I think the Crystalens is a terrific product. With the other choices, people say, I like this aspect, but not that aspect . With Crystalens, I haven’t had anyone complain about glare or halos, and patients really appreciate the near vision they get.”

He adds that cataract patients should be realistic in their expectations.

“We hope people will be wearing no glasses the vast majority of the time,” he says. “I tell my patients, If you can be glasses-free ninety percent of the time and get rid of the cataract, that’s a successful outcome .

“The vast majority of patients who receive the lens and understand what it can and can’t do have been very happy,” emphasizes the doctor. “Crystalens does not give you the vision to thread a needle; you may need reading glasses for that. But for everyday vision – looking at a menu, seeing a golf ball – it’s an excellent option.”

An explosion of color

Although not everyone has such outstanding results, in Don’s case, the Crystalens actually delivered a completely glasses-free outcome.

“Within an hour of the procedure, I was seeing twenty-twenty, and the whole world came alive,” he marvels. “Everything I had thought was just very subtle exploded into beautiful color. I got home and I was able to appreciate the colors that my wife had selected on our new home!

“It was wonderful,” continues Don. “My night driving improved; I can read characters on a medicine bottle; and I can work on a computer and look at the finest text. I spend hours on the computer every day and I don’t even need reading glasses anymore, so it’s been a very successful experience. It’s amazing.”

Don expresses his profound appreciation to Dr. Friedberg and his staff.

“Their whole staff is wonderful, very supportive, and they make you very, very comfortable,” he assures. “All of the support people there are absolutely great.

“And Dr. Friedberg is probably one of the nicest people I have ever met in the medical field. He has a wonderful bedside manner, and I would recommend him to anybody.”

FHCN – Michael J. Sahno