It took Los Angeles super lawyer Marc Katz 25 years to realize his dream of functioning without glasses, which he has been wearing since fourth grade. When Marc, 66, first tried to get lens replacement surgery to solve his myopia (nearsightedness), he was told his cornea was too thin. However, medical advances in lens implants at Assil Gaur Eye Institute have expanded his horizon of possibilities.
After Dr. Kerry Assil performed refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery, the past, as the saying goes, was behind Marc. Complicated legal papers teeming with fine print were no longer impossible to read without powerful spectacles. Marc could now rely on his enVista intraocular (IOL) lens.
“I’m seeing 20/20 now,” says Marc, who represents skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and residential care centers for the elderly. “I don’t like eyeglasses on my face, so this feels great!”
RLE is an outpatient procedure, like cataract surgery, but is performed in our surgery center to correct vision issues and allow light to focus better on the retina. But like cataract surgery, RLE replaces the natural lens of the eye with an artificial lens (IOL) to correct refractive errors (light bending) and reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses. The choice of the new lens, including the Envista lens, depends on various factors such as the patient's vision needs, eye health, and the surgeon's recommendation.
The laser procedure is also used for eye conditions such as age-related presbyopia, hyperopia (farsightedness), and toric lens for astigmatism.
Marc says he was impressed that the eye doctor took 20 minutes out of his day to call him and chat about his upcoming RLE procedure. “At first, I was mentally prepared for a lot more stress,” he says. “I felt much better about the vision correction procedure after Dr. Assil’s phone call.”
The Envista multifocal lens, chosen by Dr. Assil as the best option for Marc, is an intraocular lens designed to provide clear vision at multiple distances. The key features of the acrylic Envista lens are often multifocal, meaning they have various zones or rings that allow for clear distance vision.
With over a dozen IOL options, Dr. Assil developed an algorithm, selecting from the different lens types to best serve the diverse range of anatomical realities and lifestyle desires.
“There is no single lens that can be ideal for all patients. A lens that perfectly matches one person may not perform admirably for another,” states Dr. Assil. “Our algorithm This approach has worked extremely well for our patients and is further validated by the frequency with which multifocal IOL manufacturers have asked AGEI to collaborate closely with them in designing new refractive lens exchange surgery technologies.”
“Marc was a good candidate for enVista because his thin and misshapen corneas, which had been regathered as “diseased” proved to be an asset when paired with the proper lens,” remarks Dr. Assil of the RLE surgery.
It turns out that Marc’s satisfactory outcome is on par with other patients having refractive lens surgery. According to a study published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, RLE has a success rate of over 95%, with most patients experiencing significant improvement in their vision and reduced dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
“I was blind. I couldn’t read any letters on the eye chart without my glasses,” says Marc, who now plays softball and tennis sans glasses. “Every morning, I still reach for my glasses on the nightstand. And every morning, I am thrilled that they are not there!
“If you ever want to see what a satisfied patient looks like, I’m it.”
Assil Gaur Eye Institute has assembled a team of top ophthalmologists from around the country who offer their patients the highest quality of specialist eye care in the United States.
In keeping with the founding principles of AGEI, eye surgeons keep their clinics comfortable and familiar, much like how family-run medical practices used to be.
Today, AGEI is nationally recognized for its compassionate, patient-centric care, commitment to pioneering advances in ophthalmology, and dedication to supporting its patients' and the community's health and well-being. Please call (866) 945-2745 or make an appointment online.