Catherine Brunet: Acting with clarity

Veteran actor Catherine Brunet isn’t afraid of a challenge. With a decades-long career that includes star turns in shows like Le Monde de Charlotte, Ramdam and Le Chalet, Catherine has continually taken part in projects that push her to new heights. With roles that demand that she display a range of emotions on-screen, Catherine recognized that glasses and contacts were sometimes encumbering aspects of her performance.

Born in Terrebonne, Quebec, the 28-year-old also spends a fair share of her time dubbing Hollywood films for the Quebec market – a task that also demands a lot of her, with the added layer of requiring clear vision to properly see a film’s script at a distance while dubbing.

The idea of undergoing laser vision correction was in the back of Catherine’s mind for a while and when she saw a friend’s social media post about it recently, she finally decided to book a free consultation and explore her options. After undergoing the procedure, Catherine was astounded. LASIK, she says, has made her life much easier in several areas, both personal and professional.

Read on to find out more about her passions, her visual journey and how undergoing laser vision correction has greatly enhanced her life.

To start, talk to us a bit about your eyes. Do you wear glasses or contacts? At what moment did you realize that you would need some form of help to see well?

I grew up during the ‘90s, so my parents were always warning me about the dangers of sitting too close to the television screen to avoid having to wear glasses. The real problem, however, wasn’t TV viewing – it was that I was reading too much. I spent a lot of time reading when I was young. I would read while walking and in hockey arenas while my brother played.

Around the age of 12, I realized I was having trouble seeing distant things clearly during vacations, for example. I went to an optometrist and because I was already acting during that period, I had to wear contact lenses while on-set. It was awful. I would cry because I couldn’t put the contacts in properly and I didn’t want to wear glasses. It was tough at first, but finally I got used to it.

So glasses and contacts got in the way of your profession.

Certainly, but they also affected my daily life. My contacts dried my eyes out, which caused problems during scenes where I’d have to cry. Also, blinking too much looks bad on-screen. People don’t take these technicalities into consideration, but an actor must have healthy eyes.

At what point did you seriously start to consider laser vision correction?

I’d been thinking about it for a while. I had seen a friend’s Facebook status, who was looking for suggestions for a clinic and was thinking about LASIK MD and it really made me really think about it.

I travel a lot, and recently while on a Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios, a contact lens fell out of my eye. I managed to catch it and keep it in my hand, and then had to lubricate it with my saliva because I didn’t have my contact solution with me. [laughs]

While on another trip in Charlevoix, one of my contacts got damaged, and I didn’t have any back ups. I also wanted to be able to open my eyes underwater. I figured it was high time [to undergo a procedure], so I took the plunge.

I’m very anxious by nature. During my consultation, I spoke with a very approachable clinic staff member who told me I had the option of receiving a mild sedative, so that was reassuring. Now, I tell everyone that there’s nothing to worry about and that if I was able to go through with it, then they can too.

How did you feel the moment you decided to undergo a procedure?

I was nervous, but the welcoming and professional nature of the staff reassured me. The night before my procedure, I threw away my contacts and cleaned my glasses one last time.

What did you think about the procedure itself?

Compared to a massage, I didn’t find it too bad at all. I mentioned worrying about going blind to my surgeon [Dr. Wallerstein], who reassured me that no one had ever gone blind after this procedure. The process itself was faster than I thought it would be. During the procedure, I was talking to [Dr. Wallerstein], who was walking me through the steps. I actually found my procedure much less distressing than going to the dentist. I still remember the nightmare of having my four wisdom teeth removed!

People often want to know the moment when I was able to see again after my procedure. I tell them that the change was instantaneous.

Did you feel any pain?

I did not feel any pain during or after my procedure. In the hours afterwards, though, I did feel some minor tingling, but the sedative helped me deal with that. Since I wasn’t able to use my phone, read, play videogames or watch TV, I listened to podcasts all afternoon.

What aspects of the procedure surprised you the most?

Its length and efficiency, since you can see so well right after the procedure. The short recovery period, too. I had to wear protective eyewear the day of my procedure, but I was able to leave the house the day after.

Talk to us a bit about your recovery period.

The day after, the tingling had disappeared, and I was able to see perfectly fine. I did sometimes wear sunglasses sometimes to watch TV because my eyes were still a bit sensitive to light.

I was a little worried because I had to be in the makeup chair for a role the following week, but I was assured that I would be able to do so six days after my procedure, while also suggesting that I remove makeup carefully. My recovery period was very quick.

How has the procedure changed your daily life?

I can see everything, it’s magnificent! The sensation is hard to describe, since you don’t really realize how bad your vision is when you wear glasses or contact lenses.

After the procedure, it was like being able to see in 3-D. Everything is clearer than before. Since I play a lot of sports, I don’t have to worry about problems related to my contact lenses. I also don’t have to worry about my glasses fogging up when I enter stores during the winter. Everything is easier than before. I find I appreciate my new reality the most at night: I don’t have to go through the ritual of taking out my contact lenses before bed, and I can even fall asleep in front of the TV without worrying!

I notice the biggest changes, however, when it comes to my profession. Being able to cry when necessary without a problem is very practical.

Are there any roles that you’re particularly proud of?

Since I choose all of my projects on the basis of how much they move me, I’m happy about everything I’ve accomplished. Le Chalet represented five years of my life, and I’m very proud of that. I also really loved my first adult role in Marche à l’ombre, which was a series that aired on Super Écran.

What motivates you?

I really do believe that art can touch people and change things. My stepfather loves Game of Thrones, for example. He’s sick, so my mother stays home with him and they’ve watched the entire series together a few times. I see how television and film can bring people together and help society. It’s precisely that notion that I find motivating in the work that I do; being able to play several characters and represent different realities. I think that we all should try to better the world around us to render life a little less heavy.

What are your inspirations?

Music inspires me a lot. Likewise with well-known personalities and certain actors. Artists and people who challenge the conventions in their respective field inspire me greatly.

In conclusion, what would you say to people who are thinking about having LASIK?

Do it! I’m very sincere. If I had a bad experience, I would never have agreed to talk about it. I talk about it with everyone around me. [LASIK MD] staff are very welcoming, and were very reassuring when I was stressing out.

The procedure has several obvious advantages, but it has also made me realize to what point glasses and contacts make us vulnerable. I now feel stronger and freer. I can open my eyes underwater and am not constantly blinking my eyes while shooting. I recommend the procedure to everyone!