James C. Moore - Give Back the Light: A Doctors Relentless Struggle to End Blindness

PRAISE FORGive Back the Light

Retina surgeons are the crme de la crme in the realm of ophthalmology. Steve Charles stands right at the top of that pyramid. Moore does a masterful job of combining his compelling personal struggle as a patient with clear explanations of eye structures, ophthalmic procedures, and the innovative techniques and instruments that Dr. Charles has developed to preserve our precious vision. As someone who has covered the momentous achievements of the retina community for almost two decades, it is a joy to see the accomplishments of this wondrous eye surgeon finally celebrated.

Jerry Helzner, News Editor, Retinal Physician Magazine

James Moore sneaks a comprehensive education into an intimate and inspiring true story of one mans greatest passion intersecting with another mans greatest fear. A poignant and compelling journey of discovery about the mysteries of human vision, technology, and the relentlessness of hope.

Kristen Tsetsi, author, The Age of the Child

James Moore has written a truly original book about hope and discoverythe story of one mans search to save his sight and a remarkable doctor whose gift for invention and skills as a surgeon have helped restore vision to millions. The author writes about astonishing medical procedures with clarity and precision, deeply reported and rich in detail. And he uncovers the little-known history of medical giants in pursuit of the impossible. This is a profound book, both poignant and exhilarating, and readers will come away with the knowledge that Moore has taken them somewhere totally new.

Wayne Slater, Writer Emeritus, Dallas Morning News

Give Back the Light is a tremendous achievement. James C. Moore weaves a wrenching personal account of his struggle to save the sight in his right eye with the history and accomplishments of legendary eye surgeon and innovator, Dr. Steve Charles. The book combines brilliant storytelling and a testament to one of the great minds in eye surgery with questions about where the divide lies between patient and physician responsibility. This book is a mesmerizing dive into the recent history of eye surgery and the journey of one patient.

Mary Pauline Lowry, author, Wildfire

This remarkable book combines Jim Moores battle to keep the vision in his right eye with a highly readable explanation of the history and intricacies of eye surgery (proliferative vitreo retinopathy, anyone?). Its a profile of a modern medical hero: Dr. Steve Charles, who also happens to be an engineer, an ace inventor, and a jet-airplane pilot. Its easy to be cynical about todays world. This is a book about an inspirational doctor who has saved the eyesight of thousands of people. It will open your eyes to the beauty, the miracle of seeing.

Robert Bryce, author, Smaller Faster Lighter Denser Cheaper: How Innovation Keeps Proving the Catastrophists Wrong

Also by James Moore

Bushs Brain: How Karl Rove Made
George W. Bush Presidential

Bushs War for Reelection: Iraq, the White House,
and the People

The Architect: Karl Rove and the Master Plan
for Absolute Power

In the Time of Man, Science Fiction

The Rembrandt Bomb, with Chuck Klinger,
Fiction, Thriller

Adios Mofo: Why Rick Perry Will Make America
Miss George W. Bush

The names and identifying characteristics of persons referenced in this book have been changed to protect their privacy.

Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press

Austin, Texas

www.gbgpress.com

Copyright 2019 James C. Moore

All rights reserved.

Thank you for purchasing an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.

Distributed by Greenleaf Book Group

For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Greenleaf Book Group at PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709, 512.891.6100.

Design and composition by Greenleaf Book Group and Kim Lance
Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group and Kim Lance

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication data is available.

Print ISBN: 978-1-62634-562-1

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62634-563-8

Part of the Tree Neutral program, which offsets the number of trees consumed in the production and printing of this book by taking proactive steps, such as planting trees in direct proportion to the number of trees used: www.treeneutral.com

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper

18 19 20 21 22 23 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition

To my father,
James Clinton Moore
And all the things that might have been

Acknowledgments

B ooks originate in less than mysterious ways. An author might overhear a conversation that triggers an idea, or a lifes work could lead to a summation in narrative form. An original and inspiring story can be lying about and stumbled upon by an enterprising dreamer. Inspiration is hard to define but has to be mixed with determination to create a manuscript.

This book began over tacos. In fact, the concept emerged over barbacoa tacos (flour tortillas, always) at Marias in South Austin during a conversation with my friend Robert Bryce, the prolific author of books about energy and the initial critical analysis of the Enron collapse, Pipe Dreams. Robert and I had not seen each other in a few years, and I began to tell him about the problems with my eye. The story of dealing with the health care system and meeting Steve Charles as I struggled to save my vision intrigued Bryce, who immediately urged me to turn it into a book.

Its a hell of a narrative, I recall him telling me, and youve got this amazing person in the middle of it. Not you, of course.

Okay, wiseass. I hear you. But I am just through with several years of dealing with this, and I am not sure I want to relive it.

I can understand, he said. But doesnt change the fact that its an interesting topic, and you are a writer.

I spent the next few months trying to avoid the subject of Dr. Charles and my eye problems, but there was no question Robert was right, and I had just been through a pivotal moment in my life with a person of some historical importance. But I was also busy with my business consulting practice, and science and medicine could hardly be considered my areas of expertise. Nonetheless, the idea persisted, and I began the process of educating myself on biology, medicine, and engineering, and later began a draft that I doubted would ever make sense or have any appeal. Disciplined as I was, I had great skepticism Id ever see the book to its end.

Two years and seven months later, I had a manuscript.

I am grateful to Robert Bryce for providing the idea for Give Back the Light. There are, of course, dozens of others who have facilitated the completion of this publication, either directly or indirectly. My greatest debt, obviously, is to Steve Charles, M.D., whose days of healing and learning are far too busy to afford a writer any of his time. The doctor, however, was gracious and endlessly supportive, not just helpful. I hope this book serves to offer an additional legacy for his great accomplishments in the field of vitreoretinal surgery and the difference he has made in the lives of uncountable people. Honoring his life and work were my primary motivation.