Eye Surgical Medical Associates PC

08/17/2024

Back to school is in motion. Wishing all the kiddos a safe and successful school year.

They need to 👀 to learn!

Due for your Routine eye exam, need glasses/contacts, call today (215)342-8118 for an appointment. . Convenient evening and Saturday hours.

01/03/2022

06/01/2021

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all those who sacrificed themselves or lost their loved ones for our country.

03/31/2021

What a profound time we are in to recognize the significance of

NATIONAL DOCTORS DAY

On March 30th each year, National Doctors Day honors the professionals for their dedication and contributions to society and the community. Their dedication puts the patient first time and again. On National Doctors Day, we say “thank you” to our physicians for all that they do for us and our loved ones.

Healthcare today is more complex than ever. With more advancements, tools, and information at their fingertips, doctors have an overwhelming job to diagnose and treat their patients every day. This is the day to honor the ones who see us 365 days a year. In every city and hospital, in our military, and in our rural communities, doctors pave the way to better healthcare for their patients.


TO AND FROM OUR PHYSICIANS AT EYE SURGICAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATES
* Dr. Mustapha Shayegan
* Dr. Benjamin Kauffman
* Dr. Felina Kremer
* Dr. Michael Sponberg

Thank you.

02/18/2021

February marks a month to observe the leading cause of severe, permanent vision loss in people over the age of 60, Aged-Related Macular Degeneration, commonly referred to as AMD. There are more than 200,000 newly diagnosed cases per year.

AMD is an eye disease that progresses and gets worse over time. causes loss in the center of the field of vision. It occurs when the small central portion of your retina, called the macula, wears down.

There are two types of Aged-Related Macular Degeneration

Dry Aged-Related Macular Degeration -
This form of the disease is rather common, effecting
approximately 8 out of 10 people with the disease. Dry AMD is
when parts of the macula get thinner with age and tiny clumps of
protein called drusen, grow. You slowly lose central vision. While
is no way to treat the dry form of AMD, your ophthalmologist
may recommend taking a certain combination of nutritional
supplements which could help slow the progression. Even a diet
enriched with eye-healthy benefits could prove beneficial in those
with AMD. Some examples are, dark leafy greens, yellow fruits
and vegetables, fish.

Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
While this form of the disease is less common, it is more serious.
Wet AMD is when new, abnormal blood vessels grown under the
retina. These vessels may leak blood or other fluids, causing
scarring of the macula.

Thankfully, treatment for Wet AMD has been revolutionized
within the last 6 years with the introduction of vascular
endothelial growth factor neutralizing agents or VEGF.
Anti-VEGF treatments are a group of medicines which reduce
the number of abnormal blood vessels in your retina. It also
slows any leaking from blood vessels. The most widely used
drugs at the present are Eylea, Lucentis and Avastin. The
medicine is delivered to your eye through a very slender needle.

Who is at a higher risk?
* eat a diet high in saturated fat such as meat, butter, and cheese
* are overweight
* smoke ci******es
* are over the age of 50
* have hypertension/high blood pressure
* have a family history of AMD
* heart disease
* caucasians have an elevated risk of getting AMD

Signs & Symptoms
* a reduction in central vision
* blurred or "fuzzy" vision
* straight lines, such as sentences on a page appearing wavy or
distorted
* blurry areas on a printed page
* difficulty reading or seeing details in low light levels
* extra sensitivity to glare
* trouble recognizing faces

Using an Amsler grid home is a great way to self-check. In good light, look at the grid from about 12-15 inches away. Be sure to wear your reading glasses if you normally use them. Cover one eye. Look directly at the dot in the center of the grid with your uncovered eye. Notice if any of the lines look bent or wavy. See if any part of the grid looks blurry, dim, or out of shape. Repeat on the opposite eye.

