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All Posts Tagged: saipan eye clinic

7 Things To Know about Your Baby’s Eyes

As children grow, their eyes change quickly. Being vigilant about eye health is important to help identify and address problems early, while children’s eyes are still developing. For 2020: Year of the Eye, the American Academy of Ophthalmology presents 20 important things to know about kids’ eyes. Let’s start off with 7 things to know about babies eyes.

1. Smoking can harm an unborn child’s eyes. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for premature birth. Preemies are more likely to have permanent vision loss or even blindness. Smoking while pregnant also leads to a five-fold higher risk of the baby getting bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis can cause severe vision loss.

2. For preemies, measure the baby’s vision milestones from their due date — not their date of birth. Your pediatrician should check your infant’s vision at each well-baby visit to make sure it is developing as it should.

3. During a baby’s first months, their central vision is still developing. A newborn baby can see, but they are still forming connections between their retina and their brain. As central vision develops, a baby may begin to focus on objects dangled right in front of them.

4. By age 3 months, a baby’s eyes should focus and follow objects. In the first two months of life, an infant’s eyes may appear to cross or wander out to the sides. This is usually normal. As visual coordination improves, the baby’s eyes will work together to focus and follow a moving object. If you do not notice this happening consistently by age 3 months, talk with your pediatrician.

5. By age 5 months, babies are seeing in three dimensions. At this age, babies get better at reaching for objects because they can see how far an object is from them. They are developing depth perception. They may even remember what an object is if they only see part of it.

6. Around age 9 months, babies’ eyes have turned their final colorEye color depends on the amount and distribution of a brown pigment called melanin in the irisLight-colored eyes at birth may darken if melanin develops. It is not uncommon, however, to see slight changes in eye color during the first three years of life.

From the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Written By: Reena Mukamal; Reviewed By: Stephen N Lipsky MD

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Cataract Surgery in Saipan May Improve Brain Health

A recent study from England has found that people who have had cataract surgery have better mental function in later life. The report joins a growing body of research that suggests that taking care of vision has benefits for older adults beyond just improving sight.

Researchers compared the rates of cognitive (thinking) decline before and after patients had cataract surgery. The researchers found the rate of cognitive decline was slowed by 50 percent following cataract surgery over 13 years of follow-up. The rate of decline among people who had cataract surgery was slower after the surgery compared with beforehand and became similar to the decline among those with no cataracts. 

“Cataract surgery is very commonly performed in the CNMI, and there are thousands of patients who have received this excellent surgery at Marianas Eye Institute,” said Russ Quinn, CEO of the Saipan eye clinic.

The researchers note that scientists still don’t know why vision problems affect cognitive decline. But they think that the isolation, embarrassment and lack of physical activity from vision problems may contribute to the problem.

“There is little doubt that cataract surgery is very likely to improve a person’s vision, which can allow people to stay active and independent,” said Thomas Steinemann, MD, professor of ophthalmology at Case Western University and an ophthalmologist at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. Dr. Steinemann wasn’t involved in the English study. “If you can’t do things for yourself because you can’t see well, it’s easy to fall into a depression and withdraw from activities. This could affect a person’s cognitive abilities.”

Marianas Eye Institute uses advanced surgical techniques for the removal of cataracts. If your vision is blurry, it may be from cataracts, which can be treated. Make an appointment today, or just walk in.

(Adapted from the American Academy of Ophthalmology)

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Saipan Eye Clinic Combats Cataract Blindness in Africa

​Saipan Eye Clinic Combats Cataract Blindness in Africa

​Dr. David Khorram, Marianas Eye Institute’s co-founder, travelled on behalf of the Saipan eye clinic to Ghana, in Africa, to provide needed cataract surgery.  Dr. Khorram was accompanied by his 16 year-old son, Arman, who also participated as a volunteer in the project.  The duo were Global Impact Fellows with the non-profit organization, Unite for Sight, based out of New Haven, Connecticut.  Global Impact Fellows undergo extensive training on providing care in rural and under-served areas.  “The training was a refresher of sorts for me,” said Dr. Khorram, who has significant experience as a volunteer eye surgeon is such settings.  “However, it was all new for Arman, and it prepared him well for the time we spent in the villages in Ghana.”

​Large Scale Village Cataract Screening

​On the ground in Ghana, the Khorram’s were joined by three other volunteers, all university students, who had come to spend some weeks in Ghana as part of the Unite for Sight team.  The team members, accompanied by staff from the Crystal Eye Clinic in Accra, the capital of Ghana, traveled each day to outlying villages and conducted large scale community screening campaigns to identify those with vision problems.  In addition, the team members, including those from the Saipan eye clinic, gathered statistics to be used in research to improve care in the region.  They saw up to 200 patients per day.  “The screenings were done in partnership with local village organizations who announced days ahead of time that we were arriving,” Khorram explained.  “Because of the absence of hospitals and health centers, we used local schools or community centers to perform the exams.  The university volunteers and Arman checked vision, while those of us with medical training, conducted the formal eye exams.”

