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South Pinellas County Edition Summer 2019

FEATURED ARTICLES

(see Vision Quest, page 4)

DAVID E. HALL, MDNATHAN R. EMERY, MD

DENNIS RYCZEK, OD

Vision QuestVision Quest

Cataract surgery brings the world back into focus

T hough she has spent most of her life living in St. Petersburg, Celma Mastry has also spent some time

“living away,” as she puts it, in Belize and Hawaii. Given all the time she’s spent near the water, it should come as no surprise that � shing is her greatest passion.

“I � rst started � shing when I lived in Belize,” Celma says. “I lived there until I was eight, and the waters there are just wonderful for � shing. It’s really kind of our family trade. We’re boating and � shing people.”

Indeed they are. For more than 50 years, Celma’s family has owned and operated a St. Petersburg-based company that sells and services outboard engines. Fishing, she says, just came naturally to her and her siblings.

“Any chance I get, I love to go out to the Middle Grounds and � sh,” Celma, 65, says of a popular reef in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. “I’m also a member of the Old Salt Fishing Foundation. We have a ladies tournament every year that I’ve won Master Angler in before.

“All the proceeds from that tourna-ment go to the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation, which is named for my mother, who died of ovarian cancer in 2004. � e year I won the tournament, I won � ve hundred dollars and just gave it all back to the foundation.”

Not long after winning that tourna-ment, Celma began experiencing some vision problems that made not only � sh-ing but normal, daily activities di� cult. A trip to the eye doctor revealed an epiretinal membrane had developed on her retina.

An epiretinal membrane is a thin sheet of � brous tissue that develops on the

macula, or central area, of the retina. It can cause blurred vision, distorted vision and/or blank spots in the vision. Celma � rst experienced blank spots.

As a result of her diagnosis, Celma began seeing a retina specialist. The specialist has been monitoring Celma’s macular issue ever since. � at issue still has not developed to a point where it needs to be addressed surgically, but another eye issue recently did.

“I was already having the dark spots because of the macular issue and then, all of a sudden, I started having trouble with lights at night,” Celma explains. “It was like there were halos around them. I also noticed the sunshine was suddenly brighter than it was before.

“Even when I wore sunglasses, it was very bright, and for me, that was difficult because I never got a pair of prescription sunglasses for whatever reason, so I’ve always worn sunglasses over my regular glasses.

“No matter what I was doing, it was getting harder and harder to see, so I went to my retina specialist. He told me the macular issue was actually get-ting better but said, You’ve got cataracts and they’re pretty ripe. You probably need to have surgery.”

A Matter of TimeThe development of cataracts is a natural part of the aging process that eventually a� ects most everyone 65 and older. Studies, in fact, show that 90 per-cent of people 65 and older will su� er from the natural clouding of the eyes’ lenses known as cataracts.

Cataracts most often develop from a natural breakdown of the eye’s lens � bers, a clumping of the eye’s proteins or both. � ey typically cause blurred vision, an increase in sensitivity to light and a reduction in color vibrancy.

Though cataracts tend to develop slowly over a number of years, they can be corrected quickly and easily through an outpatient procedure in which the natural lens is removed and replaced with an arti-� cial intraocular lens, or IOL.

Standard IOLs correct vision primar-ily for distance. Patients can also have one eye � xed for distance vision and the other corrected for reading, an option called monovision. A third option is premium IOLs that correct vision for both distance and reading or close-up work, eliminating the need for glasses of any kind.

Cataract surgery is usually performed one eye at a time, with the patient taking a one- or two-week break before having the second eye corrected. � at’s the route Celma chose after she selected Nathan R. Emery, MD, of Pasadena Eye Center as her surgeon.

“Celma was referred to me by another patient of mine that she works with,” Dr. Emery recalls. “As part of our routine, we always give our patients an extensive exam to evaluate the overall health of their eyes and their suitability for surgery.

Celma Mastry

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Specializing in Good Results

Through his unique approach to alternative medicine, Dr. Reed treats diffi cult cases and people who have been unable to find a solution to their problems elsewhere. If you fi t this category, call or visit Dr. Reed. Good results are his specialty.

Clearwater611 Druid Rd. East, Suite 308

(727) 286-6163

RENE M. REED, DC, DABCO, NMD

Visit them on the web at rene-reed-dc.business.site and at practice.gainswave.com/dr-rene-reed

Rene M. Reed, DC, DABCO, NMD, has been in practice for years and has a long history of using leading-edge technologies for his patients’ health and welfare. In addition to providing chiropractic orthopedic care, he has graduated from an integrative medical school and rotated through the Cook County Hospital Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He attended daily surgeries involving hip replacement, as well as shoulder, foot, hand and back surgeries as part of a pro-gram at the Cook County Department of Orthopedic Surgery in Chicago, Illinois. He began private practice in in Evergreen, Colorado and later became an acupuncturist with a sub-specialty in nutrition. He has studied IV and nutrient therapies and has a degree as a Naturopathic Medical Doctor. He has continued

his education in genetic studies and hormone therapies and currently treats people from around the world, matching individual genetics to nutritional programs geared to provide the best care for his patients, along with hormone balancing, orthopedic care, GI studies, blood and lab testing and now GAINSWave for optimal sexual function.

Get Back in the GameRevolutionary acoustic wave therapy boosts sexual performance

O utside of being about four or � ve pounds overweight, Elliott* says he’s in great shape for a man who will

soon celebrate his 70th birthday. “I’m in excellent health,” the now

retired civil engineer exudes. “� e only problem I’ve had has been in the bed-room, if you know what I mean. � at’s the only place where I’ve had a tendency to feel my age on occasion.”

On those occasions when Elliott has actually felt his age, it was erectile dysfunction, or the inability to either achieve or maintain an erection satisfac-tory for sexual intercourse, that robbed him of his vim and vigor.

“I used to get early-morning erections all the time,” Elliott says. “I used to wake up with one. � en, a few years ago, they started going away or decreased in time or just weren’t as hard. After a couple years of that, I couldn’t get a good, hard erection at all.”

Elliott is not alone in his plight. Studies show that more than half of all men will experience some form of erectile dysfunction during their lifetime and that men su� ering from hypertension, diabe-tes or cardiovascular disease are even more likely to experience dysfunction.

Smoking, heavy consumption of alcohol and drugs (either illicit or prescription) can also cause erectile dysfunction, which is typically the result of circulatory impairment in the blood capillaries of the penis.

For years, medications such as VIAGRA® and CIALIS® have been the � rst

line of defense against erectile dysfunction, or ED. If those proved unsuccessful, the next treatment option has generally been injections into the penis. If that failed, the last resort has long been a penile implant.

� ere is now a revolutionary, non-invasive and highly e� ective treatment called GAINSWave® therapy that treats erectile dysfunction through the use of acoustical waves that is performed in Clearwater by Rene M. Reed, DC, DABCO, NMD.

Acoustic Wave Technology Dr. Reed is a practicing chiropractic ortho-pedic specialist and naturopathic medical doctor who specializes in alternative med-icine. He recently added GAINSWave to his menu of treatment options because of the great need he sees for it.

“I do hormone treatments, genetic testing, stool studies for digestive issues and treat autoimmune diseases. Now, I do GAINSWave treatments because I’ve seen erectile dysfunction destroy relationships and devastate men,” Dr. Reed explains.

“It doesn’t matter how educated you are or how rich you are. When that ability to express yourself in the area of romance wanes, it tears men apart. I’ve literally had grown men cry in front of me over it.

“Most men won’t even admit they have this kind of a problem. But all they’re doing is letting themselves down and letting their wives down. What they need to know is that it’s okay to let somebody know they have an issue, because we can � x it.”

GAINSWave fixes the problem through the use of a small, handheld device that delivers acoustical waves in a series of short, painless pulsations that break up the plaque and calcium that have built up inside the blood vessels in the penis.

“It works like a little pneumatic hammer except you don’t feel it because it doesn’t touch your skin,” Dr. Reed explains. “And once that plaque and calcium are broken up, you get better blood flow. It’s that improved blood � ow that leads to better, longer-lasting erections.”

Along with providing better blood flow through existing blood vessels, the GAINSWave treatment also stimulates the growth of new nerve tissue, which is vital for achieving and maintaining healthy erections.

In addition, GAINSWave causes the growth of new blood vessels to occur. � at process typically takes three to four months to complete and leads to larger girth and � rmer erections that are totally natural.

GAINSWave treatments can also be used to treat Peyronie’s disease, which is what occurs when scar tissue builds up in the penis and causes an abnormal bend, or curvature, to the penis that can impede urination and/or ejaculation.

“By making certain adjustments to the machine’s settings, we can treat the � brous tissue the same way we treat blood vessels and break down the scar tissue that may be causing that irregular shape,” Dr. Reed informs.

“Women can bene� t from this treat-ment, too, because the anatomy and physiology of the female genitalia is the same as the man. And just like men, when women get older, their labia shrink up, and their clitoris shrinks up just like the man’s penis shrinks up.

