Seeing the World More Clearly After Cataracts [Ruth Harper]
This video shares Ruth Harper’s experience with cataracts and her decision to move forward with cataract surgery close to home. She discusses how cataracts affected her vision, what the procedure involved and how treatment improved her confidence and daily life.
- Recognizing Cataract Symptoms: Cataracts can cause vision to darken, reduce clarity and limit daily activities such as reading and driving.
- Deciding on Surgery: Cataract surgery is often recommended when vision changes begin to interfere with quality of life and independence.
- Surgical Experience: Cataract surgery is a minor, well-coordinated procedure that prioritizes patient safety, comfort and clear communication.
- Recovery and Results: Recovery is typically quick with minimal discomfort and many patients notice vision improvements almost immediately.
- Value of Local Care: Receiving cataract care close to home allows for convenient appointments and continuity throughout the entire treatment process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Video Transcript
My name is Ruth Harper. I live in Brookings. I've lived here almost 30 years now. I'm a retired professor of counseling at SDSU, and we're staying put in Brookings. We like it a lot, and we have a child and two grandchildren here. So we're very happy here.
What pre-existing condition do you have?
I'm one of the lucky people who has macular degeneration which is no fun, but there is a treatment for it now, and I have I do have to go to Sioux Falls for that. So I have I'm grateful that there's treatment that's keeping me in sight.
What brought you to Dr. Knudtson?
My ophthalmologist in Sioux Falls said, "Might be time to take care of those cataracts. Please do it before the end of the year." And I said, "Do you do this?" And he said, "Oh, you don't want me to do this. I am a retina guy. You need a lens guy." I said, "So is there a lens person in Brookings?" He said, "Absolutely," and he recommended Dr. Knudtson.
When did you decide to move forward with cataract surgery?
I could tell things were getting darker, and I was pretty concerned. So I guess, I was a little relieved to find out that it was cataracts, and that's something else that can be treated effectively.
Were you nervous about surgery?
Who isn't nervous about surgery? I mean, they tell you that cataract surgery is minor and straightforward, and it is, but you go to the hospital you get an IV, in comes an anesthesiologist and you think, "Well, this is serious."
What was your impression of Dr. Knudtson and the staff?
I think I can describe it in two words. My impression was that he was kind and that he was competent, and it's a great combination. Everyone in the clinic was very nice. Learned my name right away. Checked me in without me saying a word after the first appointment. So everyone was great.
How was the day of surgery?
Everyone was there to do their job well. I felt safe. I felt cared for, and it went very smoothly.
How was your recovery?
Recovery is quick and fairly painless, you know, a little irritation. But the thing that was great is that I could see better, and I didn't really expect that. I think I had maybe low expectations because of macular degeneration and having cataracts removed, and they did them a week apart. So I had one eye done first, and I could see the slats on the blinds when I woke up. I mean, it was really great, big improvement.
How has cataract surgery impacted your life?
Well, some people who got glasses when they're a child will know this, when you get glasses when you're 10 years old like I did and you walk outside and you can see the leaves on the trees, and you're like, "Oh, everyone else can see that and now I can see that." You know, my vision had been deteriorating and after I had both eyes done and got my new glasses, I can just see all kinds of detail that I couldn't see before. I'm much more confident with my vision. No one had told me I couldn't drive, but I'm like, "Well, I'm driving less. I'm not driving at night. My world is getting a little smaller." Driving is a big thing, right? I can drive with a lot more confidence.
Why did you choose Brookings Health System for your procedure?
What a lot of people might not know is there are a lot of appointments involved in cataract surgery. There's the before-before, the before, the during, the after, the after-after on two eyes. So it's a lot of appointments, and it was extremely convenient to do all those appointments in Brookings. You know, it didn't take my whole day. It didn't even take my whole morning.
Why was it important to have care close to home?
Well, I think in Brookings we are just fortunate to have such high-quality health care. When we moved to Brookings, South Dakota, we had friends and family say, "Oh, well, isn't that nice? You're moving to this little town in South Dakota, sure, hope you never need health care." And what we found, to our surprise and our pleasure, is that we have excellent health care in Brookings. I have a primary physician I adore. I think she's terrific, and she takes care of three generations of my family. And to find that I could get this surgery done here, I was very pleased.
What did you appreciate most about your care?
I appreciated that everything was done well and I had such a positive outcome. The fact that everyone was so kind and caring, that's a big plus.
What would you say to someone that is hesitant about cataract surgery?
I don't know of a reason to wait. I don't know that everyone will have the outcome I had, which was phenomenal, but it is a minor procedure, and if it goes well, your vision will be better. I like to read. I write. I do needlework. And I have two little grandsons whose faces I love to see. And, now, I can see them really well.
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