John Savasta ultimately had to undergo surgery as part of his treatment
Credit: Courtesy of John Savasta
NEED TO KNOW
- John Savasta was diagnosed with a cataract at age 34 that was caused by rare eye trauma he experienced during a high school volleyball game
- Surgery using a Johnson & Johnson lens restored his vision, allowing him to enjoy life and travel again
- Savasta now urges others to prioritize their eye health, especially during Men’s Health Month, to prevent serious issues
Years after John Savasta was hit with a volleyball in gym class, he started to lose his vision from the eye injury he suffered.
Savasta, now 36, works in Senior Finance & Grant Management at Rockefeller University. A few years after meeting his wife, Shannon, in 2017, he started to realize in 2024 that his sight was "blurry" in his right eye "out of nowhere." Shannon is a director in Supply Chain MedTech Technology for Johnson & Johnson.
"At first, like many would, I assumed it was an issue with my contact lenses — either the prescription had changed, or something was off because my eye just wouldn't focus. I found myself constantly blinking, expecting it to clear, but the blurriness never went away," Savasta explained in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.
He added, "The blurriness quickly became difficult to manage, especially with my job that required focus on numbers and screens. I had to concentrate so intensely just to see clearly that I started experiencing migraines, and working on a computer became overwhelming."
Credit: Courtesy of John Savasta
As each day passed, Savasta found his eyesight getting worse. He had difficulty driving at night and could not enjoy his favorite activities, including video games and sports.
He scheduled an appointment with his optometrist for a checkup and got a shocking diagnosis.
"After running some tests, my optometrist told me I had a cataract caused by trauma," he recalled. "I was in shock — this was the news I never saw coming. At 34 years old, I never could have imagined I'd be diagnosed with a cataract."
When Savasta returned home from the appointment, Shannon was just as shocked. They both thought his diagnosis happened to older people, not those in their 30s.
She told him to get a second opinion with a recommended ophthalmologist, who confirmed that Savasta's "vision was in jeopardy."
"The ophthalmologist explained that the trauma to my right eye was extremely rare, and that there was only one lens on the market to help my vision," Savasta said. He was recommended the TECNIS Odyssey intraocular lens from Johnson & Johnson Vision.
He met with a representative from Johnson & Johnson Vision, who used a vision simulator to show what his "severely impaired" eyesight "looked like before surgery and what it could look like afterward with the TECNIS lens."
Savasta added, "At the same time, my doctor stressed the urgency: If I didn't have surgery within about a month, I could risk losing vision in that eye entirely, so we knew we had to act quickly."
After Savasta's diagnosis and surgery, he thought back to his time in high school and the volleyball moment that likely caused his injury.
"I was a 16-year-old sophomore, playing volleyball in gym class," he recalled. "During one play at the net, both I and an opposing player went up for the ball. He missed the ball and hit me forcefully in the right eye; his palm hit my eye directly."
Credit: Courtesy of John Savasta
"I remember being in intense pain and briefly blacked out before hitting the floor," Savasta added. "When I came to, my vision in my right eye was very blurry. After the pain subsided, the blurriness remained. I initially thought my contact lens had fallen out, but when I tried to replace it, I realized it was still in my eye. I didn't see an eye doctor at the time because my vision returned to normal and I thought everything was okay. I went years without any issues and never could have imagined this moment would lead to a cataract."
After his surgery, he had to wear an eye patch and wasn't allowed to drive. He began to feel "stronger" as each day passed.
"I was incredibly fortunate to have Shannon's support. She remained calm and reassuring from the start, even when the diagnosis caught us both off guard," he said. "I'm almost two years post-surgery, and my vision couldn't be better. I've learned not to take my vision for granted as I experience some of life's brightest moments."
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He continued, "I'm incredibly grateful to Johnson & Johnson for restoring my vision and giving me the chance to fully enjoy life again. The level of patient-centered care I experienced was outstanding, and the support Shannon received from her colleagues meant a great deal to both of us."
"The innovation behind this lens and the expertise behind it completely changed my life and perspective," Savasta added. "Johnson & Johnson didn't just give me my sight back; this lens gave me my life back, too."
Savasta went on to "check off bucket list trips" to Japan and Italy. He also became an uncle and "got to look my sweet nephew in the eyes and welcome him to the world."
"And every day, I get to see my dog's tail wag as I say good morning. It's moments like those that I'm most thankful for my vision," he told PEOPLE.
As June is Men's Health Month, Savasta is encouraging others not to ignore any symptoms, especially when it comes to maintaining their vision.
"Don't put off getting your eyes checked — even if it feels minor or easy to ignore. What seems insignificant in the moment can turn into something much more serious over time," he said. "Your eyesight is a critical part of your everyday life, and it should never be taken for granted. There are tools, treatments, and healthcare professionals available to help. You just have to take that first step and get it checked."
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