 |
| |
|
| |
Retina Care Specialists focus in diseases
and surgery of
the retina, vitreous, and
macula for patients in their
Palm Beach
Gardens and Stuart offices.
Three areas of critical care include diabetic
retinopathy,
detached and torn retina, and macular degeneration. |
|
| |
|
PRESS RELEASE
June 17, 2010
FIRST-EVER, AT-HOME OPHTHALMIC DEVICE LINKS PATIENTS AND DOCTORS REMOTELY FOR EARLY DETECTION OF WET AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
Retina Care Specialists Selected as Fourth Practice in the U.S. to Participate in Launch of Notal Vision ForeseeHome™ AMD Monitor
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (June 17, 2010) - Retina Care Specialists is pleased to announce its participation in the launch of Notal Vision's ForeseeHome AMD Monitor, a breakthrough in the monitoring and early detection of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Retina Care Specialists is the fourth practice in the U.S. to be included in the launch and is the first retinal practice selected to implement the program in South Florida. ForeseeHome AMD is the first FDA-cleared ophthalmic device linking patients and doctors remotely, giving doctors access to valuable patient data through a secure online connection. Retina Care Specialists is offering this new monitoring service to its patients.
Designed for early detection of visual changes and frequent monitoring between eye exams in the physician's office, the ForeseeHome AMD Monitor provides personalized monitoring for patients at risk of vision loss from the devastating effects of wet AMD. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the ForeseeHome AMD Monitor is an accurate and reliable tool.
"The ForeseeHome monitor adds a valuable level of care for our patients who may be experiencing the early indications of AMD," said Mark Michels, MD, FACS, of Retina Care Specialists. "We now have the ability to more closely watch the progression of the disease and prevent further vision loss. Early diagnosis allows us be more efficient at preserving, and often restoring, a better quality of life."
What is age-related macular degeneration?
AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 60 and older, equaling more than 8 million AMD patients in the U.S. AMD causes no pain. There are two forms of AMD: wet and dry. In wet AMD, loss of central vision can occur quickly and often leads to significantly more vision loss than dry AMD. The disease destroys sharp, central vision, which is needed for seeing objects clearly and doing common daily tasks such as reading and driving. In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. A classic, early symptom of wet AMD is that straight lines appear crooked, which results when fluid from the leaking blood vessels gathers and lifts the macula, distorting vision. A small blind spot may also appear in wet AMD, resulting in loss of central vision
Telemedicine-based system is state-of-the-art
The ForeseeHome AMD Monitor is a telemedicine-based system that gives doctors access to valuable patient data through a secure online connection, allowing frequent and personalized monitoring of patients at risk of vision loss from wet AMD.
"Recurrent monitoring is critical in detecting AMD onset as early as possible," said Adrian Lavi a, MD, of Retina Care Specialists. "In the past, we did not have this tool to help us monitor our patients more closely in between office visits. Once symptoms are noticed, vision loss has occurred. The ForeseeHome monitor is easy for our patients to use in the comfort of their own home, which increases patient compliance and our ability to more effectively treat their AMD."
About Retina Care Specialists
Mark Michels, M.D., F.A.C.S., Adrian Laviña, M.D., and Paul Gallogly, M.D. of Retina Care Specialists are board certified and fellowship-trained ophthalmologists who focus in diseases and surgery of the retina, vitreous, and macula.
Retina Care Specialists patients have the advantage of access to national collaborate drug trials in a community setting. With offices in Palm Beach Gardens and Stuart, each doctor brings his unique insight from years of investigational work to benefit patients every day.
Dr. Michels co-authored an article in the October 5, 2006 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine that reported results from the clinical trial for Lucentis to treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration. This medication has since been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of macular degeneration.
About Notal Vision
Notal Vision™ was founded in 2000 by ophthalmologists and medical professionals determined to reduce vision loss associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). With leading experts in the field, this team of medical professionals and scientists developed a new technology for monitoring AMD, the leading cause of significant vision loss and blindness in the western world. This new technology, Preferential Hyperacuity Perimetry, is now providing eye care professionals around the world with valuable clinical data for monitoring patients with AMD.
Notal Vision is a pioneer in the eye care industry, introducing the first, state of the art technology for monitoring AMD patients at home. The ForeseeHome AMD Monitor is the first ophthalmic solution designed for home monitoring of patients at risk of vision loss associated with AMD.
Media Contact:
Debbie Liebross
M.D. Media Connection
954-436-3644 (office)
954-224-5674 (cell)
Debbie@mdmediaconnection.com
|
|
| |
|
|
Main Office
3399 PGA Blvd., Suite 350
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561) 624-0099 |
Stuart Eye Institute
2090 SE Ocean Blvd.
Stuart, FL 34996
(772) 335-0089 |
1715 SE Tiffany Avenue
Port St. Lucie, Fl 34952
772-335-0089 |
| Copyright 2005-2011, Retina Care Specialists, Inc. |
|
|