“But, just as it does with men, GAINSWave can improve that blood supply and reinvigorate the nerves and put some spice back into their lives and their relationships so that they’re not one of two people just liv-ing together anymore.”

Remarkable ResultsElliott’s relationship was nearing just such a stage when he sought out Dr. Reed, who had previously treated him for a vitamin de� ciency. After discussing the matter, Elliott and Dr. Reed agreed that Elliott would benefit from the GAINSWave treatments, which he began last spring.

GAINSWave treatments last about 30 minutes, with patients typically receiving two such treatments per week for a span of six weeks. Some patients, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes, may require more sessions to achieve the desired response.

“For those patients as well as anyone who has been a heavy smoker, as many as twenty treatments may be needed to see a result,” Dr. Reed con� rms. “But the ther-apy does work. More than seventy percent of men who undergo GAINSWave ther-apy respond to it.”

Dr. Reed says most patients begin to experience a response after about six sessions and notes that they typ-ically experience the effects for more than a year. Elliott is among those who reported positive results after his first course of treatment.

“It wasn’t all that long after I started the treatments that my erections started to become bigger and stronger, and my wife can attest to that,” Elliott says. “It’s been about a year now since I completed my treatment, and I’m still going strong.

“But I’m not stopping there. This treatment has made such a di� erence in my life and in my relationship with my wife that I’m going back in the summer for a tune-up. And let me say that everyone in Dr. Reed’s o� ce is very professional.

“Dr. Reed is a fascinating guy. He shows a great deal of concern for his patients, and his sta� does a great job. I don’t hesitate to say that Dr. Reed has not only changed my life, but he’s made it better. A lot better.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Doctor photo by Jordan

Pysz. Graphic courtesy of GAINSWave. mkb

*Patient’s name withheld at his request.

Page 2 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | South Pinellas County Edition erectile dysfunctiOn

DreamsSweetEnd back pain

with minimally invasive laser procedures

Laura Wall

JAMES ST. LOUIS, DOBRETT MENMUIR, MD

James St. Louis, DO, earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. He received his osteo-pathic medicine degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, and completed his surgical training in the US Army and at Kennedy Medical Center in Cherry Hill, NJ. Dr. St. Louis is a member of many medical organizations including the American Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Medical Association and American Association of Physician Specialists.

Brett Menmuir, MD, earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in orthopedic spine surgery as well as a fellowship at Twin Cities Spine Center in Minneapolis, MN. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Society of Lateral Access Surgery and AO Spine.

Leaders in Interventional Pain Management and

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Physician Partners of America is committed to providing the highest levels of compassionate, patient-centered care possible. They have 20 locations across Florida to serve you. To schedule a consultation with one of their pain management or minimally inva-sive laser spine specialists in the greater Tampa area, call or visit:

T he nightmare began five years ago for Michigan native Laura Wall. That’s when the former Ford

Motor Company employee � rst expe-rienced stabbing pain in her lower back. Her doctor diagnosed the problem as spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spi-nal canal and neuroforamen, in the areas where nerves exit the spinal cord though the vertebrae.

“It was an excruciating, throbbing, sharp pain in my lower back, and it was getting very achy,” Laura, 64, shares. “And it was constant. It didn’t last just for � ve minutes. � e pain was present every hour, every day, whether I was sitting or lying down.”

Over the years, Laura’s spinal stenosis deteriorated further, and her back pain intensified. Two years ago, the pain became so unpleasant, it began interfering with her daily endeavors. By that time, Laura had retired and was looking ahead to a long, active retirement in the warmer Florida climate. But her back condi-tion threatened to derail those plans.

“� e pain increased until I couldn’t walk very far without holding my back in extreme agony,” Laura relates. “I could hardly walk to the mailbox from my house, which is only six houses down, without pain. I couldn’t swim. I could hardly stand up, but I couldn’t sit for very long, either. � e pain was a ten on a scale of one to ten.”

In search of a solution to her agoniz-ing back problem, Laura turned to several spine specialists for their expert guidance. She visited one specialist while still living in Michigan and two others after she moved to Florida. None had good news for her.

“� e doctors said they couldn’t help me,” she recalls. “� ey said I would have to have major surgery on my discs, and it probably still wouldn’t help with the pain. I cried when I heard that. I thought, Here I am retired, and I can’t do anything because of my back. My life was just terrible at that point.”

Laura’s fortunes began to change in early 2018 after she heard about a seminar on minimally invasive spine sur-gery that was o� ered by the spine specialists at Physician Partners of America. She decided to attend the seminar, and there she met James St. Louis, DO, director of Physician Partners of America’s Minimally Invasive Spine Group. Dr. St. Louis gave Laura what the other doctors did not: hope.

After reviewing her MRI, Dr. St. Louistold Laura she didn’t need major sur-gery on her discs. Instead, he could perform a minimally invasive spine procedure that would relieve her pain. Laura was ecstatic and agreed.

Sparing MusclesWhen it comes to surgery, the term “minimally invasive” is typically equated

with a procedure per-formed through smaller incisions than those u sed dur ing open surgery. But with min-imally invasive spine procedures, there’s more

to it than that. These procedures are muscle-sparing as well.

“During traditional open surgery on the back or neck, the muscles are cut away from the bone so that the surgeon can visualize the area and see what he or she is doing to the spine,” describes Dr. St. Louis,who is a pioneer in the � eld. “And once a muscle is cut, it is damaged forever and can no longer function appropriately.

“ D u r i n g minimally invasive spine surgery, the muscles are not cut at all. Instead, we insert special dilators between the muscle

� bers and simply push the muscles aside. � is way, we preserve the muscles and their function.”

Because surgeons spare the muscles, and use smaller incisions during mini-mally invasive spine surgery, there is less bleeding, less pain and a quicker recovery. It can be performed as an outpatient pro-cedure rather than requiring a several-day hospital stay.

Surgeons at Physician Partners of America can also use minimally invasive techniques to perform procedures such as laminotomy and foraminotomy using a laser. � ese procedures make room for nerves that are pinched at the openings between the discs or at the neuroforamen.

“We use various instruments to move past the muscles and get to the bone,” explains Brett Menmuir, MD, another Physician Partners of America minimally invasive spine surgeon. “Guided by the patient’s MRI, we assess what is pinching the nerve. It could be a bone spur, a thickened ligament, a cyst or a piece of herniated disc material. We use a laser to free up the nerve by remov-ing whatever is pinching it.

“Using this technique, patients generally have significant

improvement in their pain. And the procedures are performed through an incision that is typically an inch or smaller.”

“A New Life”Laura had a laminotomy

and foraminotomy to relieve her agonizing back pain. Dr. St. Louis used a laser that enabled him to target the speci� c area of her low back that was the source of her problem: lumbar discs three and four.

“Apparently, swollen nerves were wrapped around my spinal cord,” Laura describes. “During surgery, Dr. St. Louis shaved a little bit o� of my spine to make room for the nerves. I walked out of the hospital the same day. I received excellent care, and after two days, I felt fantastic.”

Laura underwent her minimally inva-sive spine procedure in March 2018. Now, more than a year later, she’s still amazed by the surgery’s overwhelming success.

“It’s been a new life for me since I had this surgery,” Laura raves. “Now, I can sleep, I can bend over, I can sit for hours. Everything I couldn’t do before I

can do now. And my pain level is zero. It was zero two days after surgery.

“Now, I can walk to the mailbox and walk long distances. I couldn’t walk very far for � ve years. Now, I walk � ve miles a day. Since my surgery, I can do every-thing without any back pain whatsoever. And it’s been wonderful. I’m going to be sixty-� ve in September, and I’m having the time of my life.”

� e other doctors Laura visited gave her little hope of � nding relief from her ago-nizing back pain, but she de� ed their dire prognoses. She’s especially pleased that her retirement plans are back on schedule. Her nightmare is back to being a sweet dream.

“Getting this minimally invasive laser spine surgery was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Laura enthuses. “It changed my whole retirement life. Now, I can swim. I can play with my grandkids. I can sit and do my pottery. I like to shop, and now I can. I can walk in the park and on the beach. I can do anything I want.

“What’s better than walking out the front door after surgery and going home, relaxing for a day or two, then carrying on with your life the way you want? � ere is no better way to deal with severe back pain than that. So yes, I think min-imally invasive spine surgery at Physician Partners of America is fantastic. I really appreciate what they did for me.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Nerissa Johnson. mkb

South Pinellas County Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 3pain management/spine surgery

“We did that with Celma and also conducted a test to determine the most appropriate IOL for her. In discussing the di� erent options and what her goals were, we decided the extensive-range multifocal lenses were going to work best for her.”

When � tting a patient with multifocal IOLs, the goal is to leave them with perfect 20/20 distance and reading vision. Achieving that mark when correcting for near or reading vision can be di� cult, but technological advances are making it easier.

“With our reading vision, there tends to be a certain area that’s kind of a sweet spot, and that’s di� erent for every person,” Dr. Emery explains. “So, what’s being done now with certain multifocals is, they’re being made with di� erent reading strengths.

