The next time you see a frosted car window, try looking through it. The world will appear blurry and unclear, and nearby objects may even be hard to see. Now, imagine living like that every day – moving through life with fogged vision. That’s what it’s like for someone with cataracts. Little by little, their vision gets worse until recognizing faces or reading becomes difficult. For 65-year-old Maurice, this blurry world became his daily life. Maurice’s cataracts made his whole world dim.  

“I couldn’t even recognize friends unless they were three feet away,” he says, “and reading became impossible because even close-up, the words looked blurred.” Life became full of challenges. “Walking became hazardous for me, as my poor vision would make me lose balance and fall,” he says.  

Finding his way to different clinics and juggling appointments for the eye care he needed felt overwhelming. 

Kensington Health’s model of care made the process easier for Maurice. Everything he needed was in one place – a patient-centered approach designed for convenience and comfort. Kensington’s eye care and diagnostic services are on the fifth floor of one of our buildings, while the Eye Institute, where surgeries are performed, is on the sixth. Having multiple health care providers co-located in this way gives patients like Maurice a streamlined and stress-free experience. 

Maurice’s journey started with an initial consultation with his surgeon, Dr. Jennifer Calafati, on the sixth floor. During his visit, Dr. Calafati checked his eyes and explained that the cataract in his right eye was so severe that there was a chance he could lose his sight completely. Maurice felt a mix of emotions, and his thoughts quickly turned to his beloved pets – his dog, Goldie, and his kitten, Smokey. With them top of mind and support of his community, he pushed forward, determined to regain his sight. 

(Maurice and his dog, Goldie)

To learn everything she needed to know before the surgery, Dr. Calafati sent Maurice for pre-operative diagnostic testing on the fifth floor. Maurice recounts that he was amazed by the kindness and professionalism of everyone he met — from nurses to doctors to technicians. “I felt welcomed and confident in my treatment plan.” 

When it was time for the surgery, Maurice returned to the sixth floor. He was nervous and unsure about the outcome. After years of living with blurry vision, the thought of losing his sight completely weighed heavily on his mind.  

“My registered nurse Felmen and Dr. Calafati explained everything really well, and that helped calm my fears.”  

By the time he went into surgery, he felt ready. 

Twenty minutes later, the thick, white cataract was removed from his right eye. The improvement was immediate.  

“I left the operating room able to see across the street, recognize people, and call out to greet my neighbours.” Each day, his vision grew sharper. Soon, he was able to put in his own eye drops and feel more independent.  

After his right eye healed, Maurice confidently returned to Kensington to also have the cataract removed in his left eye. Once it was complete, the world opened up for him again. He describes his experience at Kensington as “VIP treatment,” and is grateful for the care he received. 

Penny, Maurice’s neighbour and friend, helps him navigate his medical forms and appointments. She also happens to be a member of the Kensington team and why she’s particularly glad that he had such a positive experience with his cataract surgery. 

(Maurice and Penny)

“Maurice has a big heart, something not everyone gets to see,” she says. “He’s a special member of our community, so I’m very proud that Kensington treated him with the empathy and respect he deserves.” 

For Maurice, Kensington’s model of care – providing diagnostic testing and surgery in one location – was more than just a convenience. It was the ideal place to restore his sight and help him face what once seemed like an impossible challenge, with the right support and care. 

Maurice’s cataract surgeries transformed his life. “I see better every day,” he says. His only complaint? The world is just a little bit too bright for him now – but we’re sure he’ll get used to it! 

To learn more about our eye care services, click here.