After speaking with many patients, several requested that I set up a place where they could tell their stories. I have set aside this area so that their stories, in their own words would be relayed to the world. The following are the patients' unedited comments. In addition, several of these patients have included their email address so that should you have questions/concerns/etc. and would like to get their perspectives and experiences, you can send these requests directly to them. They truly understand what it is like to be in a similar position as yourself and are eager to help in any way they can. I hope that you find this patient perspectives area useful.
My story began back in 1991. While riding the NYC subway, I noticed an advertisement for VISION Correction - get rid of your glasses and contacts. Seemed like a good idea since I’ve been wearing glasses since the age of 11. I had tried contacts but I had a pretty high astigmatism and contacts at the time weren’t up to snuff. So I figure what the heck it wouldn’t hurt to call, right?
I called this “Doctor” and made an appointment for his seminar. At the seminar he explained the wonders of RK (Radial Keratotomy) and how with a quick operation and relatively no pain I could get rid of my glasses forever. In a way he was right….. But that comes later.
I had both my eyes done spring of 1991 and to tell you the truth I couldn’t be happier. No glasses, no hassle messing with contacts, and the perfect vision didn’t stink either.
I enjoyed good vision, followed up with the “Doctor” every year after that, and life was good……. Then the Summer of 1999 came. While coming home on my 35 mile commute on a major highway, my vision began to change suddenly and drastically. My vision began to blur and I thought at the time I was experiencing double vision (which I now know is Ghosting). I pulled over and immediately called in a panic, the Doctor that did the surgery on me. He told me to come right in.
After an exam he stated nothing went wrong with the surgery but I had gotten Glaucoma so he gave me drops and I should be good to go. I put the drops in as instructed and went to bed. The next morning I woke in real horror when I opened my eyes and all I could see was shadows. I called the Doctor in a panic again and made my way back to his office. "Well maybe it’s not Glaucoma and you just ran a bad reaction to the drops." He recommended that I see his associate who is a “cornea specialist”. In the meantime my vision had somewhat stabilized and I was back to wearing glasses again. For weeks I went to this specialist which felt like torture. I wasn’t getting any answers to what or why this was happening to me. So I basically stopped going to him. I had my vision (for the most part). I just had to wear glasses again…. Right?
I started going to another cornea specialist a few years after that when the ghosting started to become more and more of an issue. After doing a topography of my corneas he explained that they were damaged by the surgery, but not to worry. There’s a Laser that may come out in a year or so that may be able to help you.
One year became two years; “Hey… You can try these lenses in the meantime……… They may help you.” Nope… they fell right out…. Two years became five; “try theses lenses……, they might help you.” Nope they fell out too. My vision and the ghosting was getting worse by the month and now my night vision was fading. "Oh, and by the way…, that laser…, well it isn’t going to help you…. You should consider Cornea transplants…."
Imagine the shock of hearing those words after years of waiting…. I wasn’t about to go with that option. I already jumped into one eye surgery…. "Well, there’s another option. There’s something called a sclera lens…, but it’s expensive…, and they might not work."
I’ve been down the expensive lenses that didn’t work road buddy…, but it sounds better than cornea transplants….
After some research and the help of a Vision Support Board on the internet I was pointed in Dr. Maller's direction.
After leaving a message on his voicemail he called me back within minutes. I told him of the situation I was in, and he then proceeded (over the next 45 minutes) to tell me what was actually happening with my eyes (in English), which no one else had ever done, and why other Doctors and lenses have failed me in the past. He also said that with time he was sure he could help me.
Due to a busy work schedule I was only able to visit his office for 5 days. In those 5 days Dr. Maller took me from a torturous situation to giving me my life back. I can’t begin to say enough about Dr. Maller. All I know is this man is Amazing. From the moment I met him in his office, I was totally at ease and I was confident I had made the right choice in seeing him.
When I stepped out of his office with the new lenses. It felt like I was seeing things for the first time again. Seeing something like how red the taillights for the cars in front of me were. How blue the water was at the beach… How many wrinkles I actually had on my face (I could of done without that). I felt like I have a new lease on life. I’m able to see…, play catch with my kids…, see how good my HD TV actually is! A funny thing happened when I drove at night for the first time with them in. I was sitting and looking around while stopped at a light saying to myself “well, the night vision is better but…, it could be a little better.” I was so excited to actually be driving at night that I forgot to put my headlights on. It turned out to be a lot better…
Thank you Dr. Maller for making my life…, A LOT BETTER.
If anyone has any questions please feel free to email me.
Rich Benet
New York
richbenet@hotmail.com
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