earthquake survivor finds comfort:
Adele

When Adele became a survivor of an earthquake that killed more than 30,000 people, including the love of her life, she knew it was time to take advantage of modern technology to perhaps give her some peace of mind and to ensure that there would be at least one thing she could control, her vision, should she find herself in yet another life threatening situation.

Adele had worn glasses since the 4th grade and was 20/800, without her glasses or contacts, prior to her LASIK surgery. But, that had never stopped the California attorney from experiencing life to the fullest from scuba diving to traveling the globe.

"I had never thought much about having LASIK surgery before," Adele explains. "I was OK with my contacts and didn't think it was something I should explore. Why bother if it wasn't a necessity? But, that sentiment changed after experiencing a life and death situation without my vision."

Adele's life changed forever on December 26, 2003 when a massive earthquake struck Bam, Iran where she and her fiancé of one day, Tobb Dell'Oro, were visiting. The predawn quake threw Adele and Tobb out of bed and left Adele trapped beneath the rubble. Without her glasses or contacts, Adele could see nothing.

Rescuers transported Adele and her fiancé to seek medical care. Her inability to see during that trip haunts her to this day. "I was in the front seat and Tobb was in the back seat dying," she explains. "I wasn't even able to see him during those last few hours of his life."

"Even if I had already had LASIK, I don't think I could have saved him," Adele continues. "But, I certainly would have felt safer and perhaps more confident about my ability to do something. The situation was bad enough, but coupled with being just about blind, my feelings of helplessness increased ten-fold."

Adele experienced seven more days without her glasses or contacts while being treated at a hospital near Kerman.

"I never could see what they were doing to me, or who was coming or going," Adele says. "And, when you're in a foreign country, experiencing a dramatic language barrier, that's a really helpless feeling."

Once Adele was back in the U.S., she sought counsel about laser eye surgery from a long-time family friend and ophthalmologist who treated her on the LADARVision® surgical system.

"I knew I never wanted to be in that type of situation again, where my vision hampers my ability to function," Adele says. "It's great being able to see now and I have eased at least that fear from my life."

Adele now sees 20/20 and hopes to continue her travels eventually as well as pursue helping build a school or a hospital in Bam.

Results may vary and some people may still need to wear corrective lenses after LASIK. As with any medical procedure, there are risks involved with having LASIK eye treatment and not everyone is a good candidate for the procedure. Your eye doctor can discuss LASIK's risks and benefits with you, and help you determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK eye treatment.