Vision is often taken for granted in the flurry of daily life, yet it can have a huge impact on physical and mental well-being. Michelle Naylor, aged 61, an active outdoor enthusiast from Blackpool, understands this all too well. Having worn glasses since the age of 12, Michelle has faced the challenges of impaired vision for over 50 years. As her eyesight began to deteriorate further, the effects of vision loss became increasingly difficult, affecting her confidence and happiness. After being diagnosed with cataracts in early 2024, Michelle exercised her right to patient choice, choosing to receive treatment at CHEC Blackpool. Today, thanks to short waiting times, Michelle has regained her infectious zest for life, reconnecting with the activities, people, and places she loves most. Feeling disconnected Before her cataracts diagnosis, Michelle found daily activities gradually more difficult due to her declining vision. An avid reader, Michelle’s favourite books became overshadowed by blurred words and pages. Michelle was also worried that if her sight continued to deteriorate, she would need to give up driving, decreasing her confidence and independence even further. Michelle’s active lifestyle also suffered. A great lover of nature and the great outdoors, hobbies that Michelle once enjoyed such as paddle boarding, countryside walks, and swimming became sources of frustration. “I’ve always worn my glasses to do things like paddle boarding and swimming, so I’ve never been able to fully relax and enjoy them due to fear of losing my glasses or bumping into others,” explains Michelle. “As my vision got worse, hobbies became an increasing struggle, so I began to feel quite disconnected from the things I loved.” Choosing CHEC As Michelle’s concerns over her vision and eye health grew, she sought help from a local optician, who promptly diagnosed her with cataracts. After discussing a range of treatment options and providers, Michelle chose to receive treatment at CHEC Blackpool. “My optician told me that CHEC has a fantastic reputation, amongst both optometrists and patients in the area,” explains Michelle. “I was also advised that I could be treated within just a few weeks of referral, so choosing CHEC seemed like a no-brainer.” After choosing CHEC Blackpool, Michelle was promptly contacted by the hospital team to discuss next steps. Michelle then visited CHEC Blackpool to discuss the treatment plan with her consultant. “The first consultant I met with was brilliant, really amazing,” explains Michelle. “The minute you walk into a CHEC hospital, you’re made to feel so welcome and at ease. The team were all very friendly. Everyone from reception staff to surgeons took the time to talk to me, which made me feel comfortable and assured.” “Everyone really cares” In the summer of 2024, Michelle had her first cataract surgery at CHEC Blackpool, which she recalls as a positive experience. “The first procedure went really well,” explains Michelle. “The staff were great and took the time to explain everything, both before the operation and during. They consulted me every step of the way, and didn’t move on to the next part of the process until they knew I was comfortable and understood what would be happening next. “I thought to myself, everyone here really cares about my treatment going smoothly. When it comes to any kind of medical treatment, a lot of the time it feels like they just want to get people in and out as quickly as possible. CHEC Blackpool isn’t a revolving door of patients, they really do care, and it comes across in everything they do.” Following a successful first surgery, Michelle organised a follow-up appointment with her optician. After such a positive experience, Michelle chose to continue her treatment at CHEC Blackpool. CHEC contacted Michelle ‘almost instantly’ to arrange surgery for her second eye. “They were straight onto it,” describes Michelle. “One really important thing to highlight about CHEC is how efficient they are!” While Michelle felt extremely positive about the first operation, it didn’t stop her feeling nervous when it was time to treat her second eye. “Even though having my first eye was a positive experience, going into any kind of surgery is nerve-wracking,” she explains. “Laura Furness, an Optical Assistant at CHEC, could tell I was anxious and did everything she possibly could to help me, she even held my hand throughout the entire operation. That level of care is so hard to come by” “It was comforting to know that the staff could tell how I was feeling, without me even needing to tell them, and they all did everything they could to help me feel calm.” The team’s attention to detail at every step really made the care at CHEC stand out. “Everyone was very caring and professional. I sometimes have back pain, and on the day of the second surgery, I felt quite uncomfortable on the operating bed,” continues Michelle. “They got me a cushion and waited until I felt comfortable and ready to start the operation, I didn’t feel rushed at all. These seem like little things, but they meant the world to me.” A brand new world On track to make a full recovery, thanks to improved vision, Michelle’s confidence and well-being have drastically increased, enabling her to get back to the hobbies she loves, and for the first time in her life, without glasses. “My sight is amazing now, I don’t even need to wear my glasses! I’ve stuck rigidly to the list of do’s and don’ts CHEC provided, so my recovery is going well, I’ve even started driving again,” explains Michelle. “My eyesight was terrible before my treatment, so my new clear vision has made a huge improvement on my life. I feel like I’m walking taller. Plus, because I can see so clearly now, I’m noticing more little things than before, and I’m so thrilled about it. I even get excited about being able to see my neighbour’s house numbers across the road. I can see so much further and so much clearer now, it’s like CHEC has opened the door to a brand new world for me.” With her sight not only restored, but improved, Michelle is enjoying her hobbies much more than before. There’s no need to worry about losing glasses or bumping into anyone, which Michelle believes makes such a difference to her quality of life. “I’m visiting places I’ve been going to for years, and noticing things I didn’t even know were there,” she explains. “I’ve recently come back from a trip to Garstang, a place I’ve loved for many years. This trip felt like I was visiting somewhere completely new because I was able to see all the beautiful things Garstang has to offer properly for the very first time.” A fresh start As Michelle’s recovery comes to an end, and her confidence continues to grow, she already has plans to try new activities, visit new places, and truly make the most out of her new and improved vision. “It’s like I’ve been given a new lease of life, a fresh start,” explains Michelle. “I wish I could have had this treatment 20 years ago! I wake up every day and think ‘wow this is wonderful’ and it’s all thanks to CHEC.” When thinking about the whole experience with CHEC, Michelle is firm on her conclusion. “CHEC isn’t a machine churning out patients as quickly as possible. Everyone is caring, sympathetic, and they genuinely want to make the experience the best it can be,” she says. “I can’t speak highly enough of the staff at CHEC Blackpool, I would wholeheartedly recommend them to anybody. My advice to anyone who needs cataract surgery would be: don’t fear the procedure – just go to CHEC! The benefits it’ll bring are amazing.”