Patricia Harsh
Nurse Can Work, Drive Again After Retina Specialist Saves Her Sight
Patricia Harsh’s vision was so impaired that she couldn’t read, work, or drive a car. Even walking had become hazardous as she began tripping or missing stairs. She had lost hope that she could ever live a normal life again.
Since her mid-20’s, Patricia suffered from intermediate uveitis, inflammation of the eye impacting areas of the retina. This condition left her legally blind in one and sometimes both eyes throughout her life. She managed her condition with regular steroid injections and learned to live with her limited vision and troublesome symptoms, including floaters and blurred vision.
More recently, Patricia developed cataracts and underwent surgery to replace her natural lens, which had become cloudy, with a synthetic lens. Not long after cataract surgery one of her new lenses became dislocated, and her vision worsened dramatically.
With the lens dislocated, Patricia’s world closed in, and she became isolated. She struggled to find a doctor who would take her health insurance to fix the dislocated lens and treat her uveitis. She was no longer able to work as a nurse. Reading the newspaper or a new book, one of her favorite pastimes, became impossible. Her low vision led to falls down the stairs of her home and kitchen accidents. She was ready to give up.
“I had seen so many doctors over the years, and my vision just kept getting worse and worse,” Patricia said. “After struggling to find a doctor that took my insurance, I felt like my life was over. It didn’t seem like there was any help left for me.”
Finally, Patricia found ASRS member Dr. Kamal Kishore, who she credits with saving her life. Dr. Kishore worked with Patricia to bring down the inflammation in her eyes and explained that her uveitis was likely tied to other health conditions that needed treatment. He helped her find the right doctors to address those health issues.
Next, Dr. Kishore performed vitrectomy surgery to help reduce her eye inflammation and reattached the dislocated lens. It wasn’t long before Patricia’s life had changed for the better.
“Dr. Kishore didn’t make any promises, he didn’t guarantee I would see again, but I had faith in him,” Patricia said. “Since the surgery, I can read the newspaper without getting a headache, I can work, and I haven’t had a single floater in my left eye. That hasn’t happened in 25 years.”
Patricia’s vision issues require ongoing care, and she may need to have surgery in her right eye, but she feels more confident than ever to face those issues with Dr. Kishore in her corner.
“After I missed an early appointment, Dr. Kishore sent me a certified letter urging me to come back in for treatment and stressing the seriousness of my condition. He went above and beyond for me. He truly cared about helping me see again,” Patricia said. “Dr. Kishore has given a lot of people, including me, so much hope. I can honestly say he gave me my life back.”