See Life Better Stories

fett knew it was time for cataract surgery, when he couldn’t see the street signs until he was practically on top of them. He also had difficulty reading blueprints, which made his job a challenge, since he oversees construction for Root Design Company – a landscape architecture, pool construction and design/build firm with offices in Austin and Pagosa Springs, CO.
But the biggest problem was what his bad eyesight was doing to his golf game. While he could hit the ball, he couldn’t focus on it.
“I never knew which way the ball would go,” he laughs.
Now, one month after undergoing cataract surgery at Mann Eye Institute in Austin, he couldn’t be happier. “I am already 20/18 in my right eye, 20/16 in my left and expect to be at 20/20 in both eyes by my next visit,” says Cliff.
Best of all, he can see up close to read without glasses and has excellent distance vision as well, thanks to the Active Life Lenses, which allow seamless vision at all ranges, much like the eye’s natural ability in younger patients.
“Although the lenses are considered an out-of-pocket expense, it was well worth it,” says Cliff.
His eyesight is now excellent, and he no longer has to worry about wearing glasses or having to replace them when they break.
In fact, the afternoon after his surgery, his eyesight was good enough that he went back to the office to do some paperwork and make phone calls. By the next day, he was out in the field overseeing the company’s newest projects.
He admits to having some concern about the surgery.
“After all,” he says, “It’s a big decision to allow someone to perform surgery on your eyes. But the experience from beginning to end was simply outstanding in every way, including being pain-free.”
“I’ve been perfectly healthy all my life, except for my vision, and now my eyes are healthy, too,” says Cliff.
He jokes that he can’t wait to get back to his golf game and to play tennis again. He’s also grateful for an unexpected result – colors are sharper and more vivid than they have been in years.
“We do a lot of landscaping, and it’s amazing how much brighter and more clear the flowers are,” says Cliff. “The surgeon told me that might happen, and he was right.”
In addition to his exceptional vision results, Cliff says he was impressed with the courteous, friendly attitude of the Mann Eye Institute staff.
“From the time I walked in the door and was greeted at the front desk, I knew I was in the right place,” says Cliff. “I didn’t have to wait long to be seen, and the surgeon had an excellent bedside manner. In fact, the entire experience was great. You could tell good customer service is something they strive to achieve every day. Everything was handled in a professional way at every step, from the top down.”
The Mann Eye Institute was actually the second vision care center Cliff consulted before making his decision to undergo cataract surgery.
“At the first center, I just did not feel comfortable with the experience,” says Cliff. “The doctor was in a hurry to get on to the next patient. I thought, ‘This is about my eyes. If that is what it’s going to be like, I don’t want to do it.”
His daughter, co-host of the Bobby Bones radio talk show, suggested he schedule a visit with the Mann Eye Institute team. “That was a good decision,” says Cliff. “At Mann Eye Institute, I felt like Dr. Barker had my best interest at heart. It was a completely different experience.”
Cliff says he appreciates how challenging it can be to develop such a well-organized, cohesive team of employees.
“That’s something every business owner hopes to achieve,” he says. “At Mann Eye Institute, you can definitely tell that everyone is happy to be there doing the best they can at all times. They have a very positive attitude, and it shows.”