Our Own Survivor

Rita Canata, Dr. Ahdieh's Surgical Coordinator

We are proud of the achievements of many of our staff members, and would like to take a moment to honor our own breast cancer survivor, Rita Cannata, Surgery Coordinator.  Rita was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in November of 2010.  She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments in 2011. We are happy to report that she is cancer-free and busy at work, helping patients as they plan for their own surgeries.

A Contribution toward the Cause

Thanks to the continued efforts of Front Office Manager Beth Handwerk, LVC4S doctors and staff made a contribution to the American Cancer Society for the fifth straight year.  

Beth Handwerk and Dr. Ahdieh show the final tally!

On Friday, October 12th, Our offices participated in "Lee National Denim Day".  Members of our staff donated $5 to wear jeans to work.  Together, our staff contributed $170.  The doctors agreed to match the staff contribution, for a total donation of $340 to benefit women's cancer programs.  

  

November Anniversaries

Congratulations to three of our staff members who are celebrating Lehigh Valley Center for Sight anniversaries this month.  Shelly Carl of our phone room celebrates two years; Susan Brotzman, Clinical Staff marks three years; and Office Clerk Darlene Kernechel has been keeping our office running smoothly for nine years!

Pictured left to right:  Shelly Carl, Susan Brotzman, Darlene Kernechel

A CustomVue of the World

Justin Purdom has a new way of looking at things, thanks to Dr. Houman Ahdieh and CustomVue LASIK surgery. Justin works for the Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority, and he has a degree in Environmental Science from Richard Stockton College in New Jersey. Justin has been wearing glasses since he was seven years old, and contacts since he was thirteen.

“As a scientist, the quality of my vision is very important to me. Given the nature of my work, I have to be very precise. After a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Ahdieh and his LASIK team, I felt confident moving forward with this procedure.”

LASIK also offered the active 24-year old the freedom to further enjoy outdoor sports, which include surfing, skiing, hiking, and sailing. “Contacts lenses limited my ability to see clearly when I was doing water sports. As a scientist, I was also concerned about the possibility of a water-borne infection while wearing my contacts in the ocean.”

“It's amazing,” Justin continues, “every time I open my eyes in the morning, I can't believe I can see the numbers on the clock. My LASIK procedure took less than 20 minutes, and it has changed my life! I am seeing things that I haven't seen before.”

Ready to go in the Laser Suite

Justin & Dr. Ahdieh just minutes after
his procedure

Justin chose to work with Dr. Ahdieh because of the doctor’s experience as a corneal surgeon. Dr. Ahdieh has been practicing in the Lehigh Valley since 1995. “Dr. Ahdieh and his team prepared me well for the procedure. They were patient and caring, and answered all of my questions.”

Dr. Ahdieh prefers the Custom-Vue LASIK process because it offers a tailored approach to vision correction. With CustomVue, Dr. Ahdieh can treat patients who have a wide-range of vision issues, including those with irregular astigmatism. Prior to surgery, LASIK patients are seen in our office for a series of measurements that give our surgeons the data they need to customize the procedure to meet each patient's vision needs.

A Rescue Mission...

The little black kitten found at our Allentown office on October 5th by staff members Jamie & Susan will be ready for adoption at the end of October.   Jamie & Susan found the hungry and scared kitten when they were leaving the office on Friday, October 5th, and are continuing their efforts to find a good home for "little Nevus".

If you would like to bring a little love into your life, call the Lehigh County Humane Society and ask to see him/her (not really sure which one!). The reference number on this 3-month old is #81610.

Once an animal is brought into the Humane Society, they are treated for fleas and are not available for adoption until they have been observed for illness for three weeks.  Our little guy/gal has passed the test...and is ready for a forever home!  The Humane Society is at 640 Dickson Street in Allentown, phone number 610-797-1205.  http://www.thelehighcountyhumanesociety.org/

The Optimal Optical Guarantee!

