A Special Gift: 'I See My Granddaughter For First Time!'

A Special Gift: 'I See My Granddaughter For First Time!' 

Kimberly Nelson did not know what she was missing.

Family has always come first to the grandmother of two, so other family emergencies typically took precedent in her schedule. So when she was diagnosed with cataracts, she pushed through life and took care of her family first, all while struggling with 20/400 vision that cataracts made all the more blurry.

"When it came time that I had to have cataract surgery, it was all the more important that I saw a doctor who understood my eyes," Kimberly says. "I had a hereditary cataract in my other eye when I was 19. I had always relied strongly on contacts or eyeglasses."

She visited multiple doctors to find one she trusted with her precious vision. She chose Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center's Medical Director Emilio M. Justo, M.D., who performed the procedure in the Sun City West accredited surgery center.

"I was just talking to a friend, and explaining to her that I did not realize how bad my vision was before surgery. I used to read a lot but couldn't read because the letters weren't working with me. Now, I can read - I can pick up a book and be happy in my own little world."

But while Kimberly is enjoying her improved quality of life, and hobbies that had become difficult, her new and dramatic vision improvement gave her the most special gift: "Since my youngest granddaughter was born, I literally have never seen her clearly. I was never able to see her face completely clear."

"After the surgery, I opened my eyes and it just hit me that I could see her really clear. All I could say was, 'Oh my God, Grandma can see you now!' It was amazing. I saw details I never knew she had."

Following her cataract surgery, says she is looking forward now to taking in every detail over the holidays, with a quality of vision that she cannot even remember enjoying. "It's been a long road, dealing with my vision throughout my life, and I am so grateful that I put my faith in Dr. Justo for such a life-changing surgery."