Vincett Eye Care Associates is one of the first eye care practices in the country to offer emPower! eyeglasses – the  world’s first and only electronically-focusing prescription eyewear .  These revolutionary glasses – deemed one of the “Top 5 Must-Have Gadgets” by CNBC and one of the “Top 6 Electronics Products”  by ABC’s Good Morning America – allow patients with presbyopia (over age 40 vision) to control their visual experience.  Full reading power of the lens can instantly turn on and off as its needed with a tap of a finger on the eyeglass frame in the manual mode, or adjust according to head positioning when placed in automatic mode.

emPower! eyeglasses eliminate the distortion and visual limitations often accompanied by traditional progressive lenses (no-line bifocal and multifocals).   When reading or performing close-up work, wearers no longer are limited to a small area in the lens used for near vision.  With dynamic LCD crystals embedded in emPower! glasses, the reading portion of the lens electronically expands to the entire lens for full use.  When performing long-range tasks, such as driving, the reading portion of the lens disappears to make the entire lens available for far vision. 

Launched in 2011 to tech-world accolades, early adopters of prescription emPower! pay $1,500 for this game-changing technology, which includes frames, lenses, coatings, and a charging station.  The frames come in 36 styles for men and women, and are available at the Penn Hills – Pittsburgh location (Rodi Rd.) of Vincett Eye Care Associates.

Dr. Bill Vincett, Jr. and office managers Cathy (Penn Hills) and Kim (Holiday Park) traveled to Dallas, Texas for a three-day Practice Management Association meeting.  The purpose was to enhance their skills in running a high-tech office, including how to utilize the practice’s recent adoption of electronic medical records for more efficient patient care.

Dr. Marc Werksman and Dr. Robert Kaminski attended professional conferences in September and November, receiving continuing education on topics such as recent developments in glaucoma treatment, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants, corneal dystrophies and transplants, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease, and laser vision correction.

Congratulations to Robert E. Kaminski, O.D., one of 453 optometrists who became Diplomates of the American Board of Optometry by passing the inaugural Board Certification Examination given in June 2011. The Diplomates are from 45 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Only 23 optometrists are currently board certified in the state of Pennsylvania by the American Board of Optometry.

Board Certification is a voluntary process that establishes standards that demonstrate that the doctor of optometry has exceeded the basic requirements. It provides assurance that a doctor of optometry maintains the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience needed to deliver quality patient care in optometry. The American Board of Optometry's process of board certification and maintenance of certification demonstrates to patients that the optometrist is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care through rigorous, voluntary commitment of lifelong learning.

Dr. Vincett, Jr. attended the International Vision Expo and Conference held in September in Las Vegas, Nevada.  It is considered the world’s largest conference and expo for the eye care industry.  Dr. Vincett previewed the latest ophthalmic technologies and attended continuing education seminars for medical and diagnostic updates.  

Dr. Robert Kaminski celebrated his Polish heritage at his family reunion in July, and in August at the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Oakland.  Dr. Kaminski, a third-generation American, says he is proud to have “a polish heart, and American pride.”

Prior to ethnic celebrations, he traveled this summer to Ocean City, New Jersey, with his wife Cecilia and his extended family.   Dr. Kaminski’s family has been making this annual beach trip for the past 40 years!  They traditionally enjoy visits to Mac and Manco’s Pizza, Kohr’s Custard, Johnson’s Popcorn, and Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy.

Dr. Kaminski and his wife celebrated their 25^th anniversary in May, and commemorated the occasion with a stay at the Lodge at Glendorn, a 1,280-acre retreat in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

Did you know your eye doctor is an amusement park junkie?  Dr. Cara Hauser just returned from visits to Virginia’s Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, King’s Dominion, and Maryland’s Six Flags America.  She visited the four parks in four days for a whirlwind experience. 

On a professional note, she attended an all-day lecture in May regarding the diagnosis and latest ocular treatments for Dry Eye and Glaucoma.

The Vision Care Institute, a Johnson and Johnson Company, provides doctors of optometry with new information and innovative ways of looking at the management of an optometric practice. From managing presbyopia with contact lenses to the Lean Six Sigma Principles, the Vision Care Institute offers educational forums and valuable programming for selected optometrists.

Dr. Robert Kaminski, FAAO, is celebrating 25 years of Fellowship of the Academy of Optometry. In qualifying for and maintaining fellowship in the Academy, optometrists are evaluated against the highest standards of professional competence. The letters "FAAO" (Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry) after an optometrist's, scientist's or other qualified person's name signify to colleagues and patients that rigorous qualifications for fellowship have been met. It also demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning.

