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As he thinks back to the first time he re- called having problems with his vision, Ray- mond Poirier has to laugh for a minute. What the 61-year-old was bringing himself back to was the age of 8, Catholic school in his home state of Rhode Island, where everyone kept telling him that many of his problems didn't come from him not knowing things, but actually not being able to see them. "I was a defiant, young kid who really didn't want to wear glasses," Poirier said. "But I guess every child has that certain vanity." While vision prob- lems have plagued him for much of his life, other unfortunate cir- cumstances have also surrounded Poirier's lengthy career as a construction worker. Within the struggle to see - with eye covering protecting him - a se- vere accident broke both of his legs and truly had Poirier scram- bling to just live each day. "Pain was crazy, but the fact that I now had vision problems and two bad legs, com- pounded the crazi- ness," Poirier said. "It was like a curse or something." While being depend- ent on pain relief medi- cine, Poirier decided to head to south Florida to spend time with a mother who had been ill. While there were so many negatives sur- rounding his life, the trip to take care of his mother turned out to be - a life changer. While battling through contacts and miracle cures for his need to wear glasses for distance and near, Poirier headed to the world-famous Bascom Palmer Institute in Miami - where plenty of answers came his way, but the results fell short. "They told me that if I got a special contact lens, my vision would be good," Poirier re- called. "It wasn't and I was a huge mess." This was the Monovi- sion option, one eye for distance, one eye for near. Still searching for the answers to correcting his vision, it was his turn to finally get some positive news in his life when Poirier, who took his mother for a visit to Dr. Stanley Braverman in Hallandale Beach, read an article on the wall inside the office. "I remember reading that story about Laser Vision Correction" Poirier said. "It was the best decision ever. From the moment I met Dr. Braverman, I was blown away with how much he knew exactly what I was experienc- ing." When Dr. Braverman explained the proce- dure, Poirier was sold. He was ready to finally make that decision - even with all he had been through physi- cally and emotionally. "It was a Tuesday, and kidding with Dr. Braverman about when we could do this proce- dure, I said what about tomorrow," Poirier re- called. "Without hesita- tion, he turned to me and said what about Thursday! Now, that was something that re- ally surprised me." Anxious for the sur- gery to take place, Poirier set up the exact time his mother would drop him off and pick him, giving a block of time for the Presby- Lasik procedure to be performed. As the pro- cedure started at 10:30, a few clicks later and a world was changed. The eyesight that had failed him for much of his life had been cor- rected. The avid hunter and fisherman, who had been restricted with fogging-eye protectors and other things that truly prevented him from fully enjoying his life, had finally noticed a change - and it was quick. "When Dr. Braver- man left the room for a moment, I kind of looked to my right and left and was really blown away," Poirier explained. "It was like a feeling that something had happened in such a positive way to make my life better." While his vision luck has turned out to be a blessing, Poirier still can't avoid the injury bug. During a recent trip with hunting and fishing friends in Maine, he slipped on a wet rock and broke his shoulder. Although he quickly kicked the pain pills that became es- sential after the acci- dent, he told Dr. Braverman that it was indeed all his fault. "I wanted to assure him that I saw that rock perfectly," Poirier laughed. "I could not be more satisfied with the outcome." NEAR-FAR MULTIFOCAL PRESBYLASIK: Correc- tion for two kinds of vision problems New procedure can correct both Distance and Near Vision Dr. Braverman started doing the Pres- byLasik procedure over two years ago. It was introduced into the United States approxi- mately six years ago, having originally been done using the Alle- gretto Wavelight fem- tosecond laser by an Italian Eye Surgeon, Dr. Roberto Pinelli. This is the same Laser that Dr. Braverman uses. Dr. Braverman said “this technique was devel- oped by taking what Eye Surgeons already knew about how Lasik changes the shape of the front of the eye to eliminate glasses, and just modifying the techniques to be able to reduce or eliminate the need for distance glasses, as well as reading glasses." WHAT TO EXPECT WITH Z-LASIK SURGERY All Laser Lasik sur- gery is performed on a patient’s cornea, which provides most of the focusing power when light enters the eye. Topical anesthetic drops are applied to the eye. The surgeon first uses a special Ziemer LDV femtosec- ond laser to create a thin layer of corneal tissue that can be folded back (a corneal flap). Then, another type of laser (an Alle- gretto Eye-Q excimer laser) is used to re- shape the underlying cornea, painlessly. After the excimer laser treatment, the corneal flap is repositioned and bonds back into place naturally. The corneal reshaping improves the focusing power of the cornea. Although no one can promise patients “per- fect” vision, most Laser Vision Correction pa- tients with mild to moderate prescriptions with or without astig- matism, do achieve 20/20 or better vision. This means that they no longer need glasses or contacts to drive, play most sports, and watch TV. Also, you can participate in careers requiring good unaided vision, such as police- men or firemen need. ABOUT DR. STANLEY BRAVERMAN Dr. Stanley Braverman is a Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital/Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He is also an Adjunct Associate Clinical Pro- fessor at the Nova Southeastern School of Optometry. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Braverman, a board- certified ophthalmolo- gist, has been a medical researcher, and is the inventor of several eye surgical in- struments, and author of many articles for medical journals. He has lectured at profes- sional meetings about upgraded lens implants and advanced cataract surgery and LASIK, both nationally and in- ternationally. He has been recognized by Newsweek Magazine as one of the Fifteen Leaders in Laser Eye Surgery in 2011, and recently co-authored a book on Z-Lasik that is being distributed inter- nationally. For additional infor- mation or an initial consultation, please contact Rosemary Hartford, Refractive Surgery Coordinator at (888) 954-LASIK or by calling the Braverman Eye Center at (954) 458-2112 or (305) 374- 8694. Please also visit the Braverman Eye Center website at www.bravermaneye- center.com where you can watch a video of Bladeless All Laser Z- Lasik and learn more about refractive sur- gery choices, as well as the latest advances in LASIK, cataract sur- gery and upgraded lens implants. In addition to Dr. Stanley Braverman, a Refractive Cataract and LASIK Laser Vision Correction surgeon, your other sub-spe- cialty eye care needs can also be evaluated and treated. On staff at the Braverman Eye Center are Rashid Taher MD FACS and Tirso Lara MD FACS, Vitreo-Retinal sur- geons; David Tenzel MD FACS, Ophthalmic Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgeon; Aarup Kubal MD FACS, Complex Glaucoma Specialist; Jesse Pel- letier MD, FACS, Corneal Surgeon; and, Eric Ciliberti MD, Neuro-Ophthalmolo- gist; Ryan Y. Harg- reaves OD and Danielle Benosa OD. All sub- specialist surgeons at the Braverman Eye Center are Board Certi- fied Ophthalmologists. The Braverman Eye Center is located at 1935 East Hallandale Beach Boule- vard, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Over 50 years of vision problems - corrected in minutes Raymond Poirier, left, with Dr. Stanley Braverman after a successful procedure. The Braverman Eye Center is located at: 1935 East Hallandale Beach Boulevard, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. www.bravermaneyecenter.com. TEMPLATE BLANK PAGERS_Layout 1 2/26/14 1:54 PM Page 1
