Christine’s Story
When Christine Marie Adler learned she had a macular hole in her left eye, the diagnosis came with an alarming sense of urgency.
Earlier this year, Christine, 60, was diagnosed with a 250-micron macular hole. Her doctor, Dr. Chris Wu, told her she needed surgery within six to eight weeks. Without treatment, she faced the possibility of losing vision in her left eye.
For Christine, the thought was devastating—not only because of what losing her sight would mean for her independence, but because she was preparing to become a grandmother for the first time.
I believe eyesight is the greatest gift,” Christine says. “If I would have lost my eyesight at this time in my life, right before I’m about to be a grandmother for the first time, it would have been devastating for my family.
Finding Help When She Needed It Most
Fortunately, a friend told Christine about the successful eye surgery his wife had received through Pacific Vision Surgery Center and sent her a link to apply for assistance.
Soon afterward, Adriana Reyes-Gouvea called Christine with the news she had been hoping for: she had been accepted as a candidate for surgery.
Christine remains deeply grateful to everyone who helped make her care possible, including Adriana, social worker Maria, Dr. Rebecca Lin, who performed her surgery, and Dr. Gaurav K. Shah, who supervised it.
The entire staff were absolutely amazing, down to the nurses and the anesthesiologist,” she says. “Everyone was absolutely wonderful.
Looking Forward to a New Chapter
Following surgery, Christine’s vision began to return.
Today, she says she has regained full vision—and she is looking ahead to the moments that once felt uncertain.
“My eyesight is slowly coming back, and now I have full vision so that I can teach my grandson how to read.”
For Christine, sight means far more than what she can see today. It means being able to experience the milestones still ahead: meeting her first grandchild, watching him grow, and one day sitting beside him as he discovers books and learns to read.
Her experience has also given Christine a powerful reason to encourage others to support patients who need access to sight-saving care.
“Please donate to this cause,” she says. “They’re doing wonderful things. It’s a wonderful opportunity to give to a good cause.”
Your support can help make life-changing eye care possible for patients like Christine—preserving not only their sight, but the moments, relationships, and milestones they are still waiting to see.
