Vision Care Today
Wendy discovers vision care with flair!
As caring parents, our children’s health is of utmost importance. We are very diligent about getting our children to the family doctor, dentist and optometrist for annual checkups, but often neglect our own health in the process.
Self-care is something no parents should ignore. By maintaining their own health and wellness, they are better able to care for their children. At the same time, they’re setting an excellent example for their children to follow later in life.
Through the Beautiful You lifestyle makeover program, Wendy Korchinski is learning the importance of self-care.
Comprehensive vision care is an important element of the Beautiful You program, provided by Family Focus Eyecare, located at #1 – 419 Ludlow Street in University Heights, adjacent to Willowgrove.
Family Focus Eyecare was established in 1998 by Dr. Elisabeth Foucault and Dr. Nadia Lypka. Dr. Ken Lypka joined the practice in 2002. The practice has continued to grow with Saskatoon, welcoming associate optometrists Dr. Jen Bachiu, Dr. Vy Pham, Dr. David Sherin and Dr. Fern Yee, who provides vision therapy services. The expert optometrists, along with their friendly support staff, are dedicated to providing patients with the utmost in vision care.
Wendy was pleased to learn that she would be working with Dr. Nadia Lypka at Family Focus Eyecare, as she was very familiar with the practice. This is where she has taken her three children for their vision care for the past four years. During that time, however, Wendy had neglected to have her own eyes examined. “I tend to not put myself on the list,” says Wendy.
With a history of both glaucoma and macular degeneration in Wendy’s family, Dr. Lypka says it is vital for Wendy to have a comprehensive eye exam every two years.
“Macular degeneration and glaucoma are two of the leading causes of blindness among Canadians. When there is a family history of this, it’s even more important for patients to be diligent about having regular eye examinations. With glaucoma, symptoms often aren’t apparent until the advanced stages. At that point, damage is irreversible. Through a routine eye exam, we can detect the early signs of these eye diseases, and other potential health problems, and ensure prompt treatment,” says Dr. Lypka.
Family Focus Eyecare employs the newest technologies to provide the ultimate in patient care, including a new imaging technique called the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) which provides unprecedented high resolution cross-sectional images of structures in the back of the eye. “The OCT is very helpful in earlier diagnoses of glaucoma and retinal problems,” says Dr. Lypka. “We were pleased that Wendy’s eyes are very healthy.”
Dr. Lypka’s exam revealed that in addition to being near-sighted, Wendy had presbyopia, a common eye condition that begins to develop in your 40s. Presbyopia is the diminished ability to focus on near objects.
“I was asking the kids to read words in small print to me. My arms just weren’t stretching long enough any more!” says Wendy.
Wendy also has a common eye condition called astigmatism, which means the front surface of the eye is shaped like a football, rather than a perfect sphere. “Astigmatism can distort your vision, up-close and in the distance,” says Dr. Lypka.
Dr. Lypka prescribed premium progressive lenses. “The lenses not only correct her distance vision, they now correct her near vision as well.”
Optometric assistant Tracy Sielski helped Wendy select stylish new frames for her lenses, by J.F. Rey, designed and made in France.
Family Focus Eyewear offers a vast selection of fashionable frames. Among the collection of over 1,500 frames are trendy designer lines including Lafont, Orr Green, Versace, Cogan and Fendi.
“I chose the J.F. Rey frames for Wendy because they best flattered the shape of her face and her skin tones. The trendy style has really updated Wendy’s look!” says Tracy.
“I really like them! They’re fashion-forward but they still go with everything I wear,” says Wendy.
It had been over 15 years since Wendy had last worn contact lenses. “I didn’t find them that comfortable, and after my first son was born, it was just easier to throw on my glasses,” says Wendy.
New advances in technology have greatly increased comfort levels and made it possible for people with both astigmatism and presbyopia to enjoy the freedom of contact lenses.
“We are in the process of fitting Wendy with contact lenses. She requires a Toric contact lens for her astigmatism. Because she’s also presbyopic, she also requires a multi-focal lens which create multiple levels of corrective powers. It can take a few adjustments to find the lenses that will stabilize the best. Wendy’s now trying her second pair of lenses,” says Dr. Lypka.
“I really enjoy the freedom of wearing contact lenses, especially when I’m working out at the gym,” says Wendy.
Next, Family Focus Eyecare will provide Wendy with a pair of glamorous designer sunglasses. Over 300 styles of designer sunglasses are on display in the Sunglass Cove at Family Focus Eyecare, including the latest looks by Prada, Coach, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Ed Hardy, Gucci and Versace. “We also feature premium sunglass lines by Oakley, Kaenon and Maui Jim,” says Tracy.