It is important to get regular, dilated, eye exams. Your ophthalmologist will put dilating eye drops in your eye to widen your pupil. This allows him/her to look through a special lens at the inside of your eye. There are also a number of tests which assist with properly diagnosing AMD and it's progression. One might include fluorescein angiography which shows if abnormal new blood vessels are growing under the retina through a series of pictures. These are taken after injecting a dye into a vein in your are which travels through your blood vessels in your eye. A more frequent test is the OCT or Optical coherence tomography. This scans the retina and provides very detailed images of the retina and macula.

It is imperative to your eye health to get a proper diagnosis so that there are better treatment options. You might be able to slow the onset of Wet AMD while the disease is still in it's early stage; Dry AMD/drusen by recommendations from your ophthalmologist such as vitamins and/or eating habits. Early detection, even if the disease has progressed, is crucial to obtain the best treatment, vision saving, results.

As always, take care and love your EYES because we do!

Eye Surgical Medical Associates (215) 342-8118
NOW in 2 convenient locations offering evening and Saturday hours. 8118 Bustleton Ave, Phila & 210 E. Street Road, Feasterville

01/23/2021

January marks a month to observe and raise awareness in a disease that affects nearly 3 million Americans, Glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.

What is Glaucoma?
* Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic
nerve in the eye. Clear fluid flows in and out of a small space
at the front of the eye and keeps the tissues in the eye healthy.
If this fluid drains too slowly, it puts pressure on the optic
nerve causing glaucoma.

What are symptoms of glaucoma?
* Often times, in it's early onset, there are no symptoms. As the
disease progresses, side vision may begin to fail. While objects
straight ahead may be clear, objects to the side (peripherally)
cannot be seen. Over time, with no treatment, those with
glaucoma may also lose the ability to see, the once clear,
straight-on object.

As mentioned, symptoms aren't always evident. Therefore, let's talk about who is at a higher risk of developing glaucoma.
* African Americans age 40+
* all adults age 60+, especially Hispanics/Latinos
* those who have family members with glaucoma.
* systemic disease, such as Diabetes and Hypertension, are
additional factors that can increase your risk.
* previous eye injury

How is glaucoma detected?

An eye care professional can determine whether a person has glaucoma through a comprehensive, dilated eye exam. During this exam, drops are put into the eye to enlarge the pupils. Your doctor is then able to see more of the inside of the eye to check for signs of damage to the optic nerve. While there is a way to solely measure just the pressure in the eye, this is not enough to appropriately diagnose glaucoma. A full dilated exam and, many times diagnostic imaging, is necessary to properly diagnose and treat glaucoma.

It's important to realize there are several reasons your (IOP) intraocular pressure might be elevated yet you may not have glaucoma. Again, glaucoma is when the optic nerve is affected not allowing proper flow of fluids which will also lead to high intraocular pressure.

How is glaucoma treated?

Glaucoma cannot be cured, but treatment can help control the pressure and delay further damage to the optic nerve. The most common treatment(s) include drops or oral medications and laser surgery.

Treatment typically begins with the medications or laser and, if needed, traditional surgery is a great option for patients whos eye pressure is not affectively controlled with medications or laser.

It is important to see your Ophthalmologist regularly for a comprehensive dilated exam. If you fall into the higher risk category, it is especially imperative see your Ophthalmologist for early detection and treatment.

If you should have questions or need to make an appointment, please call (215) 342-8118. Eye Surgical Medical Associates offers convenient evening and Saturday hours with our Ophthalmologists, in 2 locations (below listed).

*Mustapha Shayegan, MD
*Benjamin Kauffman, MD
*Felina Kremer,MD

8118 Bustleton Avenue, Phila, PA 19152
210 E. Street Road, Suite 3C, Feasterville, PA 19053

01/14/2021

Call (215) 342-8118 to make an appointment in Bustleton or newly added location, listed below, in Feasterville. Convenient Evening and Saturday hours available.

Eye Surgical Medical Associates is pleased to announce the opening of our additional location.

210 E. Street Road
Suite 3C
Feasterville-Trevose, PA 19053