CONTRIBUTED

Hollis Britt has worn glasses or contacts since he was 8 years old.

After his annual eye examination with his optometrist, Mary Ann Masters, he was informed that he had cataracts in both eyes. Dr. Masters referred him to Carolina Eye Associates for cataract surgery.

Britt was a bit surprised.

"I knew that as I aged there would be some deterioration in my vision and just thought the optometrist was going to say I needed to change my eyeglass/contact prescription."

Dr. Anna Fakadej, a Carolina Eye Associates ophthalmic surgeon, educated Britt on his options for cataract surgery. She informed him of the new state-of-the-art technology offered at Carolina Eye with the Catalys laser precision system and the ORA, OptiPlus.

"The Catalys enables surgeons to create an optimized sized, shaped and centered circular incision to access, break up and remove the cataract, while the ORA, OptiPlus, provides refractive analysis to optimize your visual outcomes for cataract surgery," Fakadej said.

"After I met with Dr. Fakadej and she reviewed the procedure to remove the cataracts and the additional option to use the Catalys laser, I did not hesitate and said let's proceed with the cataract surgery and use the laser," Britt said.

On March 28, prior to his cataract surgery, his vision in the right eye was examined at 6/200 and his left eye was 20/200. Britt had a follow-up visit after his surgery. Vision in his right eye was 20/40, and his left eye was a remarkable 20/25. Britt no longer needs glasses or contacts.

Two-thirds of the current population over the age of 60 has cataracts, a news release said.

"We are very fortunate to have such high caliber of ophthalmic surgeons and technology offered at Carolina Eye," Britt said. "Carolina Eye has enabled me to get my vision back to seeing when I was a young boy."

Anyone needing more information on cataract surgery or the Catalys laser can call Carolina Eye Associates at (910) 295-1501 or visit www.carolina-eye.com.