“For those who do a lot of reading of � ne print, we can give them a lens where the sweet spot is a little closer. For those who do a lot of work at a computer or do a lot of intermediate-type reading, the sweet spot can be set a little farther out.

“We’re also � nding that it works very well when we mix and match the multifocals and have one eye where the sweet spot is set for that computer range while the other is set for a little closer up. � at gives the patient a much better near-vision range.”

Celma’s macular condition was not a� ected by, nor did it impact, her cataract surgeries, the � rst of which was performed in late March. She underwent

Vision Quest(continued from page 1)

Please visit Pasadena Eye Center on the web at www.pasadenaeyecenter.com

David E. Hall, MD, is a board-certifi ed ophthalmologist. He graduated from the University of Mississippi and received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He completed his internship at Erlanger Hospital and his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the Florida Medical Association, Pinellas County Medical Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons. He is also on staff at Palms of Pasadena Hospital and Pasadena Surgery Center.

Nathan R. Emery, MD, is a board-certifi ed ophthalmologist. He completed his undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, before serving a two-year mission in England. Upon his return to the United States, he completed his medical degree at the Chicago Medical School in Illinois. He served his internship at Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, and completed his residency at the University of South Florida, Tampa. Dr. Emery is a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the Pinellas County Medical Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons. He is on staff at Palms of Pasadena Hospital and Pasadena Surgery Center.

Dennis C. Ryczek, OD, is a Florida-certifi ed optometrist. He attended St. Petersburg Junior College and the University of South Florida. He graduated summa cum laude with a doctorate in optometry from the University of Houston, TX, and completed his externship at Hermann Hospital, Houston. Dr. Ryczek has received extensive training in primary eye care, including pre- and postoperative care for cataract and refractive procedures. He currently serves as a Clinical Investigator for both Johnson & Johnson’s Vistakon Division and Bausch & Lomb and is a member of the American Optometric Association, Florida Optometric Association, Pinellas County Optometric Association and American Optometric Association’s contact lens section.

Envision Great ResultsPasadena Eye Center off ers leading-edge, comprehensive eye care. For additional information or to schedule an appointment, visit or call their offi ce in St. Petersburg at:

6950 Central Ave.(727) 343-3004

Pasadena Eye Center also off ers the services of a top-rated optical shop, which can be reached directly by calling:

(727) 347-9648

Common Symptoms of Cataracts Include ¤ Blurry or cloudy vision ¤ Colors appear faded ¤ Glare, especially in regard to

lighting such as headlights, lamps and sunlight

¤ Poor night vision ¤ Double vision or

multiple images ¤ Changes in prescription

eyeglasses or contact lenses

• Complete eye exams• Bladeless cataract surgery with

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Pasadena Surgery Center is a state-of-the-art facility, conveniently located in St. Petersburg, o� ering excellent patient care in a comfortable setting. The facility utilizes new, top-of-the-line equipment to perform surgical procedures.

The doctors and sta� are dedicated to providing the highest quality eye care to patients, along with the latest advancements in ophthalmology.

Services:

Celma is seeing better than ever following cataract surgery.

Intraocular Lens ¤ IOLs are made of � exible plastic. ¤ During the surgery, the IOL is rolled up and placed

inside the eye. ¤ Once in place, the IOL unfolds and the side structures

called haptics hold it in place.

Pasadena Eye Center

Celma (Left) and her nephew Kevin Carlan show o� one of

Celma’s prize catches.

surgery on her other eye two weeks later, but she was already seeing more clearly well before that.

“I noticed a di� erence right away, after the � rst eye was cor-rected,” Celma says. “� e � rst thing I noticed was how much clearer everything was. And then, after I got home, one of the � rst things I noticed was how much sharper the TV looked.

“I had recently bought a new television, thinking before that it was the TV that just wasn’t sharp. So, I bought this brand-new smart TV, and I was so excited when I turned it on and saw how crisp the picture is and how bright the colors are.

“It was really amazing the di� erence that just one surgery made. � en I had the second one done, and it was even more amazing. I’m so happy that I got this done and that I got these topnotch lenses and received such topnotch care.

“Dr. Emery is really great. He’s very personable and that meant a lot to me. Anytime someone is operating on your eyes, it can be a very stressful time. But Dr. Emery eased all my fears and made me feel comfortable. I de� nitely recommend him.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Patient photos by Jordan Pysz. Fishing photo courtesy of Celma

Mastry. mkb

Page 4 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | South Pinellas County Edition

Barry LevineExecutive Publisher

Gina L. d’AngeloCFO/HR

Roy CummingsEditorial Supervisor

Michelle BrooksCreative Director

Brian LevineProject Coordinator

Patti DiPanfiloAnnette MardisEditorial Staff

Laura EngelProduction Assistant

Nerissa JohnsonGraphic Designer

Nerissa JohnsonJordan PyszFred BelletPhotography

Steve TurkMario Hill

Robert MizeGary Smith

Aldy LaracuenteDistribution

Pasadena Eye CenterOphthalmology and Optometry

Rene M. Reed, DC, DABCO, NMDErectile Dysfunction

Physician Partners of AmericaPain Management/Spine Surgery

The Magnification CompanyLow Vision

Shettle Eye Research, Inc.Ophthalmology Research

Regenerative Orthopedic InstituteStem Cell Therapy/ Pain Management

Zimmer Medical ServicesConcierge Medicine

South Florida Eye ClinicOphthalmology

OsteoStrong Osteoporosis Treatment

HemWell AmericaHemorrhoid Treatment

Coastal Jaw SurgeryOral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The Eye Institute of West FloridaOphthalmology

215 Bullard ParkwayTemple Terrace, FL 33617

(813) 989-1330

Florida Health Care News

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OphthalmOlOgy and OptOmetry

F or 15 years, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) slowly robbed Sherwood White of his vision. In the beginning,

he was given injections of medication into his eyes, which slowed the disease’s progression for a while, but didn’t stop it. � ree and a half years ago, his eyes registered 20/200 on an eye test, and he was declared legally blind.

To learn more, visit them online at TheMagni� cationCompany.com

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Bob Schrepfer, owner and president of The Magnification Company has dedicated more than years to helping those with low vision regain their independence with high-powered magnifying devices. He also off ers entertaining and informative seminars for eye care professionals, health care providers and senior living communities. These seminars highlight the various new magnifying devices, including the latest magnifying prod-ucts in text-to-speech devices, wearable and portable electronic magnifi cation, and new services that become available for the visually impaired throughout Florida.

BOB SCHREPFER

The IrisVision® AdvantageWearable video magni� er provides visual independence

IrisVision has given Sherwood, who is legally blind, new sight.

“At � rst, the AMD was just in one eye, then it a� ected both of them,” shares the semi-retired � nancial advisor. “I knew something was wrong when the television started looking squiggly, and I needed to have really good light to read.

“I eventually reached a point when I couldn’t see my computer adequately to work, so I sold my business and limited my clients. I also downsized my home of twenty-seven years to two condos. One is where I work, the other is where I live. I had to get rid of my car and quit driving. I got a disabled parking pass and an ID card instead of a driver’s license.”

Sherwood’s failing eyesight impacted his quality of life in other ways as well.

“I couldn’t go to events like Rays or Bucs games,” he relates. “And I couldn’t go to my grandsons’ high school foot-ball games to watch them play because I couldn’t see what was happening on the � eld. At church, I couldn’t see the screen where they project the videos and words of the songs, and I couldn’t see the pastor or the choir.”

When Sherwood was declared legally blind, a representative from the Florida Division of Blind Services and a low-vision occupational therapist visited him. � ey taught him to use assistive technol-ogy and modify his tasks to live better with his poor eyesight.

“� e occupational therapist shared ideas that made it easier for me to work, including using a larger keyboard and a video magni-� er for my computer,” he describes. “Other tips included using bigger lights around my desk and a handheld magni� er.

“The therapist also referred me to Lighthouse of Pinellas, an organization for the blind and visually impaired, where I learned how to use an assistive cane. � ey provided all the magnifying prod-ucts I needed through Bob Schrepfer. He brought the products to my house, so I could try them out.”

Bob Schrepfer is president of The Magni� cation Company in St. Petersburg.

� e Magni� cation Company has provided magnifying assessments, training and lec-tures to people with vision issues for more than 30 years. � e company o� ers sales and services throughout Florida.

“Legal blindness is not the same as total blindness,” informs Bob. “People with legal blindness still have some remaining vision, but they’ve lost their visual inde-pendence to drive, recognize faces, watch TV, read print or do all of the things that those with good sight can still do.”

Wearable Magnifi er “� irteen months ago, IrisVision part-nered with Samsung and released a unique product for people with low vision called IrisVision. � is technol-ogy magnifies distant, intermediate and near vision. It’s totally hands-free and can increase o r d e c r e a s e magnification anywhere from one to twenty-four times with a seventy degree � eld of view, which is unheard of for telescopic devices.”

