Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) Awareness Month at Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, Maine



Eyecare Medical Group

 Portland, Maine (1/31/2011) Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, Maine wishes to announce that Prevent Blindness America has designated February as National Age Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month.

“Our patients should feel particularly confident as both Scott Steidl, M.D. and Jackie Nguyen, M.D. are fellowship trained Vitreoretinal specialists at Eyecare Medical Group. They can attend to even the most complex retinal and macular problems and needs” commented Clement Berry, Chief Executive Officer of Eyecare Medical Group.

“Age Related Macular Degeneration” (ARMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in Americans older than 50, affecting more than two million people. Although ARMD is incurable, there are new treatments that can at a minimum prevent further vision loss from the disease and in many cases actually help recover lost vision, commented Scott Steidl, M.D.

ARMD causes central vision to blur, but leaves peripheral vision intact. It is progressive and painless. There are two types of ARMD: dry and wet. Approximately 90 percent of people with ARMD have the dry form which results in gradual vision loss. Although only 10 percent of people with ARMD have the wet form, it generally progresses much quicker than the dry form. Wet AMD is characterized by the growth of abnormal retinal blood vessels that leak blood or fluid, causing rapid and severe central vision loss.

Patients can often reduce the risk of developing ARMD by not smoking as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables, avoiding foods with trans fats, exercising and controlling blood pressure and weight.

“We are fortunate to be able to offer Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) drugs that inhibit the development of unwanted blood vessels that cause wet ARMD as these agents are effective in helping to prevent further visual loss and even improve vision”, said Jackie Nguyen, M.D.

Patients older than 50 are encouraged to have a comprehensive, dilated eye examination every one to two years to ensure that ARMD is detected and treated early. The key to successful treatment is early detection and intervention.

Eyecare Medical Group is a Maine Ophthalmology practice staffed by a team of eye care specialists including Board Certified Fellowship trained Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and Intraocular lens implants, (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

To learn more about Eyecare Medical Group in Portland Maine you may visit http://www.eyecaremed.com/ or to learn more about LASIK in Maine you may visit http://www.emglasereyecenter.com/. Eyecare Medical Group is a founding member of the LASIK Eye Surgery Patient Information and LASIK Surgeon Directory at www.seewithlasik.com and the Cataract Surgery, Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) and Cataract Surgeon Directory at www.aboutcataractsurgery.com.

For additional information, contact:

Gretel Taska, Eyecare Medical Group, 53 Sewall Street, Portland, Maine 04102, gtaska@eyecaremed.com, 1.888.374.2020

SOURCE: Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C.

Volunteer Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Opticians Needed

Volunteer Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Opticians needed for a free medical mission in Nashville on February 19th and 20th at McGavock High School for patients without health care. The mission will include free vision services, dental services, and medical services. We expect to see around 2500 patients for free in a two day period. We'll make 400 glasses for patients each day, identify ocular disease, check for glaucoma, provide dental extractions, fillings, cleanings and provide well care and sick exams all for free. We also plan on providing free mammograms, STD testing, diabetic testing, and pap smears. You can read more about our organization at www.ramusa.org or you can watch a 12 minute video that the show 60-minutes did on our organization at http://ramusa.org/learn/media.html.

All equipment will be provided. Volunteers professionals are only requested to attend and see patients. You can donate one day or both days of service. We are especially in need of ophthalmologists.

Please contact Joe Sanfilippo at (615) 500-5880 or at joepnp@yahoo.com if interested

Sincerely,
Joe Sanfilippo APRN, BC
Remote Area Medical Nashville Mission Coordinator

Glaucoma Awareness Month at Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, Maine

Eyecare Medical Group

Portland, Maine (1/6/2011) Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, Maine wishes to announce that Prevent Blindness America has designated January as National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Everyone, from infants to seniors is vulnerable. Moreover, among African-American and Hispanic populations, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness.

