When consultant ophthalmologist Mr Mfazo Hove suddenly developed blurred, painfully sensitive vision, he recognised the symptoms immediately.
“It was my 40th birthday and I realised something was badly wrong. I was in eye casualty thinking, this can’t be happening, but I knew straight away it was uveitis.”
The condition returned repeatedly over the following years. Later, during an examination by a colleague, he was found to have cataract changes.
He remembers thinking: How can this be happening to me? I’m the surgeon.
He knew that if he didn’t act quickly, he might have to stop operating. As time passed, his sight continued to deteriorate. Precision surgery depends on flawless clarity; even slight visual compromise affects safety.
For the first time in his life, he faced the possibility of losing the career he had built over decades.
“My vision is my tool. If it went, I’d lose everything – my work, my confidence, my identity.”
Finding the right surgeon – and the right lens
When he decided to proceed, he turned to the colleague he trusted most: ophthalmologist Mr Mukhtar Bizrah.
Consultant ophthalmic surgeon and founder of Blue Fin Vision®, Mr Hove knew exactly which intraocular lens he wanted, the same premium trifocal lens he routinely recommended to his own patients. He chose the ZEISS AT LISA tri, designed to provide clarity at distance, intermediate and near ranges. He believed in the technology strongly enough to choose it for his own eyes.
Within days, his vision was clearer than it had been in years. Within weeks, it surpassed the clarity he had before cataract formation.
“My left eye was perfect. My right eye was about –0.25. That’s the dream result.”
Back in theatre (and better than before!)
Only 10 days after surgery on both eyes, he returned to the operating theatre, naturally apprehensive about how his restored vision would perform.
“I thought, What if I can’t see well enough?”
But the clarity was exceptional. Between April and September, he performed more than 2,000 cataract surgeries with zero complications – among the strongest phases of his career.
“My outcomes actually improved. It was like someone gave me back the world in HD.”
Many patients say modern cataract surgery feels easier than a dental appointment.
Understanding the visual effects
As an ophthalmologist, Hove was already familiar with the expected early visual phenomena associated with trifocal lenses. He experienced halos around lights initially, something he had explained to patients many times.
“In Dubai shortly afterwards, the taillights all had rings. But colours were so vivid and my vision so clear, I barely cared. After a few weeks, the halos faded.”
Night driving now feels entirely normal. He has not worn glasses since – not for reading, not for distance, not for anything.
He describes his new visual experience as “a continuous field of clarity”, with no stepping between near and far.
“This surgery didn’t just restore my sight. It saved my career.”
A year later, the gratitude remains powerful.
“I love my eyes. I love the lenses in them. This surgery didn’t just restore my vision, it gave me back my livelihood. My whole family is indebted.”
7 signs you might need cataract surgery
- Vision looks foggy or blurred
- Headlights form halos or starbursts
- Colours appear faded or yellow
- Prescription keeps changing, but nothing helps
- Bright light feels harsh
- Reading requires stronger light or larger text
- Driving at dusk or in rain becomes difficult
If several apply, it may be time for an assessment.
