Sandra November 02, 1997 Hi, my name is Sandra D. Lavel, about fifteen years ago I realized that my eye sight was deteriorating rapidly. I found that my prescription for contact lenses and eyeglasses was getting stronger with each visit. It had gotten so I needed my glasses just to see what time it was when my alarm clock went off in the morning. About two years ago I started hearing that they might have found a way of helping people with farsighted vision problems. I called a few eye doctors and again I was told it was not available and they knew nothing about it. Well this year in the month of July, a little voice said to me turn on channel seven and see what the weather forecast is for today, which I did and to my surprise they were speaking about my particular eye problem. I stoped getting dress and glued my eyes and ears to the television and listened very carefully to everything they had to say. When the program was over, I felt this was a message from God that finally I could get some help. I went to work and immediately called channel seven's newsroom and asked them for any information regarding the doctor that did the procedure. The young lady there was very helpful but they had no knowledge in that department about what I was speaking about. In her last and final attempt to help me, we both said at the same time I will call UCLA. Well I wasn’t giving up. I had made up in my mind that if this procedure existed then I was going to find the doctor or a doctor that could help me. I called UCLA, they sent me over to the Jules Stein Eye Institute Laser Refractive Center, where I met with Dr. Robert K. Maloney M.D., M.A. His staff took all the tests but my eyes were too bad for the strength of his laser. I was almost in tears when he looked at me and said, I have wonderful friend and colleague that has been approved by the FDA to do a study on a laser with your type of eye problem. He pulled out his little tape recorder and requested that a letter be sent to Dr. Salz to put me in the program. When I got the call from Dr Salz’s office, I was so excited I couldn't wait for my test. Well I must have qualified for the program because I am sitting here writing this letter with perfect vision in my left eye, the eye I couldn’t see two inches in front of me without glasses. The procedure is painless, I mean you feel no pain and when Dr. Salz finishes the procedure with the laser, you can see better than when you walked in. I had the procedure done July 28, 1997 it is mow November 02, 1997 and my vision is better than 20/20 and I can stand in Malibu on a clear night and see all the lights on Catalina Island with no problem. I had the procedure done on Monday and went back to work that Tuesday and had no pain or problems at all. I will be doing my other eye in January of 1998 and I can’t wait. Sincerely, |