Fairmont Optical, LVC4S's  on-site, full-service optical shop, offers a great 100% no-break guarantee.  No matter what happens to your glasses (or whose fault it was!)...no problem, bring in your mangled specs and we'll replace them with the identical frame at no charge for up to one year after your purchase!

Your purchase at Fairmont Optical also carries a "Patient Delight Guarantee" which gives you 30 days from your initial order date to exchange your glasses for a frame of equal or lesser value!

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our Optical has special offers that will leave you tickled PINK!  Come and browse our fabulous selection of Banana Republic, Bebe, Liz Claiborne, Lulu Guiness, Polo, Ray-Ban, Versace & Vogue are just some of the fabulous lines of designer eyewear available at Fairmont Optical. You are sure to find a frame (or two…or three!) to suit your style!

Dr. Ahdieh Presents...

Dr. Houman Ahdieh gave a lecture on "Challenges in Glaucoma Therapy" to over 50 local optometrists on September 10th at the Best Western Conference Center in Bethlehem. This lecture, the  the third in a series by doctors from Lehigh Valley for Sight, was approved by the State Board of Optometry.  Doctors in attendance earned credits toward their annual state board certification.

The other 2012 Lehigh Valley Center for Sight lectures included Retinal Treatment and Diagnosis, given by Dr. Daniel Ross; and Identifying Cataracts presented by Dr. Deepak Grover.

Dr. Ahdieh discusses trends in Glaucoma diagnosis at the September 10th lecture.

Dr. Mark Moran receives Top Surgeon Award

Congratulations to Lehigh Valley Center for Sight's Dr. Mark Moran, who was awarded the Top Surgeon Award for 2011 from Sightpath Medical. "This award honors distinguished leaders in refractive surgery for demonstrating surgical expertise and a continued pursuit of exceptional patient care throughout eh use of advanced technology and surgical techniques."

Dr. Moran has been in practice since 1990 and was the first physician to perform laser vision correction in the Lehigh Valley.  Dr. Moran has performed thousands of LASIK procedures, in fact, many medical professionals have chosen our practice for their LASIK procedure. 

With the advancements in refractive procedures today, the range of treatable prescriptions has expanded.  If you were told in the past that you were not a candidate, you may be today.  A wider range of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can now be corrected.  Contact our office for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION today to see if laser vision correction can change the way you see the world. 

Bethlehem Office Renovations

If you have visited our Bethlehem office in the past few months, you may have noticed some changes!  Office Managers Debra Porter and Mandy Bolton and their staff are dedicated to providing you with excellent care in Bethlehem.  We have expanded with three new exam rooms, as well as rooms for vision testing.

If our Bethlehem location is more convenient for you, please ask our staff to schedule your next appointment in Bethlehem.  All of our doctors have office hours in both our Allentown and Bethlehem offices.

Take a photo tour of our renovated office...

The office entrance is now on Delaware Avenue.  This entrance provides a shorter ramp, which makes it more convenient for wheelchair patients. 

Parking is available in our lot on Bergen Street.

Receptionist Eileen Konigsberg welcomes patients in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem Front Office Manager Mandy Bolton

The renovation allowed for more room in the reception area, and an expanded selection of products available through Fairmont Optical, our full-service optical.

For added convenience, minor surgical procedures can be done right in the office.

Our diagnostic services in Bethlehem include retinal photos...

...and visual field testing.  

A gift that keeps growing!

Have you noticed the plants at the checkout desk in our offices?  The doctors at LVC4S give our cataract surgery patients a get well dish garden when they leave following their day after surgery check up.  One of Dr. Ross's patients, Marjory Carlson, sent us a picture of her garden which has been growing and thriving since she had her cataract surgery in 2009!  Thanks to Marjory for brightening up our day.  All of us at LVC4S wish Marjory (and her plants!) continued good health.

The "Get Well Garden" from our doctors.

