My Mom’s Laser Surgery Changed Her Life—and My View of Patient Care

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By Julianna Dolinski, OD

Feb. 2, 2026

I’ve always been fascinated by my mother’s eyes. Little girls often want to be just like their moms. I definitely did. I wanted to copy the way her brown eyeliner made her blue eyes pop, and the way her eyebrows were shaped so perfectly. I even wanted to copy the expression she had when she put in her contact lenses. The look of being ready to take on the day. The look of confidence. My mom, Barbara, had worn hard contact lenses over soft lenses for as long as I can remember.

When I got my first hard lenses at 11, I felt like I was stepping into my mom’s world. But something was different. “Why do I put mine on at night, but you put yours on in the morning?” I asked her. She explained it simply: “Yours are so you can see tomorrow without anything in your eyes. Mine are to be able to see anything at all.”

When I was two years old, my mom underwent a voluntary laser refractive surgery to correct her myopia, hoping to leave glasses and discomfort behind. For a few months after the procedure, she enjoyed that freedom. But after a short time, her vision started to deteriorate. She developed post-LASIK ectasia, a complication that left her corneas irregularly shaped and her sight compromised. She wanted nothing more than to revert to her glasses, but she couldn’t. Her eyes had changed in a way that glasses nor soft contacts could correct.

IF SHE CAN’T HELP YOU, NO ONE CAN

I didn’t understand the stress this placed on her or my family. She was an immigrant running a small business, raising two young daughters and suddenly faced a future where she might not be able to support us. I saw my mom at her lowest, trying countless options and visiting one optometrist and ophthalmologist after another, only to be told there was nothing that could be done.

Finally, one doctor told her, “I’m referring you to Dr. Susan Resnick. If she can’t help you, no one can.” So off she went to Drs. Farkas, Kassalow, Resnick & Associates in New York City. This was her last hope. Crying in the exam chair, Susan Resnick, OD, FAAO, held my mom’s hand and promised to do everything possible to help her see again. Weeks later, my mom was fitted with a piggyback lens system—hard lenses for vision correction layered over soft lenses for comfort. Her vision returned to 20/20. That day didn’t just restore her sight—it shaped my future too.

Watching my mom regain her independence taught me my first lesson in patient care: never underestimate human impact. It’s not just about prescriptions or procedures—it’s about restoring someone’s freedom. I saw firsthand how a thoughtful, persistent approach could transform a patient’s confidence, work and life. And the lives of their loved ones.

PASSION THROUGH PATIENT CARE

I started visiting Dr. Resnick’s office for my own exams and orthokeratology lens check-ups. Each time I visited, I became captivated by the technology around me, the meticulous process and the care every single patient received. I realized that optometry is about problem-solving and changing lives.

While a student at Hofstra University, I went in for a routine lens check. Sitting in the exam chair, everything came into focus—not just my vision but my future. I called the office the next day, asking to shadow Dr. Resnick, and a week later I started working as a Saturday technician.

I saw patients struggle, rejoice and sometimes cry when they finally experienced clear vision. I learned that patient care in optometry is not transactional but relational. A patient’s trust is earned through empathy, clear communication and consistency. Watching the office run with efficiency and warmth showed me how thoughtful systems, follow-ups and continuity of care are essential for patient satisfaction and business success.

Today, I’m an associate optometrist at Drs. Farkas, Kassalow, Resnick & Associates, and when my mom comes in for a checkup, I’m the one caring for her. Having experienced this practice as a patient, a technician and finally a clinician, I understand the profound impact of patient-centered care from every angle. My mom’s journey didn’t just restore her vision—it shaped my approach to compassionate, business-savvy optometry that empowers patients and providers alike.

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Julianna Dolinski, OD, is a graduate of the SUNY College of Optometry and an associate optometrist at Drs. Farkas, Kassalow, Resnick & Associates in New York City and Roslyn, New York.