“Our patients should feel particularly confident as both Samuel Solish, M.D. and Robert Daly, M.D. are fellowship trained Glaucoma specialists at Eyecare Medical Group. They can attend to even the most complex Glaucoma patient problems and needs,” commented Clement Berry, Chief Executive Officer of Eyecare Medical Group.

Over 3 million Americans, and nearly 70 million people worldwide, have glaucoma. It is estimated that half of them don’t know they have it. Combined with our aging population, we can see an epidemic of blindness looming if we don’t raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision.

“This is an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease. Our understanding of this disease along with the ways in which we can diagnose and treat it have improved considerably”, commented Dr. Daly.

The most common type of glaucoma—primary open angle glaucoma—is hereditary. The Nottingham Glaucoma Study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology evaluated the risk that siblings of Glaucoma patients would themselves develop Glaucoma within their lifetime.

“While we already knew that there was a strong likelihood that family members of glaucoma patients were at greater risk, the Nottingham Study found that siblings were 5 times more likely to develop glaucoma by age 70. “This is we strongly recommend that siblings of Glaucoma patients and Glaucoma suspects be screened for Glaucoma, each and every year, said Dr. Solish.

Eyecare Medical Group is a Maine Ophthalmology practice staffed by a team of eye care specialists including Board Certified Fellowship trained Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and Intraocular lens implants, (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

To learn more about Eyecare Medical Group in Portland Maine you may visit http://www.eyecaremed.com/ or to learn more about LASIK in Maine you may visit, http://www.emglasereyecenter.com/. Eyecare Medical Group is a founding member of the LASIK Eye Surgery Patient Information and LASIK Surgeon Directory at http://www.seewithlasik.com/and the Cataract Surgery, Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) and Cataract Surgeon Directory at http://www.aboutcataractsurgery.com/.

For additional information, contact:
Gretel Taska, Eyecare Medical Group, 53 Sewall Street, Portland, Maine 04102, GTaska@eyecaremed.com, 1.888.374.2020

SOURCE: Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C.

Doctor & Associates of Fairfield County Connecticut Releases Eye Care Patient Information and Education Web Site

Westport, Connecticut (January 6, 2011) Doctor & Associates, an ophthalmology practice with offices in Westport, Wilton and Norwalk, Connecticut dedicated to providing Fairfield County and southern Connecticut eye care patients with convenient and comprehensive advanced eye health and vision care has released a new patient education website at www.doctor-and-associates.com.

“We are pleased to be able to assist patients in learning about common eye problems and conditions, types of eye surgery, as well as their treatment options,” commented Doctor & Associates Medical Director Leslie Doctor, M.D.

The new Doctor & Associates web site is designed to help educate patients so that they can play a more participative role in their eye care. Both the patient and the eye doctor are able to facilitate the entire patient care experience when patients thoroughly understand their eye conditions, treatment options and eye surgery options.

“Today, it is beneficial for patients seeking care for cataracts, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), diabetic retinopathy, corneal disease and transplants, macular degeneration, glaucoma, LASIK and even eyeglasses and contact lenses-to have access to current information and treatment options even before they attend their eye examination,” said Leslie Doctor, M.D.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Connecticut eye care practice providing eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and Intraocular Lens Implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, diagnosis and management of diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses and optical services. In addition, for those patients in need of eye surgery, as a founding member of the Wilton Surgery Center, Doctor & Associates eye surgeons are able to provide eye surgery in a convenient, close to home and cost effective ambulatory surgery center.

Doctor & Associates is a founding member of the LASIK Eye Surgery Patient Information and LASIK Surgeon Directory at www.seewithlasik.com and the Cataract Surgery, Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) and Cataract Surgeon Directory at www.aboutcataractsurgery.com.

For additional information, contact Dottie Figueroa, Doctor & Associates, 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, dfigueroa@drdrgroup.com, 203.227.4113.

SOURCE: Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C.