IrisVision is in a brand-new category of magni� ers known as a wear-able electronic magni� er.

Previous to its introduction, the most common devices that provided enough magni� cation to help people with low vision for distance tasks were monocular telescopes and/or binoculars.

“Those devices have significant drawbacks,” comments Bob. “Low vision monocular telescopes will go up to about ten times magni� cation and are typically used for spot reading, while binoculars

can only be held up to the eyes for a very limited time. In addition, the � eld of view with these devices is very limited and they only provide one speci� c power. IrisVision overcomes all of these obstacles.”

According to Bob, before IrisVision was released, its technology, to a lesser degree, was and still is available in desktop electronic magni� ers [CCTVs] that plug into the wall. � ese models are most often used for reading and writing tasks only. � ere’s also portable, handheld electronic magni� ers, but they are limited in their magni� cation range and screen size, plus they have to be held, which is tiresome.

“IrisVision looks like a wearable headset or goggles that can be used with or without prescription glasses,” notes Bob. “With a headset on, people’s hands

are free, so they can do all of their daily tasks like they’re wearing a glorified pair of glasses. The IrisVision, however, provides wearers enhanced contrast and

an unlimited amount of magni� cation, which

is why most visually

impaired individuals can see more detail more clearly with it on.”

The IrisVision technology returns people to the visual world, and makes them visually independent. With the IrisVision on, people can see across a room, recognize facial expressions, read text and access digital media. IrisVision uses a readily available but highly sophis-ticated virtual reality platform, which solves visual problems as well as keeps them cost-e� cient.

“One of the other attributes of IrisVision is that it has its own internal battery,” discloses Bob. “When it’s fully charged, it lasts for about three and a half hours of continuous use. If people need more, we provide a battery adapter that goes into a port underneath the unit. � at will keep it going for as much as eight hours of continuous use.

“� is allows people to go to events. We’ve had people go to Walt Disney

World’s® Epcot � eme Park so they could view the surroundings and the � owers. People use it to go places they haven’t been to in years.”

New World of Vision“I looked at many products before my low-vision doctor told me about IrisVision,” states Sherwood. “� e other products just weren’t going to work for me. I contacted Bob about IrisVision. He brought me an IrisVision headset, and it was just amazing.”

Going to events again was just one of the delights Sherwood experienced from the IrisVision headset he got from � e Magni� cation Company. He found that while wearing the IrisVision unit, he could see the television much better, and work at his computer and read with less di� culty. � e hands-free unit also makes him more independent.

“It’s amazing how the IrisVision helped me,” enthuses Sherwood. “I have reasonably normal vision with it. I can go to the games and see the action on the � eld when my grandsons play foot-ball. I can see pictures of my grandkids. I couldn’t do that before.

“Now, I can see everything in church plain as day. At my Rotary Club meet-ings, we have speakers, and many times, they have visual presentations. Without IrisVision, I can’t see them, but with it, I can see � ne. When I’m looking for some-thing detailed on my desk, like client � les, I put the IrisVision on because I can see so much better with it.”

Sherwood is amazed by his vision with the help of IrisVision. He shares his success story with friends who come over and visit.

“IrisVision opened up a whole new world of vision for me,” he o� ers. “My vision is like three-dimensional compared to the way it was before. I can see colors really well, and the IrisVision brings a lot of light into the picture.

“I absolutely recommend IrisVision and have already. I took mine to a ninety-one-year-old friend to let him try it. He said, Oh, my gosh. � is is the best thing I’ve seen yet. And I replied, It is for me, too.

“I had to � nd something that works because I wasn’t going to stop doing what I was doing. Bob and � e Magni� cation Company really came through for me.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz.

Stock photo from FreeImages.com.mkb

South Pinellas County Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 5lOw VisiOn

L e e S h e t t l e , D O, i s b o a r d certifi ed by the American Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology. He received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, then earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Following an internship at Sun Coast Osteopathic Hospital in Largo, FL, Dr. Shettle completed a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at Michigan State University in East Lansing. Dr. Shettle then completed an ophthalmology residency at the Detroit Osteopathic Ophthalmology Consortium in Highland Park, MI, and an advanced cataract and refractive sur-gery fellowship in Aurora, CO.

THE SILENT THIEF OF SIGHTClinical study investigates glaucoma treatment

For more information, visit them on the web at leeshettleeye.com

G laucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States, but of the millions of people

a� ected by it, many are unaware the condition is present.

“Nearly four million people are esti-mated to have glaucoma, but half don’t know it,” con� rms Lee Shettle, DO, a board-certi� ed ophthalmologist at Shettle Eye Research who conducts clinical research in partnership with ophthalmic pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Shettle’s research aims at assisting ophthalmic pharmaceutical companies in developing new medical eye drops to treat various eye conditions such as dry eye disease and ocular in� ammation. He is currently enrolling patients in a clinical study testing treatments for glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a condition where increased pressure in the eye causes dam-age to the optic nerve, which can lead to blindness if untreated.

“� e increased eye pressure is caused by either an overproduction of eye � uid called aqueous humor or a decrease in drainage of aqueous through the trabec-ular meshwork,” explains Dr. Shettle, who has been practicing general ophthalmol-ogy in Largo since 1994. “In a healthy eye, aqueous humor exits the eye at the same rate as the eye’s ciliary body produces it, so there is always a balance in pressure within the eye.

“With glaucoma, aqueous either passes too slowly through the trabecular meshwork or the ciliary body produces an increased amount of aqueous humor. You can think of it as a faucet being turned on too high or the drain in the sink being clogged, resulting in a build-up of � uid.

“Glaucoma has no obvious visual symptoms in its early stages. As it pro-gresses over many years, damage occurs to the optic nerve, resulting in loss of peripheral vision. Without treatment, this loss of vision can progress to blindness, robbing people of their vision slowly and quietly. It’s a silent thief of sight.”

Types of Glaucoma� ere are di� erent types of glaucoma, including open-angle glaucoma, also called wide-angle glaucoma. This is the most common type and rep-resents about 90 percent of cases in the US. Other, less common types include closed-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, congenital glaucoma and secondary glaucoma.

Closed-angle glaucoma, also called narrow-angle glaucoma, occurs when there’s a blockage in the eye, causing a sudden rise in eye pressure. Closed-angle glaucoma is an emergency and requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.

� e cause of normal-tension glaucoma is not completely u n d e r s t o o d , but most doc-tors believe it’s related to reduced blood flow to the optic nerve. Congenital glau-coma is hereditary and often diagnosed in very young children. It results when the eye doesn’t form properly during development. Secondary glaucoma is the result of another condition, such as diabetes.

Some people are at greater risk for developing glaucoma.

“Glaucoma is more common in cer-tain populations,” Dr. Shettle expresses: “� e people at highest risk for glaucoma

include African-American and Hispanic patients over the age of forty; everyone over the age of sixty; and, especially, anyone with a family history of glaucoma, particularly if a parent or sibling has the disease.”

People are also at greater risk for glau-coma if they have certain medical condi-tions, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Other risk factors include hav-ing had a previous eye injury, being farsighted or nearsighted and taking steroid medications for a long time.

Halting ProgressionTreatment for glaucoma aims to slow the disease progression. It may include medi-cated eye drops, a laser procedure or surgery.

“For patients with mild glaucoma, the use of medicated eye drops or a laser

treatment to lower intraocular pressure may be all that’s

needed to keep the disease under con-

trol,” Dr. Shettle states.

Medicated eye drops alter the production of fluid and

lower pressure in the eye. � ey

work in one of two ways: by either

decreasing the produc-tion of aqueous humor or by

increasing the amount of aqueous humor exiting through the trabecular meshwork.

Trabeculoplasty and iridotomy are two laser procedures used to treat glau-coma. During trabeculoplasty, the laser is applied to the drainage tissue, where it starts a physical and chemical reaction that improves drainage function.

Iridotomy treats narrow-angle glaucoma. During this procedure, the laser is used to create tiny holes in the iris

to improve the � ow of � uid within the eye.

In more advanced stages of glaucoma, patients may require a procedure called sur-gical trabeculectomy in which surgeons create a small hole in the eye wall. The wal l i s covered by a flap of tissue that serves as a trap door through which excess fluid drains to an area

under the eye’s surface. “As it is with most conditions,

early detection is critical when treat-ing glaucoma,’’ Dr. Shettle emphasizes. “And treatment is crucial to prevent the progression of this common eye disease.”

Because glaucoma in its early stages has no symptoms, people with the dis-ease often don’t seek medical attention until some vision loss has begun.

“Screening for glaucoma should be part of all routine eye exams, which every patient should have at least every year or two, based on their risk,” Dr. Shettle observes. “Tests for glaucoma include measuring the eye pressure as well as analyzing the optic nerve for changes.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Ad graphic courtesy of

Shettle Eye Research, Inc. mkb

LEE SHETTLE, DO

Page 6 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | South Pinellas County Edition OphthalmOlOgy research

ERICK A. GRANA, MD

Erick A. Grana, MD, is a diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabil i tat ion and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, with subspecialty certifica-tion in pain medicine. After he

received his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, he completed his internship and residency at the university’s hospital and was subsequently awarded a fel-lowship from the department of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Grana is a former assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a member of the American Medical Association, the International Spinal Injection Society and the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine.

