Edith Brookbank is 102 years old, and earlier this year got to the point where she could no longer read.

She had been told by her optometrist that she had cataracts and the start of macular degeneration. Her daughter and caregiver, Ann Debot, was unsure if her mother was ready for cataract surgery.

Several months later, she escorted a friend to have cataract surgery at Carolina Eye Associates. After seeing how effective the procedure was with her friend, Debot thought, "My mom could go through cataract surgery."

On Sept. 8, Brookbank had cataract surgery in her left eye by Carolina Eye Associates ophthalmologist, Dr. Anna Fakadej. Before her surgery, Brookbank could only see light out of the left eye. During her post-operative visit Oct. 6, Fakadej noted Brookbank could actually read the eye chart with her left eye.

"Your vision has improved," Fakadej told her patient, adding with a laugh, "If you want you could even get your driver's license."

At age 93, Brookbank wrote a book of her memories "Yesterday Sublime: A Look into the Life of Edith Wright Brookbank." She taught for 37 years in Randolph County.

"My mom loves to read and is grateful to Dr. Fakadej and the advance technology taking place with cataract surgery," Debot said. "This will enable my mom the ability to see more and do more."