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News & Testimonials
Cataract Surgery at 102 Years of Age
Edith Brookbank is 102 years old and last month she could no longer read. She had been told by her optometrist she had cataracts and the start of macular degeneration. Her daughter, Ann Debot, is her caregiver and was not sure if her mom was ready for cataract surgery. Several months later she escorted a friend to have cataract surgery at Carolina Eye Associates. After seeing how effective the procedure was with her friend she thought, “My mom could go through cataract surgery”.
On September 8, 2011 Edith Brookbank had cataract surgery in her left eye by Carolina Eye Associates Ophthalmologist, Anna Fakadej, MD. Before Mrs. Brookbanks surgery she could only see light out of the left eye. During her post operative visit for on October 6, 2011, Dr. Fakadej noted Mrs. Brookbank could actually read the eye chart with her left eye. Dr. Fakadej stated, “Your vision has improved” and laughed, “if you want you could even get your driver’s license”.
Edith Brookbank at 93 years old wrote a book of her memoires, “Yesterday Sublime: A Look into the Life of Edith Wright Brookbank” and taught for 37 years in Randolph County. Her daughter Ann said, “My mom loves to read and is grateful to Dr. Fakadej and the advance technology taking place with cataract surgery. This will enable my mom the ability to see more and do more”.
Carolina Eye Associates is the First Practice in NC to Place Higher Powered Intraocular Lens
Carolina Eye Associates continues to stay on the leading edge of eye care technologies. Ophthalmologist surgeons Neil Griffin, MD and Anna Fakadej, MD, are the first ophthalmologists in NC to place the higher powered AcrySof Toric Lens. The Toric IOL is designed to help cataract patients with astigmatism. This common irregularity, called corneal astigmatism, causes blurred or distorted vision.
The new Toric IOL is available and FDA approved to provide higher power in the current correction lens. The lenses are now available at powers of T6, T7, T8 and T9 which expand the astigmatic correction to 4.00. The Toric IOL gives cataract patients with astigmatism the opportunity to enjoy distance vision usually without dependency on glasses. More than 1.5 million cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S. each year. One in three mostly older Americans will have the surgery at some point in their lives.
Carolina Eye Associates is focused on providing patients the most advanced technology, finest medical and surgical care with state of the art diagnostic and treatment services. Carolina Eye is one of the largest eye care providers in the Southeast, with eight regional centers providing care to patients across the U.S. and over 20 foreign countries.
Ophthalmic Surgeon Anna Fakadej Receives Compassionate Use Exemption by FDA for Patient in Need
Anna Fakadej, MD, Carolina Eye Associates, P.A., receives compassionate use exemption for the Artisan® Aphakia Lens. The Artisan lens is not FDA approved in the United States, but after Dr. Fakadej had considered the ocular condition of her patient Jonathon Glover, she went the extra mile to obtain a compassionate use exemption from the FDA.
Jonathon Glover joined the military in 2006 and six months later was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome. Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder of the connective tissue. People with Marfan's tend to be unusually tall, with long limbs and long, thin fingers. Marfan syndrome can also seriously affect the eyes and vision. Marfan syndrome was detected early and Jonathon noticed his vision started to decline along with severe headaches. Jonathon started wearing glasses but over the course of a year his vision just kept getting worse.
Optometrist, Barry Kavanaugh of Seven Lakes, NC referred Jonathon to Carolina Eye Associates for a surgical lens implant. Anna Fakadej, MD placed a standard lens in Jonathon’s eyes in 2008. Eventually, the stitch holding the lens in place eroded through the iris. Thus Dr. Fakadej researched her options and decided the Aphakia lens would be the best lens replacement for Jonathon. After 8 months of paper work the FDA approved the device to Dr. Fakadej as a compassionate use exemption which allows for unapproved devices to be used for treatment and research on a case-by-case basis.
Jonathon just received his follow-up visit from surgery at Carolina Eye and stated, “ I am very appreciative of Dr. Fakadej going the extra mile to get the Aphakia Lens approved through a compassionate exemption by the FDA and currently have no pain and can see clear. Marfan syndrome is treatable but early diagnosis and good medical care is key”.
MIRA Names Two Guide Dogs After Carolina Eye Associates Visionary Founder
April 15,2011: MIRA Foundation USA, the only organization in the U.S. dedicated to pairing guide dogs with children and youth between the ages of 11-16, is pleased to announce that Carolina Eye Associates P.A. has achieved the distinction of becoming MIRA’s first “Visionary Partner.” This recognition is given by MIRA to a corporate or professional entity whose level of support in one calendar year is sufficient to enable MIRA to pair at least one student with a guide dog. The commitment of Carolina Eye’s professionals to MIRA’s work in each of the last two years has created the opportunity for two students to receive guide dogs.
As a direct result of Carolina Eye’s support in 2010, MIRA was able to provide a guide dog to an outstanding eleven year old girl in the San Diego area. Almost a full year later, she and her MIRA dog are thriving and busy while she maintains a straight A average in school, plays three musical instruments, and creates power point talks about MIRA and guide dogs in an effort to educate her peers about the challenges of being blind and guide dog etiquette.
This coming summer, six students will be receiving MIRA guide dogs, including two from Moore County. Once again, Carolina Eye Associates’ support has made a significant impact. As a result, MIRA is delighted to announce that the two dogs which will be placed with Moore County students will carry the names “Gale” and “Martin” in memory of Carolina Eye’s visionary Founder, Dr. Robert Gale Martin who passed away in 2008 at the age of 65.
Dr. Martin was an internationally renowned ophthalmic surgeon who dedicated his life to his family and his work. When he invited Dr. George Tate to join him in founding Carolina Eye Associates in 1978, Dr. Martin already had served a distinguished career as an ophthalmic surgeon in the army, most notably with the 5th Special Forces Group during the Vietnam War. By the time he founded Carolina Eye Associates, Dr. Martin had also gained a distinguished reputation for his innovative surgical techniques in small-incision cataract surgery, corneal relaxing incisions, and lens replacement. He continued to be a pioneer in the field of ophthalmic medicine for the next twenty-six years until his untimely death.
Dr. Martin’s legacy endures through the over 165 publications he authored or co-authored, the ongoing work of the many fine professionals at Carolina Eye Associates on Midland Road, and now the wonderful dogs, Gale and Martin, who will soon be fulfilling the dreams of two very deserving students by providing them with a level of freedom and independence they could not otherwise ever hope to experience.
Carolina Eye Associates, P.A. Hosts North Carolina 2011 Symposium
Carolina Eye Associates hosted over 450 optometrists and technicians from North and South Carolina at the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club on Saturday, February 5, 2011. Attendees heard about the newest advances in eye surgery and treatments for eye disease during The 25th Robert G. Martin Annual Ocular Disorders Symposium.
Carolina Eye Associates board-certified surgeons presented information on Peripheral Retinal Vasculopathy, Complex Cataract Surgery, Radiofrequency in Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery, Preventing Angle Closure Glaucoma, Latest update on Refractive Surgery and Infectious Keratitis. Also, Carolina Eye’s team of surgeons discussed and identified the treatment needed for patients with multiple eye diseases. Since Carolina Eye is a multi-sub specialty center they can provide state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment to help preserve a patient’s vision.
Most of Carolina Eye’s Physicians have been featured presenters for eye programs both in the U.S. and foreign countries. They also participate in research and studies for new ophthalmic surgical procedures, equipment, medications and products with FDA approval.
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