For more information about stem cell therapy, please call or visit Regenerative Orthopedic Institute in Tampa at:

8011 North Himes Avenue, Suite 3

Visit Regenerative Orthopedic Institute on the web at www.dontoperate.com

(813) 868-1659

New GenerationRegenerative stem cell therapy relieves

disabling knee pain without surgery

T he arrival on the internet of websites such as Ancestry.com,FamilySearch.com and MyHeritage.com has helped

turn genealogy into the second most popular hobby in America. Eighty-two-year-old Lydia Pain is among those caught up in the craze.

“It’s fascinating,’’ Lydia declares. “I recently found out that my family actually has its roots in Greece, Italy and Spain and that someone way back was a privateer, which is like a pirate who’s licensed to hold up merchant ships on the high seas during a war.”

The wife of a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, Lydia’s passion for researching the family trees of friends and other family members has replaced the passion she once had for gardening, which remains the number one hobby in the country.

“Gardening used to be my favorite hobby, but I had to give that up a couple of years ago,’’ Lydia says. “I say I gave it up because of my age, but I had some knee problems that made it hard for me to get up and down and made gardening di� cult.”

Gardening wasn’t the only activity that became di� cult for Lydia. Her knee pain also made it hard for her to climb stairs and eventually made walking more of a chore than it should be. At one point, she was literally bedridden by her pain.

“My husband purchased a walker for me, but even with the walker, the pain was so intense, I couldn’t do anything,’’ Lydia relates. “I was probably in bed for two weeks before I � nally built up the courage to do something about it.”

What held Lydia back from seeking medical attention was her suspicion she would be told the problem could only be corrected through knee replacement sur-gery. She wasn’t surprised then when the � rst doctor she visited suggested just that.

Largely because of her age and the time required for recovery, Lydia was unwilling to go through surgery. As a result, she began looking for an alterna-tive. She found it while reading a copy of Florida Health Care News.

Since receiving the RegenaJoint treatment, Lydia has been pain free for two years. 

“I was looking through the paper and saw an article about him and his practice,” Lydia says of Erick A. Grana, MD, of Regenerative Orthopedic Institute. “After reading the article, I was intrigued by his work and the success he’s had.

“After that, I started researching him a little more, and the more I researched him, the more I learned things that made me comfortable with him. I learned, for example, that Dr. Grana was a professor at Baylor University in Texas.

“My brother taught there for a while, too, and that was a selling point for me. Since I had someone in my own family who had taught at the same university he had, I felt good about him and decided to see if he could help me.”

New Age Specialty Dr. Grana specializes in regenerative medicine and treats patients with a nonsurgical technique called stem cell therapy. � is therapy uses the patient’s own specialized stem cells to promote the growth of new tissue in joints ravaged by arthritis or injury.

“Regenerative medicine treats disease and injuries by harnessing the body’s own healing powers,’’ Dr. Grana explains. “� e natural healing process is accelerated by a combination of growth factors and bio-active cells in the form of stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

“� is process results in a safe, e� ective treatment, and unlike traditional surgery, which can result in blood loss, scarring and long, painful recovery periods, stem cell therapy requires only injections into the damaged joint.

“It also o� ers a much quicker recov-ery than surgery. Typically, patients begin to feel a noticeable decrease in pain after six weeks.”

Stem cell therapy is autologous, meaning it utilizes stem cells, PRP and growth factors taken from the patient’s own body. Using the patient’s own cells eliminates the chances of reactive side e� ects or rejection.

Stem cells are extracted from the patient’s bone marrow or fat, while the PRP is taken from the patient’s own blood. The harvested stem cells are separated through a centrifuge and injected into the painful area to stimu-late the regeneration of damaged tissue and the healing of tendons, ligaments, joints or spinal discs.

“When I was first introduced to stem cell therapy, I recognized its tre-mendous potential for patients who would otherwise have limited treatment options for pain relief,” Dr. Grana dis-closes. “Patients with osteoarthritis, in particular, have very few choices other than surgery when the condition advances and damages the joint.

“Since surgery has potential com-plications, when we treat arthritic joints without surgery, patients do much bet-ter. Not only can we relieve the patient’s pain, but we can also reverse some of the damage done by the osteoarthritis. � is is accomplished by regenerating the cartilage and connective tissues in and around the joint area.”

Dr. Grana has developed a system for the delivery of stem cells and PRP into the pain generators in and around joints such as the knees, shoulders and hips. It’s called RegenaJoint™.

He also developed a similar system to treat the spine called RegenaSpine™. RegenaJoint and RegenaSpine are both minimally invasive procedures that are performed right in the doctor’s office using a local anesthetic. Patients typically resume normal activities immediately fol-lowing the procedure.

Marvelous Outcome Lydia � rst went to see Dr. Grana two years ago. � ough the doctor she � rst visited told her she had no cartilage left in her knees, she was con� dent there was enough left to make her a candidate for stem cell therapy. Dr. Grana con� rmed her belief.

“I had done my homework and thought I understood that there is almost always a little bit of cartilage left that can grow,’’ she says. “� at’s what I was aiming for, and when Dr. Grana said there was, I said, Great, let’s go ahead with the injections.”

After going through the extraction process, which she describes as simple and painless, Lydia eventually received stem cell injections in both knees. She returned about a month later for a sec-ond injection in each knee. Her pain began to disappear soon thereafter.

“After I received the injections, it was like a miracle had happened,’’ Lydia exudes. “I was in pain for so long, but I have now been pain free going on two years. I do walk with a cane when walk-ing long distances, but that’s because I’m afraid of falling, not because of pain.

“� e pain is truly gone, and that’s the most important thing because pain is very aging. It makes you not want to do things, but Dr. Grana took care of that. I have to tell you, he is so nice, and he answered all the questions I had.

“He explained everything about the procedure so well, and he really knows what he’s doing. As for me, I just mar-veled at the whole thing because it’s such a simple procedure compared to the replacement surgery, and it gets even better results.

“I was so impressed that I even encouraged my son, who is � fty-� ve and has some knees that are in very bad shape, to have it. He did, and he’s thrilled with the outcome, just like I am.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photos by Jordan Pysz. mkb

Lydia Pain

Don’t Operate, Regenerate

South Pinellas County Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 7stem cell therapy/pain management

Innovative, Thorough and Compassionate Care

Zimmer Medical Services is readily available to assist those who want a more comprehensive physician-patient experience. To learn more about concierge medicine, call them or visit the practice in St. Petersburg at:

509 Jackson St. North

(727) 502-2626To � nd out more, check out Zimmer Medical Services online at www.zimmercm.com

Michael A. Zimmer, MD, MACP, is board certifi ed by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a master of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Zimmer completed his undergraduate studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his medical degree from Jeff erson Medical College in Philadelphia and then continued studies in general surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. Dr. Zimmer did post-graduate training in internal medicine at Morristown Memorial Hospital, a Columbia University affi liate, in Morristown, NJ. He is currently a clinical assistant professor of

medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa. He served as president of the Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians, where he was elected to Mastership and Fellowship. He serves on the Florida Medical Delegation to the American Medical Association and is also a member of the Pinellas County Medical Society.

MICHAEL A. ZIMMER, MD, MACP

I n their retirement, Jerome and Annette Baesel like to travel. � ey’re away from their Florida home four to � ve months out of the year. � ey feel

their health is in good hands when they’re traveling because wherever they go, they have their primary care physician with them.

Michael A. Zimmer, MD, the Baesels’ physician, is a board-certified internist with Zimmer Medical Services in St. Petersburg who practices concierge medicine. With this practice model, phy-sicians see fewer patients, so they are able to spend more time with the patients they see. � ey are also accessible to their patients after hours by phone and email.

For Dr. Zimmer, that accessibility includes when his patients are traveling.

“� e ability to reach Dr. Zimmer by email and text when we travel is a bene� t of his concierge practice I didn’t foresee,” Annette relates. “If something comes up while we’re away, we can contact him, and he responds right away.

“This summer, while we were in Canada, we thought Jerry had an infected bug bite. We contacted Dr. Zimmer by email, and he � gured out it was actually shingles. We found out what the problem was and what to do about it while in a place where it would’ve been di� cult to � nd a doctor who’d treat us.”

“Concierge physicians see patients the traditional way, of course, but we also have the bene� t of using technology to com-municate with them,” observes the doctor. “We can provide care without forcing patients to physically be in the o� ce.”

Dr. Zimmer recalls the occasion of Jerome’s shingles. He remembers being in constant contact with the Baesels as they gave a detailed description of Jerome’s symptoms. With that information, Dr. Zimmer was able to make his diagnosis, then carefully relay instructions for Jerome’s treatment to the couple in Canada.

