Karl Nelson’s vision problems started several years ago.
“I was just driving home from the courthouse, and it got strange, I wasn’t seeing anything out of my right eye,” Nelson says. “It was like a green shade.”
Nelson headed to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., was promptly diagnosed with a detached retina, and underwent surgery.
Nelson later had a detached retina in his left eye, and this time underwent surgery in Waterloo.
When additional care was needed, Nelson was referred to Dr. Mark Greiner at University of Iowa Health Care-University Campus. Greiner repaired Nelson’s corneas with donated tissue recovered, evaluated, processed, and distributed by Iowa Lions Eye Bank.
Iowa Lions Eye Bank encourages corneal transplant patients to write to the loved ones of those who donated the tissue used in their surgeries, to express their gratitude. Nelson wrote his donor that he was inspired to register as an eye, organ, and tissue donor himself, and actively support and advocate for Iowa Lions Eye Bank.
“My right eye is now 20/20,” Nelson says. “God bless America, that means everything. My left eye has improved over time. Depth perception still is an issue, and things aren’t always where I think they are, but that’s a good excuse when I’m trying to hit a golf ball.”
Nelson has had more time for golf since he retired from his law practice in Shell Rock in June 2022.
“I like to golf, I’m a lousy golfer but I always like to give it a shot,” Nelson says.
Nelson says he is enjoying retirement on his little acreage in Butler County. Every morning, he and his wife get up, make a cup of coffee, and feed their cats.
“It gives us maybe an hour or 90 minutes to talk to each other that we never had when working, and we can plan out our week,” Nelson says. “I appreciate all the work that the doctors have done over the years on my eyes.”