Marjory's Get Well Garden after 3 years of TLC!

Room with a View

At our laser center, family members are welcome to watch the LASIK procedure being performed on their loved ones via closed-circuit tv!

A view of the laser room via closed circuit tv.

See the procedure from the surgeon's point of view!

Our staff will escort your family members to the tv room, and help explain the process as it happens.  Two views of the LASIK procedure are shown on the twin screens; a wide-shot of the surgery suite, and a close-up, which gives you the surgeon's view through the microscope.

The LASIK vision correction procedure takes just a few minutes from start to finish, so don't miss out if you have the chance to watch!

More Anniversaries!

Congratulations to employees who have recently reached milestones at Lehigh Valley Center for Sight

Refractive Lens Specialist and LASIK Surgery Coordinator Linda Nickelson celebrated a lucky 13 years at Lehigh Valley Center for Sight.  Linda also serves as our physician liaison.

Double the celebration!  One year anniversaries for Physician Assistant Andrew Ferretti,
and Clinical Assistant Allison Prushinski

It's an 11-year anniversary for Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Melissa Frank!    

New Facilities at our Allentown Location

We have opened a new office in the lower level of our main location at 1739 Fairmont Street in Allentown.  This new office suite allows us to have a third location in which to see patients, which allows us to expand our schedule, so that we can see patients sooner!  

This office has a separate parking area, entrance, waiting room and exam rooms.  Look for the GREEN signs that mark this office parking area and entrance.  All of Lehigh Valley Center for Sight offices are fully handicapped accessible.

The green sign marks the entrance to the parking lot that gives easy access to our lower level office,
located at the rear of our Allentown location at 1739 Fairmont Street. 

The Lower Level Office Entrance.

The green sign marks the door to the reception area.

Shelly Carl prepares to help patients at the reception desk.

Our new comfortable waiting room in the Lower Level.  

Certified Optical Assistant Rebecca Rodriguez checks patient vision in one of our four exam rooms.  

Welcome Dr. Cherfas

The doctors at Lehigh Valley Center for Sight are pleased to announce that Irene Cherfas, MD has joined the practice as the newest member of their ophthalmic team to provide ophthalmic care to our patients and their families.  With offices in Allentown and Bethlehem, the Lehigh Valley Center for Sight is a complete family and specialized eye care practice, serving patients in the Lehigh Valley for over 35 years.
 Dr. Cherfas is a comprehensive ophthalmologist, providing complete eye care to adults and children. Her areas of expertise include cataract surgery and medical retina treatment, including lasers and intra-vitreal injections.  A graduate of Boston University School of Medicine, she completed her residency at the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.  Fluent in both Spanish and Russian, Dr. Cherfas practiced in New York City before coming to the Lehigh Valley. 

Dr. C

Meet the Melissa's!

Seated: Melissa Howlett and Melissa Hunter Standing Melissa Frank

The name is the same…we like to think that good things come in threes, and at Lehigh Valley Center for Sight, we would like to introduce you to three staff members all of whom are named Melissa!

All three Melissas are part of our clinical staff.

Bethlehem Office Artwork

Dr. M and his Mom

Many patients have asked about the beautiful paintings in the Bethlehem Office that carry the signature "JMoran".   The artist is Jeanne Moran, Dr. Mark Moran's mother.  A resident of Moosic, PA, Dr. Moran's hometown.  She has been painting for off and on for many years.  Her serene landscapes add warmth to the office on  Delaware Avenue.  Asked if he inherited his mother's artistic talent, Dr. Moran replied "I can draw stick figures."  Here's a small sampling of the pictures in the Bethlehem office. Click here.

Featured Employee: Tara Krische

Tara Krische in our front office, is a contributor on Food.com. With almost 200 published recipes under the name "The Dancing Cook," Tara has a 4.5 (out of 5) star rating on the site, and has been featured as "Chef of the Day". She is a former dance teacher who loves to turn up her music and dance while she gets her cook on!   Tara joined LVC4S in 2011, after working 15 years in a hospital setting.  When you see Tara in our office, make sure to ask her "What's for dinner?"!   

