As an artist, my eyes are especially important to me. But before undergoing cataract surgery, I…read moredidn't really dare, or even want to call myself an artist. My severe nearsightedness and astigmatism kept getting worse, and I was seeing less and less clearly. I blamed it on a lack of talent, thinking this was simply the limit of what I could ever become.
Through a friend's recommendation, I met Dr. George Yang. After a thorough examination, Dr. Yang confirmed that the only way to improve my condition was through cataract surgery. Even then, I still had many doubts. Surgery is an invasive treatment, and I was afraid that if it failed, the rest of my life would become very difficult. Whenever I hesitated and couldn't make up my mind, he patiently returned my phone calls and answered all of my questions without irritation.
Eventually, I overcame my fears and decided to move forward with the surgery. Following Dr. Yang's recommendation, I chose a special lens that had been introduced at his clinic about a year earlier -- one that allows the prescription to be adjusted up to three times after surgery using light treatments. The surgeries went very smoothly: first my right eye, then my left eye two weeks later. I chose distance vision correction for both eyes. The surgeries were performed at Peninsula Eye Surgery Center, where the medical staff took wonderful care of me.
After the surgeries, Dr. Yang examined my eyes again and again to determine when my vision had stabilized enough for the light adjustments. During the process, he also helped me decide to have my weaker eye assist more with near vision while my stronger eye focused on distance vision. He prescribed Xiidra eye drops to stimulate tear production so that the measurements of my vision would not be distorted by dry eyes.
I could truly feel how seriously Dr. Yang took my treatment. He never rushed through the three light-adjustment sessions simply to complete my case. On the contrary, because there are only three opportunities for light treatment and the benefit becomes limited afterward, he used each session very carefully. If the measurement on a given day differed significantly from the previous visit, he would ask me to continue using the eye drops and wait until my prescription stabilized before proceeding with another adjustment. This process stretched over more than a year, and I am deeply grateful for the professionalism, compassion, and patience Dr. Yang demonstrated throughout my treatment.
Now, I have recovered very well and can see clearly again. I can drive without glasses, and if the print is not too small, I can even read without reading glasses. Best of all, when I paint, I can finally distinguish subtle variations in color. I used to think my abilities were lacking, but now I realize there were many things I simply could not see before.
Now that I can truly see, I also feel more confident in myself. I introduce myself as an artist, because I finally believe I can achieve a certain artistic standard.
I am deeply thankful to Dr. Yang for giving me a brighter future and a better quality of life.