An Appreciation Article Regarding The Gift of Sight

Sight is a precious gift. When you realize you are having sight problems, it can be traumatic. In the mid 1990’s, my local eye doctor told me I had genetic cornea problems in both eyes. He said he would monitor them and began seeing me every six months. Over the next few years my vision became cloudy in both eyes, and this was a detriment to my driving safely.

I was sent to the Concord Eye Care Center in Concord, NH. Dr. Gordon Hand examined me and told me the left eye should have an immediate cornea transplant and the right eye would also need one within a short period of time. On, January 9th, 1996, he did the left eye and on December 8th, 1998, he did the right eye. His expertise and care for his patients was above and beyond what I’ve previously experienced with any other doctor.

Those transplants gave me back my sight, and left me with a special appreciation about those who donate their organs for someone else to have a quality of life. Since that time I have an organ donor notation on my driver’s license.

This year, 2010, I again experienced vision problems. My eye doctor diagnosed cataracts. I made an appointment with Concord Eye Care.

I learned that Dr. Hand was retiring in two weeks and I would be seeing their new cornea specialist, Dr. James Goldman. Meeting Dr. Goldman for the first time was a surprise. I read his credentials before meeting him and when he first walked through the door I was surprised how young he looked, of course everyone looks younger when you’re my age.

Dr. Goldman agreed with my local doctor that my cataracts needed replacement. Unlike my genetic cornea problems, this was due to the aging process. He explained the process of surgery to me since it is a little more difficult having had previous cornea transplants.

Then he broke the news to me, the cornea transplant in the left eye was starting to decompose. He told me I have been fortunate to have mine for this length of time. He would do the cataracts and see if my left eye vision would improve with only the one surgery.

On February 25th, 2010, the right eye was done. The surgery was so successful that the vision I now have in that eye is 20/25 without glasses. On May 17th, 2010, the left eye was done. While the cataract surgery in the left eye was successful, the decomposition of the cells causes them to thicken the cornea surface, which doesn’t allow vision correction with glasses to be consistent.

I decided to go along with his recommendation of a partial cornea transplant for reasons that are too long to put into this article. September 2nd, 2010, he did the surgery. It was successful.

I always thought, Dr. Hand was one of a kind at Concord Eye Care. Dr. Goldman performed three surgeries on my eyes this year and for each one he made sure I understood everything and was very informed on what and how he would be doing the procedures. Dr. Hand hired the right man to replace himself.

I am writing this article in hopes it reaches out to those individuals living with impaired vision which could possibly lead to total loss of vision. With today’s technology that isn’t necessary. Remember, the key is always to find the right surgeon who has the expertise and trust them. This pertains to any surgery you might need. You must do your own homework.

I am fortunate my local eye doctor sent me to Concord Eye Care.