On April 15, 2010 our practice administrator, Clayton Grinage, COE and I, George Saunders, CFO, accompanied Dr. Matossian on a visit to Alcon corporate headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. The world's largest ophthalmic product maker, including surgical equipment, intraocular lens implants and pharmaceuticals, had invited her to "pick her brain" and to let her see the leading edge of the industry.  It was a fascinating experience as I watched high ranking specialists engage Dr. Matossian for her feedback on research and the products she uses and to see her interact with them as to what she thinks they could do better or differently and to provide them her insight on how Alcon products actually affect her patients.  It was an extremely valuable day for all concerned! 

George Saunders, CFO

According to a recent study by the American Optometric Association, 42 percent of Americans spend 3 or more hours a day staring at their computers or hand-held devices.

Prolonged use of such devices is contributing to an increase in Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). CVS may lead to many issues such as eyestrain, headaches, burning or tired eyes, and blurred vision.

In order to give your eyes a break, remember to follow the 20-20-20 rule. At least every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and view something 20 feet away.

Dr. Jennifer Viscusi, OD

Friday, April 23, 2010 our practice administrator, Clayton Grinage, COE and I, George Saunders, CFO, accompanied Dr. Matossian to visit a very successful eye care practice in North Carolina to assess the physical layout of their busy office.

We went because MEA has plans to expand its current offices in order to make room for future growth. This group had been recommended to us by Ista pharmaceutical company as a practice that had done an excellent job of accommodating growth in its facility.  We spent the day observing office flow and talking with their management team about floor plan to best serve patients, staff and physicians.  

It was great to be able to learn from colleagues the most efficient way to take care of our patients, which is always a priority for MEA!

George Saunders, CFO

On April 20, 2010 the third biannual meeting of the Mercer County Ophthalmological Society, organized by Dr. Ilya Rozenbaum, was a great success with excellent turnout. Dr. Nate Radcliffe, the director of Glaucoma Service at Weill Cornell Medical Center, gave a fascinating presentation on glaucoma. Everyone enjoyed it.

The idea for the general principle of a contact lens was made by Leonardo da Vinci in 1508.

Swiss physician A.E. Fick is credited with fitting the first glass contact lens in 1887.

The cornea is the only living tissue in the human body that does not contain any blood vessels.

The cornea has 5 separate layers.

The retina has 10 separate layers.

The little lights you see with your eyes shut are phosphenes, which come about when you shut your eyes tight.   This is because the retina is stimulated by pressure on your eyeball.

The space between your eyebrows is called the glabella.

Eyeballs are the second most complex organs you possess, next to your brain.

The eyeball can instantaneously set in motion hundreds of muscles and organs in your body.

Of all the muscles in your body, the eye muscles are the most active.

The adult eyeball measures about one inch in diameter.  Of its total surface area, only one-sixth is exposed "“ the front portion.

It can be uncomfortable to sit too close to a television, but your eyes will not be damaged by doing so.

The pupil expands as much as 45% when a person looks at something pleasing.

In a normal lifespan, your eyes will bring you about 24 million images of the world around you.