​Cataract Surgery in Ghana Different than Saipan​

​On some days while the team members were in the outlying villages, Dr. Khorram joined local ophthalmologists from the Crystal Eye Clinic to help clear the backlog of cataract surgery.  “There are a limited number of ophthalmologists in the country,” said Khorram.  “Not enough to serve the population.  So volunteer ophthalmologists are needed to perform cataract surgery.”  Dr. Khorram explained that while cataract surgery is the most common eye surgery performed on Saipan, the surgery is a much different technique than the one used in Ghana.  “At Marianas Eye Institute, we use the most advanced techniques for cataract surgery, which requires expensive high-tech equipment.  In most places in the world, this equipment is too expensive, so we use a technique that has been especially developed for these settings,” the Saipan eye clinic surgeon explained.

Cataract and Diabetes

​Cataract is the world’s leading cause of reversible blindness, affecting some 20 million people globally.  Cataracts are also the leading cause of vision loss in Saipan.  The World Health Organization has identified cataracts as a priority eye disease.  It is also a priority at Marianas Eye Institute.  Cataracts is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye, which causes blurred vision.  It occurs most commonly with aging, and with diabetes.  “Because Marianas Eye Institute is the major center for treatment of diabetic eye disease on Saipan, we also treat a lot of cataracts.  Cataract surgery, with today’s modern technique of phacoemulsification, can be performed in under 20 minutes, and the same day, the patient can see again,” explained Russ Quinn, the Saipan eye clinic’s CEO.  Dr. Dennis WIlliams, a renown ophthalmologist who is listed in Best Eye Doctors in America, performs the high-tech cataract surgery on Saipan, while Dr. Khorram now spends most of his professional time as an international volunteer eye surgeon.

Marianas Eye Patients Contribute

“​The trip to Ghana was a truly memorable experience,” said Dr. Khorram.  “Like Saipan, the people were kind and appreciative, and full of laughter.  Arman and I felt right at home there,” he said.  Marianas Eye Institute continues to support efforts to combat blindness and suffering.  “While our priority for eye care will always be Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, we feel a responsibility to help those beyond the shores of the Mariana Islands,” said Quinn.  “It’s great to participate in these projects, and all everyone who is a patient at Marianas Eye Institute, helps make our support to the global fight against blindness possible, so we thank you all, ” he said.

Marianas Eye Institute is know as a regional leader in eye care, providing total eye care for the family, including express glasses, contact lenses, medical eye care, surgery and laser.  Marianas Eye Institute is staffed by Dr. Dennis Williams, who has been listed in “America’s Top Ophthalmologists,” and Dr. Mark Robertson, a magna cum laude graduate, along with eight other highly talented and nationally certified eye care technicians, opticians, and contact lens technicians.  Located on Beach Road in Garapan, across 13 Fishermen Monument, the Saipan eye clinic is open Monday through Saturday and accepts new patients as well as walk-ins.  Anyone interested in supporting the Saipan eye clinic’s global outreach program can call 235-9090.

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Saipan Eye Clinic Shines

Saipan Eye Clinic Shines with New Technology

Marianas Eye Institute, your Saipan eye clinic, in its ongoing commitment to bringing cutting edge technologies and the highest quality eye care to the region, has purchased the “best in class” Visucam 524 retinal camera made by the renown optics and engineering company Zeiss. The Visucam 524 allows for the highest quality of care in diabetes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

The Visucam 524 takes photos of the inner layers of the eye – the retina – which are affected by a broad range of diseases. “For years we have been the only clinic in the CNMI performing fluorescein angiograpy – a test that can record blood flow through the delicate blood vessels of the eye, which is particularly important in diabetic patients,” said Russ Quinn, the Saipan eye clinic’s CEO. “The Visucam 524 adds the additional capability of detecting early stages of macular degeneration and other retinal diseases though something called ‘auto fluorescence’, which is an important non-invasive tool in detecting and following diseased retina” he explained.

The Zeiss camera boasts a 24 mega-pixel sensor which produces brilliant detail-rich images to effectively aid in detecting and monitoring a broad range of retinal diseases. Training for the new camera was provided by Zeiss representative, Joanna Givens who traveled the Saipan eye clinic. She was impressed with the skill of the clinic staff, and commented that “the eye care technicians all took beautiful photos. They are well trained at getting just the right angles.”

Marianas Eye Institute’s Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, Thelma Tenorio, commented, “These images are amazing. You can really see so much more detail with this new camera. This will definitely help the doctors detect any problems early on.”

The Visucam 524 retinal camera sets a new standard with its ultra-high resolution images and superior clarity, which ensure that difficult to detect diseases can be identified by the doctors at Marianas Eye Institute. The camera comes with sophisticated software for processing and viewing the images. One of the most practical elements of the software is a feature that allows the doctors at this Saipan eye clinic to view the full images as an overview, and also to magnify portions in order to see the smallest details.

“Many years ago, Retinal Physician Magazine recognized Marianas Eye Institute as ‘one of the best-equipped eye clinics in the Asia-Pacific region’”, said Quinn. “We are committed to maintaining that standard so our patients know that they have access to the best in the region. This camera ensures that all the people of the CNMI, but particularly those with diabetes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, will benefit from advances in the field.”

 

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