This photo of Tara and her son Jordan is taken from her Food.com page.  To try out her recipes for yourself, go to http://share.food.com/community/TheDancingCook/style.esi?member_id=7108

A 12-Year Milestone!

Cindy Male receives an anniversary rose from Practice Manager Rosanne Kocher as she marks 12 years of patient care at Lehigh Valley Center for Sight.   A Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, Cindy works in both our Allentown and Bethlehem offices.  Congratulations to Cindy for her years of service to the LVC4S patient family!

Beth Celebrates 22 Years working with Dr. Moran!

Dr. Moran presents a rose to LVC4S Front Office Manager Beth Handwerk in celebration of her 22nd anniversary.  Beth began working with Dr. Moran when he first opened his practice in 1990.  Congratulations to Beth for her 22 years of dedication!  

10 years x 2...

JoAnn M. (left) and Dani K. (center) both joined us 10 years ago on July 29th!
JoAnn is one of our certified opticians at Fairmont Optical and Dani is one of our helpful front office staff. Please help us congratulate and thank them both for the great work and dedication. To show our appreciation for the 10 years of service, they will receive an anniversary gift of a trip!  Have a great time and remember to take pictures!

Laurie Celebrates her 10 Year Anniversary!

Congratulations to Laurie (right) who celebrated her 10 year anniversary as the Lehigh Valley Center for Sight's book-keeper! Her anniversary rose is presented by our administrator, Rosanne(left).

Thanks Laurie for a job well done!

Kathy's 8th Year Here!

Rosanne presents an anniversary rose to Kathy Loch in honor of her 8 year anniversary at the Center for Sight...but that's only part of the story! Kathy is actually celebrating her 42-year anniversary in eye care. Kathy started with Drs. Panayatova and Elzeneiny in 1970. When Dr. Panayatova joined the Center for Sight in 2004, Kathy joined as well. Congratulations to Kathy on her many years of dedicated service to our patients!

Melissa cracks the first year

Rosanne, our administrator presents Melissa Howlett a rose to celebrate her 1 year anniversary . Melissa has been a Ophthalmic Technician to our surgeons in our Allentown office. Congrats Melissa!

Featured employee - Bobbi Spain

Bobbi and her neice Mia

Bobbi one of our advanced lens technology (ATL) and LASIK coodinators has a special talent.  Over the past 3 years she's made over 125 quilts to help preserve people's most precious memories.  Although she most commonly make the quilts out ofspecial t-shirts, shes also made quilts from saved neckties, handkerchiefs and baby clothes. Bobbi has received special requests for sports team and college quilts too!  You can see photos of her quilts on her Facebook page link below.


Memory Quilts Link

Staff Celebrate with new T-Shirts!

Pictured left to right are members of our Allentown office staff: Lois Potenzi, Donna Stettler, Jenelle Triscari, Melissa Hunter, Eileen Konigsberg, Carolina Tavarez

The Lehigh Valley Center for Sight  is proud to be the Official Ophthalmologist, the Official LASIK Doctor, and the Official Team Eye Doctors for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.  Thanks to a great suggestion by Lois Potenzi, our staff members are invited to enjoy casual Fridays by wearing their official (can we say official enough) blue Lehigh Valley Center for Sight/IronPigs t-shirts every Friday during the season.  We are proud of our affiliation with the IronPigs, and we'll show our pride each Friday!  Thanks Lois (pictured here far left) for a great suggestion!

An "official" shirt.

