Imagine having the vision of your younger self and throwing away your contacts, progressives and readers because you now have 20/20 vision that even continues to improve throughout the years. A groundbreaking advancement called Presbyopic Implant in the Eye—PIE, makes this dream a reality. And it can still be performed on those who have had Lasik, PRK or RK, or who have been turned down for Lasik.
PIE is directed at people older than 45 who desire to be free of glasses and contact lenses. In fact, many people aspiring to have Lasik eye surgery may not know there is a better procedure available known as PIE. Nearly everyone is a candidate, with the exception of people with advanced glaucoma, macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Rajesh Khanna, founding Medical Director of Khanna Vision Institute, has not only coined the term PIE, but is a pioneer in the industry. This past August, Dr. Khanna performed the PIE procedure on Robin Chesler, co-publisher of Conejo Valley Lifestyle Magazine. As a side note, her husband and co-publisher Ben Malkin underwent the PIE procedure with Dr. Khanna more than a decade ago, and his eyes continue to improve to this day.
Here, Robin shares her firsthand experience with PIE and how this procedure has given her the gift of sight.
Why did you choose to have the PIE procedure?
I never wore glasses, then all of a sudden in my 50s, I couldn’t see close anymore. So I had to have the magnifier and then went into more of a prescription. I needed (glasses) a lot to see close—for reading on the computer, reading menus and seeing my grandchildren’s beautiful faces while I was doing arts and crafts with them. My husband, Ben, is an incredible home chef, but I couldn’t see the delicious food unless it was right in front of me. It got so frustrating! I had the beginnings of cataracts and down the line I would have had to have cataract surgery and replacement lenses.
So I thought, we’re in a pandemic, and everyone’s in their homes—this is the time. Ben had this procedure done more than a decade ago before it was even called the PIE procedure. He wore glasses as an adult and hasn’t worn glasses since—and that was more than 10 years ago when it was a new procedure. Because of this, I felt more comfortable doing it. This procedure has progressed and is even better now. So that’s why I did it—the timing was right and I wanted to not be dependent on my glasses anymore.
Was the procedure explained in detail at the consultation?
The care, even beforehand, was amazing. They explained everything to me in great detail, and Dr. Khanna’s book, Rejuvenate Aging Eyes: The Miracle of PIE, also talks about what to expect from this procedure before, during and after. I have to be the worst patient, but Dr. Khanna and his staff were able to calm my nerves when I was going through all the preliminary procedures to determine the right lens for me. They explained the advantages of Presbyopic implants over monovision.
What lens did they choose?
Dr. Khanna ended up doing a multifocal Presbyopic implant. I was already used to a progressive lens with my glasses, so my brain was almost halfway there being able to process change from far to near. So the multifocal was best for me.
How did Dr. Khanna and his staff ease your anxiety?
Dr. Khanna really does stress how to keep calm, and between him and his staff and the anesthesiologist, they managed to keep me from jumping off of a cliff! I tend to worry a lot, but they did everything they could to keep me calm and manage my expectations.
Did you see perfectly after the surgery?
I was told I had to be patient—that I wasn’t going to wake up and all of a sudden see perfectly. It doesn’t work like that. The brain and the eyes have to come together and become compatible. It takes time for the brain to know the message, so I didn’t see clearly right away. But for the most part, I can see great—I can even read a piece of paper with small print, which is huge. The bottom line is, now I can see better.
How dedicated is Dr. Khanna to his surgical patients?
Usually, a surgeon will do your surgery, and you’ll see him a couple weeks later and they’ll kick you out the door. But Dr. Khanna offers free unlimited follow-up visits for a year. Dr. Khanna guarantees that should your vision ever require improvement, enhancement will be at no charge to you. That’s how dedicated he is to make sure his patients aren’t afraid to come back to him. He continues to have a relationship with his patients.
For more information, read Rejuvenating Aging Eyes by Rajesh Khanna, MD, available on Amazon. The Khanna Vision Institute has three locations: 31824 Village Center Road, Suite F, in Westlake Village; 9001 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 306, in Beverly Hills; and 645 Aerick, Suite 2, in Inglewood. Contact them at 805.323.9440, email icansee@khanna2020.com or visit KhannaInstitute.com.