Diabetic eye care center marks 1st anniversary

One year ago, Marianas Eye Institute held the grand opening of its Center for Advanced Diabetic Eye Care, located at its main office on Beach Road in Garapan. The Center introduced $200,000 worth of the latest technology to help battle the devastating effects of diabetic eye disease. Since its opening, the Center has had an impact on the lives of many CNMI residents.

“We brought together the key pieces of technology required to treat diabetic eye disease all under one roof,” explained Russ Quinn, CEO of Marianas Eye Institute. “Since the opening of the Center for Advanced Diabetic Eye Care, hundreds of people have benefited from the convenience of being able to get advanced care right here on Saipan.” Providing world-class eye care in a local environment is one of the major accomplishments of Marianas Eye Institute.

Dr. David Khorram, the ophthalmologist and medical director of Marianas Eye Institute, completed his ophthalmology training under world-renown retinal specialist, Dr. Lee M. Jampol.

“Dr. Robertson and I see island residents coming in for the first time, blind from diabetes. It doesn’t have to be this way,” he said. “The key to preventing loss of vision is for diabetics to get their eyes checked at least once a year by a trained eye-care professional.”

The World Health Organization, under its Vision 2020 initiative, has aimed to control eye disease, and diabetic retinopathy is among the top of the list.

“Unfortunately, diabetes rates in the CNMI have been climbing, and many people feel that loss of vision is just part of diabetes or of aging. It’s not. Early detection though annual eye exams, and early treatment can save your vision, and the Center for Advanced Diabetic Eye Care at Marianas Eye Institute allows us to do this more efficiently and cost-effectively, which is important when people are struggling,” said Khorram.

CEO Quinn discussed the financial strain on the people they treat. “Studies have shown that if people come in for the annual exams, and follow the doctor’s recommendations, they keep their vision much longer than those who neglect their eye care. But many people don’t come in because they’re afraid of the cost. We want everyone to get the care they need, and our Eye Foundation Fund helps take care of expenses.”

Dr. Khorram added: “We want to give diabetic eye care to everyone, whether you can afford it or not. Everyone with diabetes deserves excellent care, irrespective of their ability to pay for the care. It’s tragic that some people go blind because they can’t afford to pay. At Marianas Eye Institute we won’t let finances stand in the way of you getting the care you need. That’s our commitment to our community.”

Marianas Eye Institute’s commitment to advanced technologies has gained recognition in various national and international publications. Since the opening of the Center, Marianas Eye Institute has been featured in Ophthalmology Times, Medscape, Retinal Physician and Ophthalmology Management.

“The international publicity we’ve received has been amazing, especially given our location,” said Quinn. “We work hard to let the islands’ people know that the care we provide is truly outstanding. We want them to be confident in the quality of care at Marianas Eye Institute. So, we were very pleased that a prestigious magazine like Retinal Physician recognized us this year as “one of the best equipped eye clinics in the Asia-Pacific region.’”

There are an estimated 4,000 people with diabetes in the CNMI. Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes. The condition is a leading cause of new onset blindness. The staff at Marianas Eye Institute, using the newest technology, are able to detect the early onset of diabetes and work closely with individuals’ primary caregivers to screen and treat this disease.

Last year’s investment in the Center brought the latest equipment in the battle against this debilitating eye disease. Equipment such as Ocular Coherence Tomography or OCT has provided a breakthrough in scanning the eye. This equipment provides detailed color CAT-scan like images that help detect and treat retinal disease and other disorders like glaucoma. The Digital Retinal Photography & Fluorescein Angiography is a high resolution camera designed to capture images inside the eye with amazing detail.

Another piece of equipment purchased during the rollout of this important eye care center was the Advanced Cataract Removal System. This, along with the small incision technique, allows gentler cataract surgery, and faster recovery.

“Diabetics get cataracts at a younger age, and this technology makes it possible to remove the cataract with an outpatient procedure and get people back to work within a day,” said Khorram. “The advances in technology are remarkable, and we’re pleased to have brought them all together in the Center for Advanced Diabetic Eye Care at Marianas Eye Institute.”

In addition to the health benefits, the Center for Advanced Diabetic Eye Care helps the CNMI government save countless dollars in off island referrals. “With advanced technologies, we are able to take care of even severe problems here on Saipan,” said Khorram. “We still rely on medical referral for some of the very complex cases, but the number has decreased with the newer treatments and technologies.”

Quinn states: “We are proud of the services we can offer the community. We have a great combination of talented locally trained and certified staff, capable doctors—both Dr. Robertson and Dr. Khorram have received national recognition for their work in eye care—and state-of-art technologies. It is all part of our mission statement: Excellence with Love.”

Marianas Eye Institute is located on Beach Road in Garapan, across from 13 Fishermen’s Monument. The center provides total eye care for the family, with one-hour glasses, contacts, medical eye care, surgery and laser. Most insurance is accepted, and walk-ins are welcome.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B]