Dr. Ross and Andrew Ferretti PA-C educate local optometrists

As one of Lehigh Valley's most established comprehensive ophthalmic eye care facilities, the doctors at the Lehigh Valley Center for Sight always strive to improve eye care in the Valley. One method is to offer continuing educational courses for local optometrists.  This is an excellent way for all primary eye care doctors to not only keep current with ophthalmic medical information but also provides a way for us to share the latest breakthroughs in cataract surgery, laser vision correction techniques, glaucoma and retinal conditions, as well as treating other eye conditions.

Attending optometrists can learn how to interpret various eye conditions, see actual case studies, receive updates on managing difficult glaucoma and retinal cases. The Lehigh Valley Center for Sight is proud to play an important role in the continuing education of our eye care professionals in the Lehigh Valley. Our goal is to ensure that our patients and local residents are receiving the highest quality eye care available.

Most recently, Dr. Daniel Ross and Andrew Ferretti PA-C presented our local optometrists with an educational program at the Best Western of Lehigh Valley on June 21st. More than 50 local optometrists attended the lecture and had the opportunity to meet and discuss individual cases with our specialists.

Dr. Ross

Andrew Ferretti, PA-C

Debra's Little Angel

Debra Porter has been a clinical coordinator at the Lehigh Valley Center for SIght for the last 16 years.  At home she's "MOM" coordinator, enjoying raising Averi her 5-year old.  Averi pictured above demostrating her beautiful smile with her father, Eric at the 2012 Special Olympics in Wind Gap, PA! Averi enjoyed participating in the Wind Gap Special Olympics since she was 3-years old and looks forward to participating again next year.

Our First CPSS and the first in the state of Pennsylvania

In keeping with our continued effort to maintain the highest standard of care, the Lehigh Valley Center for Sight is proud to announce Mandy Bolton, our Bethlehem office manager, is the first person in the state of Pennsylvania to obtain a CPSS certification. CPSS is a Certified Patient Service Specialist.  Currenty the JCAHPO certification is completed and held by our technical staff. The new CPSS certification is now available for our front office staff. To become a CPSS, Mandy was sponsered by the Lehigh Valley Center for Sight and had to take courses encompassing Human Resources, HIPAA, customer service / practice standards, insurance billing / coding, abbreviations of medical terminology, ophthalmic facilities and equipment, anatomy and physiology of the eye, scope of practice / optical dispensary, common ophthalmic diagnosis, eye exams / triaging ocular emergencies, spelling of commonly used words and OSHA.  After Mandy completed the distance learning courses, she completed a 2 hour, 130 question examination. Mandy scored above a 95% on the test and became the first CPSS in the entire state!

Featured employee - Christina Dean

Lehigh Valley Center for Sight's Christina Dean, front office staff member,  has been "sk8ing" with the Lehigh Valley Roller Girls (LVRG) for 2 ½ years now. The LVRG are a local roller derby team. She got started in roller derby thanks to her coworkers encouragement. After being diagnosed in 2009 with Graves Disease, Christina knew she needed something to keep her active and roller derby fit that purpose. Her "sk8er" name is Leveling Levi, which was given to her by one of her teammates (Logie Votion), because Christina wore jean shorts to practice for almost 6 months.

Christina loves "Derby" for many reasons. Not only is roller derby an exciting sport, it also provides a great family atmosphere.  She loves that kids come out to see them skate! Derby is also great way to get involved with the community. LVRG does a fundraiser or appearance once a month. She feels a strong connection with the members of LVRG and the residents of the Lehigh Valley -- "Because the Roller Girls live and work in the LehighValley, we get to see our fans out in the town or coming into our work!"

You can see Christina at LVRG events, or in our front office in Allentown and Bethlehem!

Staff Members helping MDA!

We are pleased and proud to have our staff "jailed" for the MDA lockup. Together they raised $468.00 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association! Thank you these exceptional ladies who give so much of themselves on and off the job!

Shelly from our phone room

Dani (on left) - front office and her daughter on right

Val celebrates 19

Val celebrates her 19th year of caring for our patients with a yellow rose presented by our practice administrator.  Thanks Val!