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Dear Team Weinreb,

Thank you for all that you did to clear my vision through Cataract Surgery.  I can now see the faces of my opponents on the tennis court and not just identify them through voice recognition.

There has, however, been a worrisome side effect to the surgery. My face is now covered with wrinkles. Prior to surgery it was completely smooth. I am wondering if any of your other patients has complained of this condition. Hopefully, This situation will clear up soon. Otherwise I will be sending you a bill from my plastic surgeon!

Sally Huss

To be able to see is a gift. To be able to see clearly is a miracle. Thank you for the miraculous!

The shuttle car drops me off in front of the Shiley Eye Institute, part of UCSD Healthcare. I’m getting a clouded, natural lens removed and a clear, acrylic one put in. Even though cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures in the aging population and I have Dr. Robert N. Weinreb—the best possible surgeon—doing the operation, I am anxious.

After checking in with the person at the front desk, I am told to wait. I barely sit down when my name is called. A nurse takes me to a curtained cubicle and gives me a gown to be tied at the back, nonslip socks, and a lovely blue bonnet to cover my hair.

I lie down on a bed, I am covered with a warm blanket, and the sides are put up. Is it so that I don’t roll out or so that I can’t escape? A series of nurses come and go, and I’m given numbing drops in my eye. Dr. Weinreb comes by in surgical garb to tell me I must wait half an hour for the drops to take effect. I assure him that I am retired and not going anywhere.

In the meantime, I observe his interactions with his staff: there is a feeling of colleagueship, camaraderie between the various doctors, nurses, and technicians and Dr. Weinreb. He is among the best-known glaucoma doctors in the world and the head of the Shiley Eye Institute. It is a teaching hospital, so he is a boss, an instructor, and a mentor. He told me what an incredible group he has working with him. The credit for this is of course due to the relationships he has established and interactions he has with his team. There was palpable warmth in the surgical unit and evident caring from staff to patients.
An anesthesiologist comes over to talk to me. I say I only want local anesthetic, I want to be fully awake and not given Versed (midazolam), the drug that makes you forget everything that happened during the operation. I want to be there and remember it. He is glad to oblige. It is so important to feel trust in the people in whose hands we place our lives.
I am wheeled into the operating room, and a cloth is put over my face with an opening for my left eye. More drops are put in, and, as I am happily chattering, Dr. Weinreb says, “Don’t move and don’t talk.”

I have no pain but feel some pressure on my eye. I see blue squares; round, shiny objects; a bright light; and floating things. I am both participant and observer. I hear the surgical-team members exchanging information on how the procedure is going. I don’t understand what they are saying, but I do hear Dr. Weinreb saying to me, “We are halfway there.” I feel relief. Then, “Three more minutes,” then “We’re done.” I am now post-op.

I am wheeled back to my cubicle and given juice. Dr. Weinreb comes over to tell me that my operation was difficult, but successful; he is pleased.

A nurse comes to give me post-op instructions: Do not bend down and do not lift heavy objects. I’m given two prescriptions for drops. One must be put in every hour to decrease inflammation; the other is four times a day, an antibiotic.
Someone calls a taxi to take me home to my retirement community. Everything is blurry, I can’t read. At dinner my friends all look young and wrinkle-free, like aging movies stars photographed with Vaseline on the lens.

That evening, the TV is a bit blurry. I sleep wearing a plastic shield over my eye for protection. The next morning, my vision is clear, and my friends all have more wrinkles. By the end of the day, they look older than they were before my surgery.
I see Dr. Weinreb the next day, he is pleased with the way things went and takes the time to explain what was entailed in the procedure. Apparently it was challenging as I have a genetic defect (pseudoexfoliation) which makes my lenses prone to dislocating. It didn’t, due to his skill, I know. Another appointment is scheduled for in a week. Two days later, I see better without my old glasses, and I am writing this column.

At no time did I feel any pain. We here in La Jolla—in California—in the U.S.—are privileged to be living at a time and place where the top medical procedures are not only available, but are safe and are the best the world has to offer. I am grateful that I live in such a place, where operations are affordable and where there are such excellent doctors and staff to provide outstanding care for their patients.

http://natashaswords.com/articles/cataract-surgery-seeing-better/

2-16-2016

My glaucoma was diagnosed at age 38 in Nebraska. Over the years, I was treated for glaucoma with eye drops and regular check-ups with my local ophthalmologist. In the early 1990’s, I had a trabeculectomy to relieve the pressure followed by additional eye surgeries.

After one of those surgeries, my husband Jerry and I decided to visit our family in California in December for the holidays. My doctor from Nebraska told me to get checked by Dr. Robert N. Weinreb at the Shiley Eye Institute and the rest is history as they say!

Since meeting Dr. Weinreb, I have had several other glaucoma surgeries and he took great care of me when I severely damaged my eye (globe) in a fall. Way back in the 90’s, I was told that I would be blind within 10 years. Needless to say, that has NOT happened due to the awesome care and expertise of the great “Dr. W”.