 

Drs. Marc Werksman and Karen Brankley attended a continuing education seminar in Cranberry, PA, sponsored by Sightline Laser and Eye Center.  Subjects included Ectatic:  Early Diagnosis Required, Cornea Cross-Linking of the Ectatic Eye, Phakic IOLs (intraocular lens), and Detection and Diagnosis of Retinal Disease Invisible to Ophthalmoscopy.  The first two courses enable the doctors to detect keratoconus – a thinning and bulging of the central cornea – at an earlier stage and enact treatment sooner to preserve the best vision possible.  The phakic IOL course gives the doctors another correction option to consider for their highly myopic (nearsighted) patients, while the retinal disease lecture gives insight to retinal problems that might not be readily visible upon normal examination.  Participation in this seminar is just part of a continuing effort of how the doctors at Vincett Eye Care keep abreast of the latest advances in patient care and treatment.

Dr. William Vincett Jr. and Dr. Robert E. Kaminski returned from SECO International 2011, one of the world's largest and most comprehensive professional conferences for eye care professionals. This year it was held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Dr. Vincett participated in 20 hours of continuing education, which included clinical updates for the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease, and technological advancements in contact lens design. Dr. Kaminski attended classes concerning eye medicines, eye disease and glaucoma.

Vincett Eye Care Associates has converted its patient files to Electronic Medical Records (EMR). This is our proactive response to an anticipated government mandate to convert to EMR. EMR will reduce the potential for someone to steal your identity and use your benefits; streamline communications with insurance companies and optical labs for better service; and reduce possible errors caused by illegible handwriting. Patient files are stored securely in our office, backed up routinely, and accessed only by authorized personnel.

The OptoMap System is now available at Vincett Eye Care Associate's Holiday Park office. Patients at our Penn Hills' office already benefit from OptoMap, which is a quick, painless diagnostic tool preferred by patients because it provides detailed images of the retina without dilation. Your doctor than uses theses images to clinically assess the status of your vision and eye health. Since your retinal images are stored digitally, your eye doctor can easily retrieve your results from prior exams to compare and detect vision changes from year to year.

Dr. Marc Werksman and Dr. Karen Brankley have moved their optometric practices to Vincett Eye Care Associates. The doctors, formerly located next to LensCrafters® in the Monroeville Mall Annex, are now offering their eye care services at Vincett Eye Care's Penn Hills and Holiday Park offices.

"By combining our practice with Vincett Eye Care Associates, we are pleased to offer our patients a better eye care experience," says Dr. Werksman. "In addition to most vision plans, we now accept Medicare and most medical insurance, have access to specialized diagnostic testing, and offer a broader contact lens selection within a larger, more comfortable space."

Dr. Werksman and Dr. Brankley have been practicing optometry since 1985. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Brankley, a Penn Hills native, is a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Optometry and Grove City College.

Based on the fundamental principals of distinctive American style and enduring quality, the Coach Eyewear Collection has been enthusiastically received by patients visiting our Penn Hills optical boutique. The frame styles provide clean, modern shapes with classic styling and proprietary Coach embellishment. With bold, wearable colorations, and innovative temple design elements, the collection offers eyewear for both new and loyal Coach customers alike.

East Pittsburgh Eye Care is now located at the Holiday Park offices of Vincett Eye Care Associates at 1670 Golden Mile Highway (Rt. 286), Monroeville. By moving its offices to our practice, East Pittsburgh Eye Care patients now have access to … •

• Expanded office hours. (Evening and Saturday hours now available.)
• A larger contact lens inventory for emergency lens replacement.
• In-office specialized testing that limits the need to be referred elsewhere.
• A twice as large frame selection.
• Acceptance of most vision plans and insurance. Convenient payment options for non-covered expenses.

Patients can schedule their next appointment by calling (724) 327-2020.

Your eye doctor has a new clinical tool to help preserve your vision – the Zeiss Cirrus OCT. This revolutionary technology (optical coherence tomography) quickly and painlessly provides a high-definition, 3D-scan of your retina, generating extraordinary detailed images for your doctor's clinical assessment. Diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma can be detected and managed at their earliest stages when treatment is most effective. Few optometric practices have invested in this technology and therefore, usually require their patients to be referred elsewhere for an OCT test. However, we are pleased to offer our patients the convenience of OCT testing in our offices and the vision-saving benefits it can provide.