Clarity for Kenya
Life-defining moments do not come around often. For Caroline Powell, two arrived at exactly the same time.
Caroline has always dreamed of having a home in her birth place of Kenya. As those plans slowly became a reality, as well as leaving the UK behind, Caroline also wanted to leave something else behind: her spectacles.
Like many people, Caroline’s vision had gradually deteriorated. What began as needing reading glasses eventually progressed to needing them for driving, watching television and everyday activities. Early cataracts also made night driving increasingly difficult, with glare from oncoming headlights affecting her confidence behind the wheel.
“I was really struggling to drive at night,” Caroline recalls. “The glare was becoming a real problem. I was finding myself slowing down and almost wanting to pull over because I felt I was losing my depth perception.”
With weeks to go until she flew to Kenya, Caroline decided the time had come to find a long-term solution to her sight problems.
Finding the right surgeon
When Caroline asked friends for recommendations, she was referred to Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Mr Neil Modi at Parkside Suite Frimley.
“I think I absolutely lucked out,” she says. “Neil is so knowledgeable and precise. He’s very interested in all the measurements, the physics and the technical aspects. You can tell he’s incredibly thorough.”
For Mr Modi, understanding the individual patient is central to treatment.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all solution,” he explains. “The most important thing is matching the right patient with the right procedure and the right lens technology. What works brilliantly for one person may not be the best option for somebody else.”
A personalised approach
Caroline underwent detailed assessment and testing to see which treatment would best match her lifestyle and expectations. “This is a permanent decision, so I wanted to make sure it was right,” Caroline says.
As part of the process, Mr Modi arranged a contact lens trial to simulate monovision — a technique in which one eye favours distance vision and the other near vision.
“We used the trial to understand how Caroline’s visual system would tolerate monovision,” he explains. “Some patients adapt very well, while others don’t. The testing allows us to personalise the treatment and make sure we’re choosing the best solution for the individual.”
Following the assessment, Caroline chose simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery using extended depth of field lenses combined with monovision, targeting distance vision in her dominant eye and near vision in the other.
Surgery and recovery
Three weeks before her planned flight, Caroline underwent simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery at Parkside Suite, Frimley. Although she was naturally apprehensive beforehand, she was surprised by how comfortable the experience proved to be.
“There was no pain and no discomfort,” she says. “The day itself felt a little unusual because of the anaesthetic, but it wasn’t painful at all.”
There was some temporary blurring and multiple images immediately afterwards, but this quickly settled. By the following morning, Caroline was already seeing the difference.
“I woke up and the first thing I noticed was my phone screen. I couldn’t believe how clear it looked. It felt like Neil has given me a level of vision I’d forgotten was possible. It’s incredible.”
Seeing the world differently
For years, Caroline’s vision had adapted to gradually worsening eyesight without fully appreciating how much she had lost.
“You don’t realise how much your vision has deteriorated until it’s restored,” she says. “I can now see things at middle distance that I haven’t seen properly for years.”
Her confidence behind the wheel has also improved significantly. For someone preparing to navigate unfamiliar roads on a different continent, the improvement has been especially significant.
“I’ve driven at night a couple of times now and it’s been absolutely fine. The glare that I was struggling with before has improved enormously.”
Ready for the adventure
As Caroline finalises plans for her new home in Kenya, she is looking ahead with renewed confidence.
“I wanted to be free from glasses and that’s exactly what I’ve achieved,” she says. “The whole process was incredibly thorough. Everything was tailored to me and my lifestyle. I couldn’t be happier with the result.”
For Mr Modi, Caroline’s experience demonstrates the importance of putting the individual at the heart of treatment.
“Our goal is always to improve quality of life,” he says. “For Caroline, that meant creating the best possible visual outcome so she could start the next chapter of her life with confidence.”
Contact a consultant
Choose from our ophthalmology specialists based at Parkside Suite Frimley Park or Heatherwood.
View our Frimley Parkside consultants
View our Parkside Suite Heatherwood consultants
Email: fhft.paparksidesuite@nhs.net
Call 0300 613 0130.