Although I have been practicing eye surgery for well over a decade now and have successfully performed thousands of cataract, lens replacement and Lasik procedures, I still get Goosebumps when a patient, who no one else thought could be treated, thanks me for their new eyesight. A 49 year old patient who had 25 diopters of myopia (nearsightedness) and 6 diopters of astigmatism recently came to see me. He also had myopic macular degeneration in his right eye, which limited his vision to only his left eye. 

When the vision in his “good” eye dropped to 20/80 because of a cataract, he was scared.  I recommended cataract surgery.  He asked if I could do anything to help the nearsightedness and astigmatism he’d struggled with throughout his life.  He also said he would love to be able to read without glasses.  I suggested the Crystalens accommodating lens implant, combined with a corneal relaxing treatment for his astigmatism. Because his nearsightedness was so severe, I explained that he would also need Lasik after the cataract surgery to correct the remaining myopia.  

He was skeptical at first, as this multi-procedure approach was a bit overwhelming, but after doing some research he decided to proceed.  I did his Lasik procedure yesterday, and today he could see unassisted for the first time in his life!  He can now see 20/20 at distance and intermediate, and 20/25 for reading – all without glasses!  He says he feels blessed.  I know I feel blessed to have been able to help and share in his experience.

I just arrived in Kauai for the annual Hawaiian Eye Meeting, one of the largest and most popular ophthalmology meetings in the world. I am honored to have been selected as a guest speaker for the last 5 years.

This year I am speaking on “The Use of Pupillometry to Help Determine Selection of Premium IOLs”.  Pupillometry involves the measurement of the pupil diameter in bright and dim light. It is a vital measurement when selecting lens implants for cataract surgery but overlooked by most surgeons.

One of our cataract surgery patients is an artist, and after having Crystalens and Tecnis lens implants she sent us this touching note with a gorgeous, original art design on the envelope. It was so spectacular, we just had to share…

Dr. Horn,
Today is a day that I celebrate you and your staff! The comments from your numerous success stories that line the walls speak clearly as to why your patients appreciate the services provided here.

When I consider how truly blessed I am to have gone from the discovery that I was “legally blind” as a student finishing third grade to the level of sight your efforts now allow me to enjoy, I am grateful beyond words…

Thanks again,
Diane H.

I recently did an interview on WSMV Channel 4, as the “More at Midday” expert cataract surgeon, discussing cataracts and the new lens implant options that allow clear vision up close & far, without glasses. Take a look at the video.

A recent patient, who had seen several other eye doctors before seeing me, had extreme nearsightedness and cataracts, and desperately wanted to improve her vision while achieving some independence from the glasses she had worn since childhood. Her case was complex, and I spent a fair amount of time explaining her options. At one point she asked me why I was devoting so much time to her. She had never had a physician do that, and she was skeptical. She ultimately allowed me to remove her cataract and implant a new multifocal lens. In the recovery room several minutes after her surgery I checked on her and removed her eye shield. She could immediately see both far and close for the first time in her life, and the look on her face and in her eyes said it all. I reminded her of her question to me before the surgery, and explained that being allowed to participate in this moment with her was the reason I spent so much time with her.

Although a bizarre facial injury during med school is what forced me out of my orthopedics rotation and led me to specializing in ophthalmology, today, I can’t see myself doing anything else.  The progressive nature of this field, with rapid improvements underway in vision correction through my own efforts and those of my colleagues, make my practice extremely gratifying, challenging, and humbling.