Save your sight

By 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2024, I will be undergoing what people call cataract surgery. Nowadays they call it an hour-long “simple outpatient procedure.” The objective is to conservatively improve clarity of my vision by about 15 to 20 percent or hopefully more by removing the cataract that has blurred the view.

I did have the option to delay the procedure like other patients do, but if I’m going to enjoy my latter days of reading books, enjoying driving through the countryside, then having the cataract removed was a no-brainer. Besides which, it was rather annoying to see clearly in one eye and partially blurred in the other.

I did discover that doctors at the American Eye Institute don’t just jump at the chance to cut and charge. You will undergo a consult, followed by a clinical evaluation using several machines and tests that lasts about 20 to 30 minutes, a briefing on the preparation, costs and scheduling as well as processing for PhilHealth members.

Once all that is settled, you come back four days before surgery to pick up eye drops to be used 3x a day for three days, and another solution to be used several hours before the surgery. The day after surgery you are required to undergo post operative check and if it’s all OK, you go home and come back after a month for a check-up.

Given that the procedure is done in a private facility, the charges are understandably pricey, but their promos combined with PhilHealth practically cuts things in half. Given the annoying visual imbalance and the promise of clarity or improved vision, it is worth the money because you are paying for professional medical service.

*      *      *

Every six months or so, I remind readers to go to an ophthalmologist and optometrist to have their eyes and vision checked, especially if you are getting on in age or if you have a child or grandchild who seems to squint their eyes a lot and complain about being brought outdoors, etc.

When our daughter Hannah was just a toddler, we took her out of the house to have photos taken on an antique car that was about to go to a museum. We initially thought that she was just unhappy to be taken away from her bedroom. But when she started covering her eyes, burrowing into her mother’s blouse and complaining about the sunlight, we decided to have her eyes checked.

Sure enough, she had hyper-sensitivity to sunlight and 20 years later still does. On top of that she needed high-grade prescription eyeglasses, which was why she had difficulty reading in her early years.

Back then (up to today) we were very fortunate to have a good relationship with Dr. Joey and Macoy Viñas of Viñas Optical at the EDSA Shangri-La Mall. Twenty years later, we still go to their shop, although they have been forced to relocate from their original store at Level 3 to Level 5 after 33 years in the mall. Doc Joey has also passed away and left a big void in the shop.

Unlike other optical shops we previously went to, Doc. Joey and Macoy would insist that we consult with specialists before buying eyeglasses or sunglasses from them. It was because of this practice that we learned about Hannah’s condition and my own vision issues.

Aside from being thorough and insistent about eye tests and eye check, Doc. Joey and Macoy won’t simply sell you frames or sunglasses just because they were the fashion or in-style. From the very beginning, they would ask about your lifestyle, activities indoors and outdoors, etc. They certainly did not approve of “Wearing Sunglasses at Night” as the song suggested.

When it came to product lines, they certainly carry the top brands and high-quality frames and lenses. It was in their partnership with Dr. Emily Roleda of Essilor that I learned about non-glare lenses for TV shows, progressive lenses that adjusted its tint from indoors to outdoors. I call them “Cito proof.”

Needless to say, it is a blessing to be good friends with people who know their craft and 33 years in EDSA Shangri-La Mall shows just how reliable and appreciated they have been.

In terms of broadcasting and journalism, the knowledge they have shared has also helped me to continue educating and encouraging Filipinos to have their eyes and vision checked. I recently interviewed a mother from a far-flung barangay in Lipa City and I noticed that her daughter squinted a lot and would turn away when you spoke to her and looked her in the eye.

I picked up a magazine on the table and asked her to read from a page and the tell-tale signs of avoidance, discomfort and fear became apparent. When my wife Karen started asking her about reading difficulties and vision problems, the young lady confessed that the words and letters would get jumbled, etc.

No one had ever checked on her since they were really poor, in spite of the fact that she had thrice flunked grade 6. She simply quit and everybody thought she was just a “loser” or too poor to study. We immediately got her tested, she was given the right prescription glasses and is now back in school.

I rarely endorse or partner with companies, products or brands and I will only do so if I know, use or work with them. For 20 years my wife Karen, our daughter Hannah and I have received only the best from Viñas Optical, the late Doc Joey, Macoy and our dear friend Doc Emily Roleda and Essilor.

Please visit them at the 5th Level of EDSA Shangri-la Mall. God bless your vision!