Walter O. Whitley, O.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.O. Receives His Master's in Business Administration

On May 15, 2009, Walter Whitley received his M.B.A. degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Prior to moving to Virginia, he began his pursuit of a business degree for both personal and professional reasons.

After three busy years of school, work, getting engaged, moving to Virginia, getting married to Lindsay, and starting a new position, he is excited to focus on his wife and his position at Virginia Eye Consultants (VEC).

Dr. Whitley has a strong interest in the business aspects of health care and plans on implementing the tools and skills that he learned in school in his position as the Director of Optometric Services at VEC.

Stephen V. Scoper, M.D. in Orlando, Florida for Premium IOL Course

Dr. Stephen Scoper, our vice president and lead refractive surgeon, will be in Orlando, Florida, for a series of discussions and courses for Premium IOLs on Friday May 15th and Saturday May 16th!

Friday, May 15th (evening) - Dr. Scoper will be leading a discussion group for ophthalmologists in Orlando about Premium IOLs.

Saturday, May 16th (morning) - Dr. Scoper will be presenting a 3 hour course to optometrists in Orlando about co-management of Premium IOLs.

For Saturday's course, Dr. Scoper will be presenting a comprehensive course for optometrists, preparing them to manage all aspects of pre-operative and post-operative care for co-management of Premium IOL procedures. Optometrists who already have experience in co-managing patients for routine cataract surgery will be taken to the next level of expertise in providing state-of-the-art multifocal and astigmatic technology to their patients. Integrating care with an experienced Premium IOL surgeon, they will have confidence in recommending the Premium IOL technology to their patients with whom they have developed a trusting doctor-patient relationship.

A comprehensive notebook will be provided to course attendees with extensive handouts and forms giving a step-by-step guide to take back to their practices. Premium IOL patients will describe their experiences and be available to answer questions to reinforce the lectures and consolidate the learning experience.

This CE-approved three hour course will conclude with the presentation of a Certificate of Completion in the Co-Management of Premium IOLs signed by the Course Director. This course has been approved by the Florida State Board.

A breakfast and registration period will begin at 8:00am and the program will commence starting at 8:30am until noon.

To learn more and register for this event with Dr. Scoper, visit http://events.SignUp4.com/ScoperOrlando

VEC Recognizes World Glaucoma Day with Free Glaucoma Screening on Thursday, March 12

Virginia Eye Consultants Recognizes World Glaucoma Day with Free Glaucoma Screening on Thursday, March 12

March 6, 2009 – Norfolk, VA. – Glaucoma is a silent thief that can steal your eyesight before you even realize it. That’s why early detection and treatment is so important.

In recognition of World Glaucoma Day, Virginia Eye Consultants will offer a free screening open to the public on Thursday, March 12. Screening will take place from 4-7 p.m. at the central office, located at 241 Corporate Blvd. in Norfolk. No appointment is necessary.

“We are pleased to offer this valuable public service to the greater Norfolk community,” says John Sheppard, M.D., a board-certified corneal specialist at Virginia Eye Consultants. “World Glaucoma Day is a global initiative to raise awareness about this serious eye condition – the second most common cause of blindness.”

On World Glaucoma Day, Virginia Eye Consultants will be joining hundreds of other vision care centers around the world, from China and Hong Kong to Europe and the United States to offer education and screenings for the public.

There are several types of glaucoma, but the most common is a gradual, progressive condition that slowly damages the optic nerve, a vital structure in the eye that sends visual information to the brain and makes eyesight possible.

“There is no cure for glaucoma,” says Dr. Sheppard, “but there are several effective treatments that can stop its progression and prevent blindness.

The risk for developing glaucoma increases with age, so it’s important to have a regular eye exam, especially after age 40, even if your vision seems fine. Typically glaucoma has no symptoms or warning signs until vision loss occurs. Usually peripheral or side vision is the first to be affected.

What can you expect during your glaucoma screening? Virginia Eye Consultants will be conducting a simple 10-15 minute exam of both eyes to check for visual acuity, the health of interior structures like the optic nerve and the overall pressure of fluids within the eye.

For more information about glaucoma screenings, please call Virginia Eye Consultants at 757-622-4866 or go to www.virginiaeyeconsultants.com.

About Virginia Eye Consultants

Virginia Eye Consultants has been Eastern Virginia’s leading vision care center since it was established in 1969. All of the physicians are fellowship-trained and board-certified specialists, which sets a high standard for care. The center has a national reputation for comprehensive medical and surgical vision care, with expertise in cataract surgery, glaucoma, corneal transplantation, refractive surgery, retinal diseases, macular degeneration and more. Two locations are offered in Norfolk and Hampton. More information can be found at www.virginiaeyeconsultants.com

VEC Announces Addition of All-Laser LASIK Platform to On-Site Laser Suite

Virginia Eye Consultants Announces Addition of All-Laser LASIK Platform to On-Site Laser Suite

Norfolk, Va., February 10, 2009 – Virginia Eye Consultants in Norfolk, VA, announced today that it has added the IntraLase FS Femtosecond laser to its on-site laser suite, featuring the world’s most advanced LASIK technology.

The IntraLase FS Femtosecond laser has redefined vision correction by raising standards for optimal vision results from the LASIK procedure. During the first step of the LASIK procedure, your surgeon will create a corneal flap in order to allow him or her to reshape the corneal surface with an excimer laser. The flap is traditionally created with a microkeratome blade, but the IntraLase FS laser system provides a more accurate, all-laser method for creation of the corneal flap. Additionally, this revolutionary IntraLase technology precisely measures factors unique to each patient’s eye, including corneal thickness, steepness, diameter and pupil position to create a procedure individually customized to each patient’s specific vision needs. The elimination of the microkeratome blade allows for a safer and more accurate all-laser, blade-free LASIK procedure. In conjunction with the B&L Technolas excimer laser, the IntraLase FS Femtosecond laser offers patients of Virginia Eye Consultants a faster procedure that reduces already minimal discomfort and yields more accurate long-term results for improved vision.

“This level of advancement in LASIK not only optimizes the level of vision improvement our patients receive, but allows for customized treatment in the first stages of the LASIK process for results acutely tuned to each patients individual vision needs,” said Stephen V. Scoper, M.D. “It has completely enhanced our ability as ophthalmic surgeons to offer our patients a safer, comfortable and more accurate procedure for ideal vision results.”

About Virginia Eye Consultants

The expert team at Virginia Eye Consultants has been providing exceptional eye care to patients throughout Virginia for more than 30 years and is dedicated to helping each patient achieve optimal vision results. With the world’s most advanced technology and a team of committed eye experts, their many areas of expertise include cataract surgery, ophthalmic plastic surgery, corneal transplantation, refractive surgery and general eye care. A dedication to teaching, research and surgery has earned Virginia Eye Consultants an outstanding national reputation in the field of eye care. For more information about Virginia Eye Consultants visit www.virginiaeyeconsultants.com or call (757) 622-2200.