'I wasn't able to send Christmas cards until I had life-changing surgery'

The 67-year-old, from Warwick, had struggled with her eyesight for 47 years, but her struggle was exacerbated when she developed cataracts.

Cataracts are when the lens, a small transparent disc inside your eye, develops cloudy patches. Over time these patches usually become bigger causing blurry, misty vision and eventually blindness., according to the NHS website.

Last year, the condition got so bad for Jane that she was unable to send Christmas cards to her loved ones because she couldn't see to read or write. 

She said: "I knew something had to change, I was struggling to read and write so much that last year I didn’t even bother to send Christmas cards to the people I care about. I was beginning to struggle doing the things I enjoyed, and even simple parts of my daily routine were being disrupted.

"Popping to the shops was hard because my sight impacted my driving, especially at night when the glare of the lights started to make me feel unsafe behind the wheel,” explained Jane. “I knew I had to act and have surgery”.  

However, the condition can be improved with surgery - which was an easy decision for Jane - who also desired to have her astigmatism corrected to further improve her sight. She had a consultation with a surgeon from Freedom Vision and they agreed that for Jane’s specific needs, Monofocal Torics would give her optimum vision. 

After surgery, she now claims the surgeons in Solihull have changed her life as she now has perfect vision. She said: "As someone who has always had problems with eyesight, I was determined to choose the best option for me. It’s incredible, I now have 20:20 vision."   

"I never thought I would be able to see so clearly. My vision is so good, I keep thinking I need to take my contact lenses out," Jane joked, before admitting she is now looking forward to sending out her festive greetings this year.

The former IT specialist added: “As for Christmas cards, I’d like my friends and family to know there will be some in the post for them this year.”

Explaining Jane's procedure, Amie Carter, Patient Liaison Manager at Freedom Vision Solihull, said: “Jane chose Freedom Vision because we can offer high-quality care, with a variety of lenses available.  

“Now she has enhanced vision and can do more of the things she loves – both figuratively and literally she sees the world differently. It’s proof that investing in your eye health has huge personal benefits. It’s wonderful to see how our work with patients truly impacts their lives, and it makes me proud to work here.  

“Cataracts are common in adults - about 30% of adults aged 65+ will have a cataract that is affecting their vision and requires treatment.  As Jane experienced, during a free consultation, a specialist consultant can advise on the wide range of lenses we offer, from Toric lenses that can correct large degrees of astigmatism to multi-focals that help with both distance and reading. 

“This kind of bespoke service, which can improve vision and even remove reliance on glasses, is a benefit of investing in cataract treatment through a private provider.”