Soprano focuses on the future

As a successful soprano with the English Touring Opera Paula Sides need good eyesight.

But when a piece of metal dust got lodged behind her contact lens the American-born opera singer, who now lives in Hebden Bridge, had to make a bold decision.

Having worn glasses or contacts for 20 years due to her struggle to see long distances, Paula relies on excellent vision for her work, to see the conductor, especially in low lighting, and to read her fellow singers’ facial expressions.

But work in London and travelling on the Victoria Line led to her getting metal dust caught under her contact lens, which resulted in A&E treatment, a scratched cornea, and a week in darkness.

“After a whole week in discomfort, and in fact in darkness, I knew that contacts were no longer an option for me,” explains the 30-year-old.

“I just could not rely on them. I perform opera at least three times a week and never knew if they were going to let me down, and then having this accident on the Tube really triggered me to look into alternatives.”

Her father had undergone laser eye surgery in the past and recommended she consider it.

“I have a lot of doctors in my family, so when I asked their advice the main thing was to get the best. They said, don’t seek out a deal but go for the best possible. These are my eyes after all and I do not want to risk anything! And then making sure there is excellent after care.”

After much research of local options, Paula made the decision to have Lasik laser surgery at the Optegra Leeds Laser Eye Centre in the city centre.

“The day after my procedure, I could see so well, it was really so cool,” said Paula.

“I could read at long distance for the first time in two decades, and have even better than 20/20 vision. In fact, my husband, who has no problems with his vision, can’t see as well as me and often asks me to read things to him with my ‘magic eyes’.”

Paula’s surgeon, Kobus Pauw, explains the procedure she had: “After a thorough examination, we advised Paula to have Lasik laser eye surgery, which uses latest computer technology in a fast, painless and completely blade-free procedure.

“A laser is used to reshape the cornea, the front of the eye, to change its focusing power to improve sight. It can correct both long and short-sighted vision to result in clearer, sharper vision and – as Paula is enjoying – no more hassle from glasses or contacts.”

Paula sings with the English Touring Opera and is one of their most recognisable faces having performed in more than half a dozen productions.

She is currently on tour performing Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte and Donizetti’s The Siege of Calais, but loves nothing better than returning home to Hebden Bridge.

Last year, with husband Jonathan Gale, she organised a concert which raised more than £1,000 to help victims of the town’s flash floods.

She loves reading and walking on the moors and hopes to take up running this year.

EYES ON THE PRIZE OF IMPROVED SIGHT

Laser eye surgery is the most commonly performed elective procedure in the world today.

Laser refractive surgery involves the use of a cool laser beam, (excimer laser), to reshape, or “ablate”, the cornea, thereby correcting refractive errors.

It can be used to correct “long sight” or hyperopia, “short sight” or myopia and “rugby-ball shaped eyes” or astigmatism. A “normal” eye focuses light rays onto the retina,

For more information visit www.optegra.com or call 0808 149 9158.