With continued monitoring and care, we pray that my eye issues will be in a “holding pattern” for many years to come. The vision in my right eye has actually improved from the fall and the last surgery with Dr. Weinreb.

A big thanks to Dr. W and the staff at Shiley. YOU are the greatest!

Jacqueline from Nebraska

June 7, 2016

I would like to thank Dr. Weinreb and the entire staff at the Shiley Eye Institute. I have received excellent care since September 2013 for the treatment of my glaucoma condition. I cannot begin to express how very fortunate I am to be a patient of one of the world’s foremost experts in this field.

Edward J. Farrell

Dr. Weinreb, the BEST, examined me, explained results and diagnosis clearly and encouraged me. He is so knowledgeable, thorough, caring and gives me peace of mind knowing that he and his team have examined me.

Thank you, Dr. Weinreb, for the countless hours you spend caring for patients, researching glaucoma and teaching and training the next generation.

Thank you to Dr. Weinreb and his most professional, friendly and caring team. It is a joy and blessing to be a patient at Shiley Eye Institute and I thank Dr. Weinreb and his team for everything!

Mark

I would like to convey my sincere appreciation for the more than 20 years of outstanding care I received at the Shiley Eye Institute from Dr. Robert Weinreb and his staff. In particular, I am grateful for the exceptional and compassionate treatment I received in connection with the cataract surgery and follow-up under Dr. Weinreb. Once again thank you very much for the excellent care you and your staff provided!
I feel truly blessed!

Sincerely,
Alexa J. Kozak

I thank the following (in the order they cared for me) for today's great experience as always, at Shiley Eye Institute. Each person made me comfortable.

Lizzy administered a visual field test on my eyes today. She explained the process, listened to me, encouraged me and was most compassionate and concerned for me as a patient.

Christina took my information and checked vision. She is polite and encouraged/challenged me to read the smallest line possible.

Dr. Baxter examined me, took my eye pressure and put in dilation eye drops. After my eyes were dilated, Dr. Baxter examined my eyes. Throughout Dr. Baxter was kind, interested in me as a patient, efficient and gentle.

Dr. Weinreb examined me, explained results clearly and encouraged me -- all with Dr. Weinreb's vast knowledge and experience. Dr. Weinreb is the BEST. He is thorough, cares and I have peace of mind knowing that he and his team have examined me and monitor my condition. Thank you, Dr. Weinreb, for the countless hours you spend caring for patients, researching glaucoma and teaching and training the next generation.

Bill, who was with Dr. Weinreb, is so friendly and is available for questions I think of after all the exams. His smile and concern are very reassuring.

Thank you to Dr. Weinreb and his most professional, friendly and caring team. It is a joy and blessing to be a patient at Shiley Eye Institute and I thank Dr. Weinreb and his team for everything!"

April 10, 2017

Dear Dr. Weinreb,

I am writing to thank you for your skillful care and attention beginning with my trabeculectomy last November. My last visit to see you was February 21st. Since then I have seen an optometrist and obtained newly prescribed glasses. It is a great relief to have my vision back and it is stable. Dr. Arias was very helpful to me and my family in preparing for the surgery, and Dr. Andrew Camp was particularly helpful throughout. I feel most fortunate in having you and your team care for me, and I found all of your team attentive and thoughtful.

With kind regards,

Yours cordially,

Robert L. Tyson, M.D., FRCPsych.

How fortunate for San Diego to have an amazing eye institute! During my visit and extremely thorough exam, I had the pleasure of being cared for by Dr. Weinreb and his team of technicians, Fellows, and administrators. The exam was performed like a symphony!!! Thank you Dr. Weinreb, to be under the care of you and your team is reassuring, especially given my family's history of eye issues.

Diane

Dear Dr. Weinreb,

I want to thank you for accepting me as a patient for cataract surgery. You have now completed the surgery, implanting Toric lenses in both of my eyes, and I'm very happy with how everything has turned out.

I've been impressed from beginning to end with Shiley Eye Institute and with all the medical personnel with whom I've come in contact.

I'm especially grateful for your expertise, including coming into the recovery room after my second surgery to explain why the second eye (my right eye) might not stabilize as quickly as the first eye had. (It seems, though, that the eye has done very well indeed!) I appreciated the explanation.

I also appreciated the fact you chose the Toric lenses for me, which is what I would have chosen for myself.  I appreciate that you did not ask me WHAT I wanted, thereby muddying the waters so to speak, but instead made the assumption that I had educated myself at great length about what cataract surgery entailed, the different lenses available, and seemingly (in my opinion) just about every other aspect of cataract surgery.  I had!!

Again, I am totally appreciative of your work with me and for the friends who recommended that I come in to meet with you back in December.

Thank you so much!!
Elaine R

My mother and our family greatly appreciate all your help in salvaging my mother’s eyes! She says you turned on the light for her life once again.

Warm Regards,

Barry Tashakorian