“I started Jerome on medication to relieve the pain related to the shingles infection,” Dr. Zimmer states. “� e med-ications we use have side e� ects, so I have to monitor those and adjust the dose of medication accordingly. This usually requires frequent face-to-face visits.

“In this case, however, I was able to use the internet and phone to stay in touch with Annette and Jerome, engage Jerome’s response to the medi-cation and adjust as needed. I was able to provide the appropriate care while they were in Montreal.”

Best Benefi tFor Jerome, the extra time Dr. Zimmer spends with him is one of the best bene� ts of concierge medicine.

“We have three meetings each year when we spend half an hour on my issues,” Jerome describes. “Dr. Zimmer reviews everything in my � le beforehand, so he’s familiar with my issues when we sit down and talk. He addresses whatever issue I want to talk about.

“Annette and I are exceedingly happy with the concierge practice.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo courtesy of Jerome

and Annette Baesel. mkb

Constant Contact� e concierge model works well for trav-eling patients, notes Dr. Zimmer, because physicians who practice this way are not limited by the regulations of Medicare and commercial insurance. � ese insurers require o� ce appointments for physicians to provide care to patients.

Jerome and Annette Baesel

Physician by PhoneConcierge practice is accessible to traveling patients

For Eye Floater SolutionsSouth Florida Eye Clinic is located

in Fort Myers at:

4755 Summerlin Rd. Call Dr. Geller at:

(239) 275-8222or toll-free at:

(877) 371-3937

Scott L. Geller, MD, is board certifi ed by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and Rush Medical College. While in medical school, he was awarded a student fellowship to study tropical medicine at a missionary hospital in India, and pursued additional studies at the famous Brompton Hospital in London, England. He interned at Presbyterian Hospital, Pacifi c Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Sinai Hospital of Detroit, which was affi liated with Wayne State Medical School and Kresge Eye Institute. Dr. Geller was fellowship-trained in anterior segment and

refractive surgery with Dr. William Myers of the Michigan Eye Institute. Dr. Geller is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and has presented papers on eye fl oater laser treatment at the International Congress of Ophthalmology, European Congress of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, European Congress of Ophthalmology and the Florida Society of Ophthalmology.

SOUTH FLORIDA EYE CLINICSCOTT L. GELLER, MD Dr. Geller has performed more

than 15,000 documented eye fl oater laser sessions.

Scott Geller, MD, teaches the technique worldwide

“L aser treatment of eye � oat-ers is fascinating,” says Scott Geller, MD, a board certified ophthalmologist

with a specialty clinic in Fort Myers. “I look forward to doing this every day. And our

reputation has become worldwide with the advent of the internet. We’ve had a steady � ow of patients from Europe, Canada, and even Russia, China, Arabia and Israel.”

Dr. Geller can rightly claim to have started this niche area of ophthalmic surgery, with the largest, continuous clinical series, having performed more than 15,000 documented eye � oater laser sessions.

“I’m always asked why this useful treatment modality is not more widely available, or why some doctors try it but give it up,’’ Dr. Geller explains. “The answer is simple: there are no courses for training, and there is a lack of proper equipment.”

Dr. Geller was trained directly by the professor who researched laser inside the human eye at the famous University Eye Clinic in Bern, Switzerland.Dr. Geller adds: “� ey never thought this would be applica-ble to eye � oaters, but I proved them wrong.”

Dr. Geller uses the Swiss made Lasag laser.

“I have tried others, but there is absolutely no doubt in my mind this is the most versatile and precise instrument,’’ he notes. “In fact, I have two of them, and

I � y in the engineers from Switzerland to update and service them yearly.”

A Doctor and an EducatorDr. Geller has personally trained the most experienced ophthalmologists in the US, as well as the top surgeons from Italy and Holland, who have visited his Florida facility.

“I am concerned about colleagues rushing into some-thing new without having a formal preceptorship,’’Dr. Geller says. “It is easy to push the button, but not so easy to get the optimal result and avoid complications.”

To improve physician education, Dr. Geller gave an hour-long course this year at one of the country’s major ophthalmology associations.

“This was the first course of this quality anywhere in the US,’’ notes Dr. Geller. “And I am going back to Italy, where I was invited to lecture at a major

SCAN THIS TO YOUR

SMARTPHONE TO SEE ACTUAL

PATIENTS

See what Dr. Geller’s patients say about the Eye Floater Laser at www.vimeo.com/eye� oaters and on the Scott Geller MD YouTube channel.

ophthalmology meeting. � is is the fourth invitation, and I will also consult and treat patients there, as I have in the past.”

Dr. Geller welcomes other ophthalmol-ogists to come and observe, and to call if they need advice on di� cult cases.Article submitted by Scott Geller, MD. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

is not

acceptable.”

“Live with it

Page 8 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | South Pinellas County Edition cOncierge medicine

OphthalmOlOgy

Reverse Bone LossOsteoStrong leverages scientifi cally p r o v e n o s t e o g e n i c - l o a d i n g methodologies to help all ages and fitness levels. It was created using research in cellular biology, anti-aging, longevity and bone mass. OsteoStrong is in South Pasadena at:

6800 Gulfport Blvd., Suite 211

(727) 317-2600

Diseases and Conditions That Can Cause Bone Loss include:

� Autoimmune disorders � Digestive disorders � Breast or prostate cancer � Stroke � Celiac disease � Lupus � Parkinson’s disease � Spinal cord injuries � Diabetes � Scoliosis � Poor posture and poor diet

OsteoStrong® o� ers a natural way to trigger your own adaptive responses to improve bone density and physical strength. It is the no-sweat, no-soreness, once-a-week system that only takes about seven minutes per session. More than 25,000 people have experienced amazing results from OsteoStrong. Supporting scienti� c data and countless personal testimonies are making OsteoStrong® the best choice for strong bones, muscles and balance in the world.

AFTEROsteoporosis

BEFORE

Noa found the OsteoStrong workouts easy and e� ective.

Reverse OsteoporosisOnce-a-week, 15-minute workouts

increase bone density

S ince discovering her life’s pur-pose and moving to the United States some 35 years ago, Noa Spector-Flock has not only

become a licensed massage therapist but written three books on body movement, wellness and injury prevention.

Her books and the videos that go with them explain how a speci� c set of exercises and the use of a large elastic band such as those used for resistance train-ing allow certain muscles in the body to lengthen while they contract.

Known clinically as eccentric contrac-tion, the goal of Noa’s exercise regimen is to improve overall strength and decrease the chances of injury. Unfortunately, Noa’s workout regimen doesn’t work for every part of the body.

Noa learned a couple years ago that while her workouts do indeed have the ability to improve the strength of certain muscle groups and therefore decrease a person’s chances of injury, they do nothing to ward o� the onset of osteoporosis.

Found most often in post-menopausal-women, osteoporosis is a potentially severe condition in which new bone growth does not keep pace with degeneration, and the bone mineral density becomes so low that the risk of fracture is markedly increased.

About 54 million Americans have oste-oporosis and low bone mass, which places them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Breaking a bone is a serious complication of osteoporosis, especially as people age.

Osteoporotic bone breaks are most likely to occur in the hip, spine or wrist, but other bones can break too. Osteoporosis can also cause some to lose height as it can also a� ect the vertebrae, which are the bones in the spine, and often leads to a stooped posture.

Considered a silent disease by many physicians, osteoporosis often goes undetected until a person su� ers a bone fracture or change in posture, but statistics show one in two women and one in four

men will su� er an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their lifetime.

After first being diagnosed with osteoporosis, Noa began taking an oystershell-based calcium supplement to improve her bone density. She learned six months later that wasn’t working for her. She then chose to get more aggres-sive in her � ght against osteoporosis.

“� e � rst thing I did was start taking a di� erent and hopefully more e� ective supplement that is made with algae,” Noa explains. “But I wanted to speed up the healing process, so I also decided to start doing the OsteoStrong workouts as well.”

Revolutionary ProgramA revolutionary program that has helped more than 25,000 people reverse the nega-tive e� ects of osteopenia and osteoporosis, OsteoStrong helps rebuild bone through

once-a-week, 15-min-ute sessions using specialized strength-ening equipment.

This specialized equipment includes four bio-mechanical machines that allows the user to perform r e s i s t a n c e - b a s e d pushing and pulling exercises with their arms and/or legs. During these exer-cises, the user can safely exert pressure

four to 12 times their body weight. “� e di� erence between our exer-

cise equipment and that used at a traditional gym is that our equipment is isometric, which means tension is developed without contraction of the muscle,” states Mark Brady, president of OsteoStrong in South Pasadena.

“� ere is no force pushing against you, which means you create the force. On the leg press, for example, I’ve had ladies in their eighties weighing one hun-dred pounds who can press a thousand pounds. � at’s because it’s isometric.

“For a person who weighs one hundred pounds to develop new bone working out on traditional equipment, they would have to create a resistance of well over four hun-dred pounds,” Mark continues.