Sunglasses are more than just a fabulous fashion accessory. They provide vital protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays, says Dr. Lypka. “UV radiation can contribute to cataracts and macular degeneration, and we already know that Wendy has a family history of macular degeneration. Wearing sunglasses also helps protect the delicate skin around the eyes, not only from wrinkles, but also from skin cancer. This is an area of the face where skin cancer commonly occurs.”
Working with Wendy has been a delight for everyone at Family Focus Eyecare, says Dr. Lypka. “She’s very bubbly and has a great attitude! She’s taking the Beautiful You program very seriously and her hard work shows!”
“I love going to Family Focus Eyecare. Dr. Lypka and the staff are so friendly and caring. It’s nice that I’ll be going there now, as well as my kids!” says Wendy.
Elka Nir Joins VisionCare Board of Directors
Head of Life Sciences at Giza Venture Capital brings twenty years of experience leading dynamic and cutting edge technology organizations
SARATOGA, Calif., Feb. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc., a developer of advanced visual prosthetic devices for the treatment of end-stage age-related macular degeneration, today announced Elka Nir of Giza Venture Capital has joined VisionCare’s Board of Directors. Ms. Nir expands the company’s Board to seven.
Ms. Nir heads the life sciences sector for Giza and serves on the board of directors of five medical device companies in Israel and the US. Prior to Giza, she led large multi-disciplinary teams (R&D, supply chain, quality & regulatory, marketing) at a division of Johnson & Johnson managing multi-million dollar budgets and delivering innovative market leading products, resulting in over $400 million in yearly revenues and double-digit annual growth.
Ms. Nir holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science, from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, a B.S. from the University of Haifa, and completed the Senior Executive Education program at Stanford University School of Business.
Allen W. Hill, VisionCare’s President and CEO, commented, “VisionCare welcomes Elka to our Board. She was instrumental in helping VisionCare raise $31.4 million in the recent Series E financing. Elka’s extensive experience in executive roles and raising funds for the development of new state of the art solutions, via business collaboration with global market leaders, will be of great assistance to VisionCare.”
On joining the VisionCare Board, Elka Nir commented, “VisionCare has made tremendous progress in developing, clinically testing, and obtaining FDA approval for its implantable telescope prosthesis in patients with advanced forms of macular degeneration, which disables hundreds of thousands of individuals in major markets. VisionCare’s products show significant promise of improving vision and quality of life for these individuals who now have no other surgical option. I am looking forward to working with the Board and the company as it begins US commercialization of this breakthrough product later this year.”
About the Telescope Implant
The Implantable Miniature Telescope (by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz) is designed to improve vision and quality of life in patients with end-stage AMD. Smaller than a pea, the telescope is implanted in one eye in an outpatient surgical procedure.
CentraSight Treatment Program
The first-of-kind telescope implant is integral to a new patient care program, CentraSight, for treating patients with end-stage AMD. The CentraSight treatment program involves a patient management process and access to reimbursement resources for patients and physicians.
About End-Stage Macular Degeneration
AMD is a disorder of the central retina, or macula, which is responsible for detailed vision that controls important functional visual activities like recognizing faces and watching television. The National Eye Institute estimates that over 1.7 million Americans over age 50 suffer vision loss from advanced AMD, which frequently culminates as end-stage AMD (visual impairment due to untreatable advanced AMD in both eyes). These patients often experience a loss of independence and quality of life, and have difficulty with activities of daily living. Approximately half of the individuals living with advanced AMD are affected in both eyes.
About Giza Venture Capital
Located in Tel Aviv, Giza is a leading venture capital firm investing in seed and early-stage technology companies. Giza currently manages five funds totaling $600 million. Founded in 1992, the firm’s professionals have extensive experience and expertise in life sciences, communications, semiconductor, information technology, enterprise software, clean tech, media, and entertainment sectors. Giza has invested in ninety-seven companies with thirty-two successful exits.
About VisionCare
VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Saratoga, CA, with facilities in Petah Tikva, Israel, is a privately-held company focused on the development, manufacturing, and marketing of implantable ophthalmic devices and technologies that are intended to significantly improve vision and quality of life for individuals with untreatable retinal disorders.
Reminder tool `helps majority of contact lens wearers
A tool used by contact lens wearers to remind them to put in or take out the products is effective in the vast majority of cases, it has been claimed.
Vistakon, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, claims that its Acuminder tool is rated as helpful by 95 pr cent of those who use it as part of their daily contact lens routine.
In addition, 66 per cent of the users polled in recent survey by the organisation say that it has helped them improve the frequency and accuracy of their contact lens replacement.
Acuminder was found to be particularly effective for two-weekly lens wearers, with 76 per cent remembering to change them after 14 days when using the reminder, compared with only 40 per cent who did not use the tool.
Recent contact lens safety advice was issued by consultant ophthalmologist Peter McDonnell, honorary treasurer at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, who said that people who follow manufacturer instructions on lenses should not encounter any problems.