After Lasik surgery in 2005, James Camp, 69, didn’t notice any problem with his eyesight until recently when he found himself struggling to read advertisements on the television. Camp started wearing glasses at the age of seven and later switched to contact lenses in high school. “After noticing my vision problem, I decided to visit the same local eye clinic where I got my Lasik surgery done. Upon visiting, I was informed that the clinic was now owned and operated by  Southern California Eye Institute (SCEI), CHA HPMC’s state-of-the-art eye clinic. It was my first-time meeting  Dr. Jacob Reznik and I’m glad that I met him because I can’t imagine a better care experience than what I had with him and his team,” explains Camp.

After carefully examining his eyes, Dr. Reznik diagnosed Camp with cataracts. A cataract is the clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye, which prevents light entering the eye from being focused properly on the retina. Cataracts are a normal part of the aging process and can begin to affect the clarity of vision as early as age 50. In fact, most people will develop cataracts later in life. Early changes may not disturb vision, but over time, cataracts will result in blurred, fuzzy, or cloudy vision, difficulty reading, and difficulty driving at night due to sensitivity to light and glare.

Camp underwent a cataract surgery and chose a Premium Intraocular Lens (IOL)–PanOptix® trifocal lens—to replace cataracts and enhance his vision. “The PanOptix lens is the first of its kind in the U.S. It is a trifocal lens which can restore your normal vision at full range. A trifocal lens implant, such as the PanOptix lens, is another option for patients looking to be free from prescription glasses after cataract surgery, as well as be independent from reading glasses. The PanOptix lens has several concentric lens sections that have alternating refractive powers, allowing you to see clearly from afar, at an intermediate distance, and up close with each eye,” explains Dr. Reznik, a refractive surgery expert with more than 12,000 procedures completed to date.

A resident of Bakersfield, Camp met Dr. Reznik for the first time at SCEI’s clinic in Bakersfield. “My first meeting with Dr. Reznik was very positive and comfortable. He explained everything thoroughly and answered all my questions.” For his cataract surgery, Camp came to CHA HPMC in Los Angeles and was amazed at the level of safety measures, technology, and advancements. “I felt a lot more comfortable at the hospital than at the hotel where I was staying during my visit. The hospital has strong safety measures, the staff is professional, and wore adequate protection,” he remembers. Camp was happy with the level of care he received at SCEI. “The staff at the eye institute is terrific and they maintained constant contact throughout my treatment. We got comfortable with everyone and it was all good start to finish,” he adds.

Camp is happy to bid adieu to corrective lenses. “I’ve worn them since childhood and it’s absolutely wonderful to be independent of them. After the surgery, I could see everything clearly and the colors were vibrant,” he says adding that he was back to doing his routine activities like driving and watching television, the day after surgery. Camp believes he made the right decision to undergo cataract surgery with Dr. Reznik and break free from his vision problems. After all, in Camp’s own words, “You are never too old to see well”.