“� at simply can’t be done for ninety-nine percent of all people in a gym environment because it involves weights that they couldn’t physically move or, if they could, they’d be at high risk of injury.”

To understand the di� erence, Mark invites people to come in and try the equipment for themselves, noting that his facility in South Pasadena o� ers two free sessions that allow newcomers to experi-ence the OsteoStrong workout.

“This is an amazing concept that is the culmination of twelve years of research that looked into the body’s own adaptive response to growing

new bone and muscle structure and improving the density of the bones we have,” Mark says.

“As a result of that research, it is now a known medical fact that when you put certain forces on the bones, the body responds by growing new bone tissue. And the results of these short workouts is absolutely amazing.

“On average, our studies have found that OsteoStrong improves people’s bone density from three to seven percent a year. Also, people will increase their strength by an average of seventy-three p e r c en t ove r their � rst year at OsteoStrong.”

Mark a l so points out that similar studies show that doing an OsteoStrong s e s s i on more than once a week does not promote any additional bene� t. As a result, the workouts are not only impactful, but time e� cient.

Mark encourages men and women of all ages to accept his invitation to try out the OsteoStrong equipment, because he says it’s important to know that osteopo-rosis is not a disorder that is exclusive to a speci� c age group or gender.

“Osteoporosis is not something that only happens to old people,” he notes. “We have clients from young to old and every-thing in between. And men are not immune. When they start losing their testosterone, their bone loss becomes more rapid.

“In addition to helping them recover from it, OsteoStrong wants to help edu-cate people about bone loss. � e skeletal framework is the most important part of

the body and you need to take care of it and be aware of changes to it.”

Noa is among those who have experienced a significant increase in bone density levels since beginning the OsteoStrong program. She says a very recent density scan showed that she made the right call by beginning OsteoStrong workouts.

“� e workouts are de� nitely mak-ing a di� erence, and one of the things I really like about them is they’re very easy,” Noa says. “I also like that if you are

ambitious, you can track your improvement in terms of how much weight you push.

“And there’s always some-one there to guide you and watch you and

make sure that you’re doing the exercises right and getting the maximum bene� t. Everyone there is very personable and helpful. I’m a big fan, and I highly rec-ommend it.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

South Pinellas County Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 9OsteOpOrOsis treatment

F or the better part of the ten years he suffered from hem-orrhoids, Jason* told no one of the condition, not even his

wife or his doctor. “I guess like a lot of people I was too

embarrassed to talk about it,” Jason con� des. “It was de� -nitely a problem, though. I’d wake up in the middle of the night, itching like crazy. I tried hemorrhoid cream, but it didn’t do anything. It was horrible.”

Now retired, Jason spent his working years in the broadcasting industry, where he managed radio and television stations. One day, he heard about HemWell America and had a revelatory moment.

“I said to myself, � at’s me. I’m not telling my wife about this; I’m not telling anybody,” Jason recalls. “So I went home that night and told my wife, I’m having a little problem down there and I’m going to make an appointment with HemWell.”

Outpatient Procedure“Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum or anal canal and they’re extremely common,” notes Linh B. Nguyen, MD, of HemWell America. “In fact, more than � fty percent of people age � fty or older

have them to some degree.”Most sufferers are

understandably reluctant to try the available treat-ment options, some of which have traditionally been both painful and inconvenient. Fortunately, Dr. Nguyen o� ers microcur-rent electrolysis (MCE), an FDA-approved, nonsurgi-

cal method for treatment of hemorrhoids. � e noninvasive, relatively painless outpa-tient procedure has been helping patients for more than 20 years and is completed right in the doctor’s o� ce.

“A low current is applied to the base of the hemorrhoid, causing a chemical reaction that induces the hemorrhoid to shrink,” the doctor explains. “This method doesn’t cause the agonizing pain often associated with traditional hem-orrhoid surgery and is covered by most insurances and Medicare.

“In addition to being well tolerated by patients, this method does not require anesthesia, and it’s highly e� ective, safe

and convenient. Up to ninety percent of people who have it done get relief from their hemorrhoids, and it can be safely repeated as needed.

“One of the best things about it is that there is no need to take any special preparation to clear the bowels. Patients can have the procedure done and go back to work immediately, so there is no downtime. � e entire procedure takes approximately twenty minutes.”

“Feel Like New”“Dr. Nguyen makes you feel very comfort-able during the procedure,” says Jason, who reports that the MCE treatment was not only painless but immediately e� ective.

“I felt like a new person when I walked out of the doctor’s o� ce after the proce-dure,” he says. “� e itching was gone.”

Also gone is Jason’s unwillingness to talk about hemorrhoids. In fact, he talks about them freely now, in case it helps others.

“I tell people that this is the most comfortable treatment and it’s not an embarrassing situation,” he notes. “If you’re putting treatment o� because of embarrassment, don’t wait another sec-ond. Pick up the phone and get it done because it’s not embarrassing at all.”FHCN staff article. mkb

*Patient’s name withheld at his request.

Quick, Easy and E� ective Safe, nonsurgical

treatment relieves

hemorrhoids

Microcurrent Electrolysis Hemorrhoid Treatment

• FDA-approved• Well-tolerated – no anesthesia

required• No downtime• No special preparation• No painful surgery• Covered by most insurance and

Medicare• Highly eff ective and safe

Linh B. Nguyen, MD, is board certifi ed and is a diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and received his medical degree from Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA. He is certifi ed in microcurrent electrolysis for the treatment of hemorrhoids.

Why Su� er?If pain, itching and bleeding from

hemorrhoids are aff ecting you, there’s help. Call HemWell America

today or visit one of their offi ces:

Pinellas Park5265 Park Blvd., Suite 101

Tampa4809 Armenia Ave., Suite 240

8553 W. Linebaugh Ave.

(855) 697-WELL (9355)

LINH B. NGUYEN, MD

Visit www.hemwellamerica.com

A ches and pains in the feet or ankles may be a common complaint among seniors, but it’s important to under-

stand that just because something is commonplace does not mean it’s normal.

Although certain medical conditions such as arthritis and diabetes can cause foot pain, the primary cause of most foot pain is actually a problem with the foot’s function or biomechanics.

Pain in the foot or ankle that recurs on a regular basis or lasts for an extended period should be evaluated by a board-certi� ed podiatrist – a physician specially trained in the treatment of the foot, ankle, and lower leg.

Experiencing Foot or Ankle Pain?Podiatrists treat a wide variety of

podiatric complaints, including heel, foot and ankle pain, and di� cult-to-heal wounds on the lower extremities.

Heel pain may result from stress on the muscles and ligaments of the foot, stretching and tearing of the � brous con-nective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, or tearing of the membrane that covers the heel bone.

Plantar fasciitis, or chronic in� am-mation of the plantar fascia, is the most common cause of heel pain. � e plan-tar fascia is the rigid ligament along the bottom of the foot, and it often becomes a problem for runners and other athletes, people who are required to stand for long periods at work, or even as a result of pregnancy.

A neuroma is an in� ammation and swelling of the digital nerve on the bot-tom of the foot, running between the metatarsal heads at the base of the toes.

Bunions result when a patient’s foot is or becomes unstable, causing the foot to roll and weakening the tendons and ligaments that stabilize the great toe. Repetitive motion from rolling, or over-pronating, allows the bone to drift and causes pain and bone enlargement.

Hammertoe is a bending or curl-ing of the toe, often resulting in the formation of painful corns as the toe deformity presses unnaturally against the patient’s footwear.

Conservat ive treatments for these conditions may include hot or cold compresses, physical therapy,

anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections to relieve pain.

In the event that conservative treat-ments do not provide long-term relief, many of these troublesome conditions can be addressed with a minimally inva-sive outpatient procedure.

For bunions, an osteotomy may be used to surgically realign the bones of the toe, and the corrected position is secured with a small titanium screw implant. In most instances, patients are able to begin wearing soft, comfortable shoes within just two weeks after the procedure.

Patients suffering from unresolved plantar fasciitis often benefit from endoscopic plantar fasciotomy, or EPF, a minimally invasive outpatient surgery per-formed under local anesthesia with mild sedation. � e procedure takes only a few minutes, and patients are typically allowed to return to normal activities within a week.

Morton’s neuroma can typically be treated without surgery. Dehydrated alcohol injections provide long-term relief for many patients, even in cases where the patient has had a neuroma excision in the past.

Any course of treatment should be over-seen by a board-certi� ed podiatrist. Above all else, it is important to remember that foot pain is not normal, and that it should be evaluated and treated as soon as possible.

