July 5, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Vance Thompson Vision.

Fill in the blank: Families who _______________ together, stay together. A lot of things can complete that sentence, but the Jochims may have the most creative answer yet.

For them, families who experience Vance Thompson Vision together, stay together.

Admittedly, their bond goes beyond the time they’ve spent at Vance Thompson Vision, but their pursuit of A+ vision — all achieved with lesser known procedures — has the beginnings of a bona fide family tradition.

“Joel went first with a surgery we’d barely heard of, and the next thing, he’s talking about seeing perfectly,” Mike Jochim said about his son. “We all wanted that too.”

Joel, a graphic designer, wore contact lenses for about 10 years. They worked well for him, but over time they began to cause him daily discomfort. He booked a consultation at Vance Thompson Vision to find out why, and that’s when he learned that he had tiny scars on his cornea. According to his doctor, Joel’s corrective lenses had served their purpose, and it was time to consider laser vision correction.

Like many patients, Joel assumed he would be a candidate for LASIK, but the scarring on his cornea made photorefractive keratectomy a better fit. Similar to LASIK in many ways, PRK reshapes the cornea without creating the signature “lap” that comes with LASIK.

“PRK is quick and painless. It took about a week for my eyes to heal up, and once they did, they felt better than they had in years. I now have 20/20 vision and couldn’t be happier that I chose PRK,” Joel said.

Joel’s positive experience with Vance Thompson Vision made it the clear choice for his dad when, several months later, Mike learned that he needed cataract surgery, a procedure that requires removing your cloudy, natural lens and replacing it with a new, clear one. Mike selected the Light Adjustable Lens,™ or LAL,® committing himself to a series of follow-up treatments so that the lens’ power could be adjusted after surgery.

“When the doctor ran through the lens options and he got to the LAL, I knew that was the one,” said Mike, who works for the state of South Dakota as a software engineer and analyst. “It makes perfect sense to wait until after surgery to decide on the lens’ power. I’m glad we have such advanced technology right here.”

In January of 2020, Mike had his right eye done and was so pleased with the results and care he received at Vance Thompson Vision that he nearly wished for a cataract in his left eye. He didn’t have to wait long; this spring he had his second eye corrected with another great outcome.

“Cataracts made my eyes so fatigued that it was hard to keep them focused and open,” Mike said. “Now, I’m glasses-free and will tell anyone who will listen to go to Vance Thompson Vision for this lens.”

Loni Jochim, Joel’s wife and Mike’s daughter-in-law, also hoped that LASIK would correct her vision. Before her consultation, she hadn’t considered alternative options that would give her the most optimal vision. But when her doctor recommended implantable contact lenses, she knew it was the right option for her. During the procedure, Loni’s doctor implanted a collamer lens behind the iris of her eye, leaving her natural lens in place so she can still focus at near, intermediate and far distances.

“This was a gift from Joel, and it was a good one,” Loni said. “We were engaged at the time, so it was exciting to know that by our wedding day, I wouldn’t need contacts or glasses any more. The prospect of taking a honeymoon without having to pack all the extras for eye care was almost unimaginable.”

The only question now is which member of the Jochim family will be the next Vance Thompson Vision patient. “I think my wife, Loretta, will end up there eventually,” Mike said. “But who knows? Whoever it is will be glad they chose Vance Thompson Vision.”