UPMC Vision Institute Patient Stories

Our team at the UPMC Vision Institute is dedicated to helping patients prevent vision loss and make the most of their sight. Below are testimonials from patients who have benefitted from our expertise and support.

Ginny Chomanics

Ginny Chomanics manages macular degeneration, a condition that causes central vision loss, with the help of a team of experts at the UPMC Vision Institute. Read Ginny’s story.

Read Ginny Chomanics's story

Connie Rivera: Cataract Surgery

Connie Rivera needed cataract surgery – as well as some help the day of her procedure. The UPMC Vision Institute’s patient navigator connected her with a community resource to ensure she got the care she needed.

Read Connie Rivera's story

Elsa Allison Mitchell: SMILE Surgery

Elsa Allison Mitchell, a competitive runner and Pitt graduate student, struggled with glasses and contacts due to her active lifestyle and allergies. After evaluation at the UPMC Vision Institute, she underwent the SMILE procedure—a minimally invasive laser vision correction tailored to her needs—when other options weren’t suitable. The quick, successful surgery gave her 20/15 vision and the freedom to train without visual limitations.

Read Elsa's story

The Lemay and Pelletier Family: Retinitis Pigmentosa

Mia, Colin, and Laurent Pelletier all have retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a genetic condition that causes vision loss. They traveled from Montreal to visit Dr. José-Alain Sahel, a world-renowned RP expert at the UPMC Vision Institute.

Read The Lemay and Pelletier Family's story