Although we may sometimes take our feet for granted, we shouldn’t. � e better we treat them, the better our active life-styles can be.FHCN staff article. mkb

Common Foot and Ankle Conditions

• Achilles Tendinitis• Ankle Pain• Arthritis• Bunions• Diabetic Foot

Complications (ulcers)

• Flat Feet (adult and pediatric)

• Foot Pain• Fractures• Hammer Toes• Heel Pain• Ingrown Toenails• Morton’s Neuroma• Nail Fungus• Plantar Fasciitis• Sprains• Warts

Podiatrists treat problem areas of

the feet, ankle or lower leg by

prescribing one or several of the

following:• Physical therapy• Prescription drugs• Surgery on lower

extremity fractures• Orthotic inserts

or soles

Page 10 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | South Pinellas County Edition hemOrrhOid treatment

special tO fhcn

See educational videos at www.CoastalJaw.com

MICHAEL A. PIKOS, DDSJOSÉ F. LÁZARO, DMDKENNETH L. ANDERSON, DDSJASON B. BLUNDELL, DDSLINDSEY PIKOS ROSATI, DDS, MSPHILIP J. HEDGER, DMD, MS

Palm Harbor2711 Tampa Rd.

(727) 786-1631Tampa

11940 Sheldon Road

(800) NEW-LOOKTrinity

8845 Hawbuck Street

(727) 375-0469Trinity

Same Day Teeth8740 Mitchell Blvd.

(800) NEW-LOOKSpring Hill

4372 Commercial Way, Suite 4

(352) 596-6804Outside Florida

(727) 877-0011

Improve Your Bite!Coastal Jaw Surgery, The Center for Dental

Implants/Facial & Oral Reconstruction, welcomes calls regarding this article and other oral surgical topics. To schedule a

complimentary consultation and CT scan, please call or visit any of their locations:

BEFORE AFTER

have fi ve locations throughout the Tampa Bay area and are members and offi cers of numerous professional organizations, including the Florida Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons; American and Florida Dental Societies of Anesthesiology; American, Florida, West Coast, West Pasco, Upper Pinellas, and Hernando County Dental Associations; Academy of Osseointegration; and American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Additionally, Coastal Jaw Surgery operates the Pinnacle and Hygiene Study Clubs for the area’s general dentists and dental hygienists.

The Doctors at Coastal Jaw Surgery

New Look, New LifeSmile, self-con� dence restored with Same Day Teeth®

Gail is elated with the results of the Same Day Teeth process.

Philip J. Hedger, DMD, MS, earned his undergraduate degree in nutrition from the University of Florida. He received his dental doctorate from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. Dr. Hedger then completed an advanced prost-hodontics residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. He maintains an active involvement within the dental community, serving on committees and providing educational lectures to peers.

For years, the smokestacks that dot-ted the small Pennsylvania town northeast of Pittsburgh that Gail Portervint called home poured

noxious fumes into the air. Like too many of the area’s residents, Gail and her family were severely impacted by the toxic pollution.

“Seven of thirteen in my immedi-ate family developed cancer,” the retired computer programmer discloses. “One family member is a leukemia survivor, and another is a melanoma survivor. Another was told he had a spot on his kidney and instructed the doctors to remove it. � e kidney was full of cancer.

“When I had my blood drawn, my white blood cell count was three to four times higher than what it should have been. I, too, was considered a cancer suspect and went every six months to have my blood tested. Over the years, my counts didn’t change.”

� e possibility of developing cancer is an ever-present concern for Gail, who was once anxious about periodontal, or gum, disease as well. Gail knew she could lose bone in her jaw and teeth if the con-dition progressed.

“I had periodontal disease most of my life. I got my teeth deep cleaned, but that doesn’t take away the disease,’’ says Gail, who was equally concerned with the appearance of her smile and badly wanted to improve it.

“I was never a lover of my smile because my two front teeth crossed and there was decay and discoloration, so I didn’t really like to smile,” she describes. “Today, younger people have perfect-looking teeth because their parents got them braces.

“My parents couldn’t a� ord that, so for years, I just lived with crooked teeth. But then I heard about Coastal Jaw Surgery and their smile restoration process, and I made the choice to visit them.”

At Coastal Jaw Surgery, Gail met prosthodontist Philip J. Hedger, DMD. Initially, the tooth replacement special-ist and “smile architect” spoke at length with Gail to uncover her biggest concerns about her smile.

Dr. Hedger also consulted with Dr. Michael A. Pikos, oral surgeon team member. Together, they per-formed a thorough clinical evaluation of Gail and created a comprehensive treatment plan for her.

“When I met Gail, she was dis-couraged with her dental care and the progression of her periodontitis,” Dr. Hedger notes. “It was becoming dif-� cult for her to maintain her teeth. She would lose a tooth from the periodon-titis, then require oral surgery. She was embarrassed of her smile as well due to crooked dentition.

“Gail was unhappy because her teeth were failing, and it was starting to a� ect her self-confidence. She did not want to keep putting money into teeth that were deteriorating. She wanted a solu-tion for her smile that looked good, was long-lasting and eliminated future dental problems. She was a good candidate for Same Day Teeth.”

Same Day Teeth is Coastal Jaw Surgery’s unique process for smile restoration. It’s an advanced approach that includes a fully digital process for planning and perform-ing dental implant surgery. With Same Day Teeth, patients receive implants and replace-ment teeth in a single day.

Three Steps to SuccessAfter consulting with Dr. Hedger and Dr. Pikos, Gail agreed on the Same Day Teeth protocol and at this point, her surgery was planned. Dr. Hedger began by gathering additional information culled from measure-ments and digital photos he took of Gail’s teeth. He then made molds from which he created a customized surgical approach.

“We submitted all of the data we col-lected to our team lab in Nevada, after which Dr. Pikos and I collaborated on a web meeting with a digital specialist from the lab to thoroughly plan Gail’s case,” Dr. Hedger informs. “All this was done in virtual mode.”

� e lab then created physical guides that precisely matched Gail’s bone struc-ture and the computer results. � e guides, which � t in Gail’s mouth during surgery, showed exactly where to place the dental implants to achieve the aesthetic results Dr. Hedger designed for her.

“From the computer, exact mod-els of Gail’s mouth were printed, and we

performed a dry run surgery on those mod-els,” Dr. Hedger reports. Finally, Dr. Pikos performed the implant surgery on Gail. At the same appointment, Dr. Hedger placed the teeth that were made in advance of sur-gery in a very precise manner.

“In essence, the surgery was performed three times: Once on the computer, once on the models and finally on Gail. We do not go into surgery blindly. We do it twice before we perform it on the patient to ensure its predictability and success. Guided surgery is like a blueprint for a

house. � e whole design is orchestrated ahead of time and implemented once.”

As part of the Same Day Teeth pro-cess, patients leave Coastal Jaw Surgery with temporary replacement teeth on the same day their failing teeth are extracted. Recently, advances in the process have shortened the wait time for patients to receive their permanent replacement teeth.

“Technology in dentistry is always evolving, and we now have new equipment and protocols for our Same Day Teeth pro-cess,” Dr. Hedger con� rms. “In the past, we waited three to four months before giv-ing patients their permanent teeth.

“Today, our preferred route, for patients who are candidates, is to give them permanent teeth the day of surgery.”

Unexpected Benefi tOn the day of her surgery, Gail arrived at Coastal Jaw Surgery at 6:30 a.m. Several hours later, after Dr. Pikos completed the surgical phase of her treatment, Dr. Hedger was able to place the permanent teeth as per her original treatment plan.

“I’m extremely happy with the Same Day Teeth process,” she raves. “I expected more di� culty, but it all went perfectly. I love my teeth now, and I feel much better as a person. I’m so glad I did this. I cannot be more pleased.

“And the teeth look like my own. I surprise everybody when I tell them these teeth are not mine. � ey say, � ey look totally natural. I never would’ve guessed they’re not yours.”

In addition to achieving an excellent outcome with her restored smile, Gail realized a result that neither she nor her doctor expected. � e � nding eased some of her anxiety over being a cancer suspect.

“After I had my teeth removed, there was no more periodontal disease,” Gail relates. “At the next appointment with my cancer specialist, he said, I don’t know what you did, but your blood count is normal. Same Day Teeth also cured my white blood cell condition.”

“Everybody at Coastal Jaw Surgery is like my extended family,” she adds. “They are so courteous and make me feel so welcome. I really got to know Dr. Hedger because I see him more than the other dentists. He’s marvelous and so happy all the time. I highly recommend Coastal Jaw Surgery!”

The team members at Coastal Jaw Surgery are all part of Tampa Bay’s only multidisciplinary specialty treatment group that brings oral surgery, prosthodontics and periodontics together under one roof.FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz.

Before and after images courtesy of Coastal Jaw Surgery. mkb

South Pinellas County Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 11Oral and maxillOfacial surgery

STEPHEN M. WEINSTOCK, MD, FACSJEFFREY S. SCHWARTZ, MD

LEONARD S. KIRSCH, MD, FRCS (C)RICHARD J. HAIRSTON, MD, FACS

ROBERT J. WEINSTOCK, MDNEEL R. DESAI, MD

JASMINE MOHADJER, MDJANIE A. HO, MD

STEVEN E. KANE, MDSANDRA M. JOHNSON, MDVASILIOS F. DIAKONIS, MD

Page 12 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | South Pinellas County Edition OphthalmOlOgy