Siblings Rosemary Clarke-Fastin, Jacqulyn Thompson and Delano Clarke can enjoy the holidays even more thanks to the care of Dr. Mehul Patel.
Jacqulyn Thompson’s holiday season is much brighter than it’s been in years.
Thanks to the care of UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice’s ophthalmologist Dr. Mehul Patel, Thompson and her two siblings, Rosemary Clarke-Fastin and Delano Clarke, are enjoying the season’s festive sights and vibrant lights together.
In mid-October, the three Kissimmee residents all had cataract surgery and iStents placed for glaucoma.
“It’s like night and day because colors that I thought I knew what they were, I can tell the difference now,” Thompson said. “I can tell dark purple from navy blue. There is so much color and it’s much brighter.”
Family members, especially spouses, sometimes encourage each other and choose to have cataract surgery at the same time for convenience and support. Clarke-Fastin elected to go first with her surgery because she is the primary caretaker for Delano and their 99-year-old mother.
Clarke-Fastin said improved eyesight has allowed her brother to play dominoes again, which is his favorite game.
“It’s like he’s finding himself again,” Clarke-Fastin said. “He laughs more and he feels confident enough to move more. He’s more like himself, and it’s like when we were younger and all together.”
Cataracts are common in seniors and left untreated, can lead to social isolation, decreased physical activity and other health risks such as falling, said Dr. Patel, who is one of our Orlando’s Top Doctors every year. Poor vision also can impair seniors’ engagement with the outside world.
“When we improve a patient’s vision, they interact more with their surroundings and their loved ones,” he said. “We have good data that people actually live longer that have cataract surgery because their social life is better, they’re more physically active and they’re more likely to catch themselves from a fall because their visual input is better.”
Dr. Patel says patients who undergo cataract and glaucoma surgery experience a greater quality of life almost immediately. Routine cataract surgery takes about 7-10 minutes, and the vast majority of patients see better within a couple of days, especially if they don’t wait until they are older.
“I had surgery Thursday and I was able to drive Saturday,” Thompson said. “At first, I was scared when I drove my sister for hers, but afterwards I saw there was nothing to be scared of. I felt comfortable.”
During almost 10 years at the UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice, Dr. Patel says he’s had seven sets of spouses who had cataract surgery on the same day and at least 150 who did it around the same time.
“I see patients who don’t argue about the colors with each other as much anymore,” he said. “So, it’s nice when everyone can improve their quality of life through improved vision by seeing better together.”
Because their surgeries were in October, the siblings were able to enjoy Thanksgiving even more.
“We laughed more,” Clarke-Fastin said. “Because you see more, you laugh more.”
And with clear vision, the siblings say they’re looking forward to Christmas and the New Year.
“I don’t like to make a resolution, but I would really like to get into the gym with my sister,” Thompson said. “Before, I couldn’t really see.”
Clarke-Fastin assured her that they’ll get healthier together.
“I’m at the gym already, so I’ll just drag her with me now,” she joked. “No excuses.”
UCF Health Faculty Physician Practice provides primary and specialty care to patients across the community at two locations: East Orlando and Lake Nona’s Medical City. All physicians are faculty at the UCF College of Medicine.
For more information, visit UCFHealth.com
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