Miracle workers

Brian Farmer is a man of many talents. He’s led a busy working life – focused on his career as a criminal prosecutor, traveling the world and spending time with family – and an equally non-stop retirement. These days he’s always learning more about the world, and enjoys reading about science, medicine and philosophy and chatting with interesting people.

“Every once in a while, I think people should stop and see everything around them,” Brian says. “You start to see things you hadn’t noticed and start to think differently.”

And he needs to keep his vision intact in order to keep living to the fullest.

That’s where St. Joseph’s Ivey Eye Institute comes in. Several years ago, Brian developed glaucoma. The condition was damaging the optic nerve in his eyes, causing his peripheral vision to diminish. He worried about losing his driver’s license, and how much that would change his life. “Your whole life, you take everything for granted,” says Brian. “And then all of a sudden – boom – something happens, and you realize how vulnerable you are.”

Brian was committed to doing whatever it took to save his sight. He was referred to Dr. Cindy Hutnik, current Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at the Ivey Eye Institute – and an expert in glaucoma care. His eye treatments have been timely and successful, allowing him to keep focusing on the things he loves.

An extraordinary care experience

Recently, Brian noticed that his field of vision was starting to decrease some more. Dr. Hutnik recommended surgery to tighten the muscles connected to his eyes, with Dr. David Plemel performing the procedure.

Brian describes his care experience with Dr. Plemel as one-of-a-kind. “We were talking during surgery, and that’s not usual, is it? I had one of the most incredible conversations of my life with him,” Brian shares. “I couldn’t be happier with his work as a surgeon, and as a human being, he is something else. He and Dr. Hutnik remind me of the physicians from years ago. They have a real sense of caring, compassion, understanding and acceptance.”

His recovery time was short, and his peripheral vision improved immediately. The surgery allowed Brian to hold onto his license so that he can keep exploring and learning more about the world.

Right in their backyard

Brian’s wife Sandy is also a regular at Ivey Eye. Diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), she receives injections in her eyes that have preserved her vision, too. “It’s miraculous stuff,” says Brian about the treatments.

The couple is grateful to donors who keep the Ivey Eye Institute on the cutting-edge, so that they – and thousands of people like them – can access the best possible eye care, right in their own backyard. Recently, donor support funded renovations to double the space for urgent and emergency eye care, improving the overall flow of care, and new equipment to diagnose and treat conditions like glaucoma and AMD.

“We’re so lucky to have the health care we have in this city…I don’t know if people realize how fortunate they are to be within minutes of a facility like this. I do.”