There are those who talk about thinking outside the box and those who simply do - in thought and action.
Dr. Dooner is among the latter; an exceptionally skilled and forward thinking surgeon.
He's gone where other doctors refused to go, and given me sight that I never imagined possible.
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I have had eye problems since birth. Congenital cataracts weren't readily treated in infants in 1974. I also have microcornea which creates added challenges. But my parents stubbornly sought out a surgeon who was willing to do what he could.
And while the outcome after six operations with complications was far better than expected, time took its toll and the relatively normal life I have led had become an exhausting charade that I could no longer maintain.
After the original operations, I wore high powered hard contact lenses over frozen off-centered pupils. Light was too bright, dark was too dark, and if I didn't squint enough my lenses would drift and cause one object to look like six. Along the way, I had posterior vitreous detachments in both eyes which caused cobwebs and smears to obstruct my vision. I also developed glaucoma.
Over the years, I saw many ophthalmologists. From Atlanta, to New York City to Baltimore, there was no shortage of reputable doctors. I would comment on symptoms that were troublesome, but I was never offered any potential solutions. Mostly I was told I had a difficult case, and to take the glaucoma drops and come back for pressure checks.
More than one said something along the lines of "What do you want from me? You just need a glaucoma specialist" One said "I don't know why you can even see." Not hopeful to say the least.
Flash forward - I moved to Austin in 2019 and eventually found a great glaucoma specialist. When I asked him if there were any options for my other conditions, I expected to hear "No" yet again.
Instead he confidently referred me to Dr Dooner.
Less than two weeks after my initial visit with him, Dr Dooner operated on my left eye. I had a vitrectomy, a lens implant and my pupil enlarged and centered. Six weeks later I had the same done on my right eye.
These surgeries have been nothing short of life changing. Not only have all the symptoms I was struggling with been cured, but the sight I have now is better than ever.
Also, I have hope now. For a while, I felt that medicine would leave me behind. Now, because of Dr Dooner, I feel like I can embrace possibility again.
Oh and he's also a really nice down to earth guy and a caring doctor. Couldn't ask for more. read more