Julia Burley, Naples Office Manager

Burley has worked in healthcare since 1993 and in the field of ophthalmology since 1998. She was Director of Patient Care Services for 11 years at another eye care practice in southwest Florida where she supervised the front office staff, resolved patient concerns, worked with various vendors and implemented new software programs.

As the manager of Florida Eye Health’s Naples office, Burley will oversee the day-to-day operations of the largest of the practice’s four satellite offices. She will work closely with the management team from the main office in Fort Myers to ensure a smooth working environment between her Naples team and the traveling medical teams that visit the Naples office each week.

Originally from Dayton, OH, Burley has lived in Fort Myers for 45 years. She graduated from Fort Myers High School and over the years attended numerous continuing education programs to enhance her management and customer service skills. She and her husband Richard Burley have two grown sons and two grandsons.

Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS

Ophthalmologist Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, has been selected for the 2011 Best of Punta Gorda Award in the Ophthalmology Physicians category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

Dr. Frantz, medical director of Florida Eye Health, is one of southwest Florida’s leading cataract and LASIK surgeons.  Dr. Frantz and his team of ophthalmologists and optometrists offer a broad spectrum of patient-focused comprehensive care from eye exams and eyewear to cataract removal, treatment of eye diseases, 100% blade-free iLASIK laser vision correction, hearing services, and eyelid surgery.

The Punta Gorda office is one of Florida Eye Health’s five locations. Aaron Judd, OD, is the board-certified optometrist who provides routine eye care at the Punta Gorda office.

Karen Gotkiewicz, Senior Clinical Director

Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, medical director of Florida Eye Health, is pleased to announce that Karen Gotkiewicz has joined his management team as Senior Clinical Director.

A newcomer to Southwest Florida, Gotkiewicz has worked in the eye care business in West Virginia and Virginia since 1981 in various capacities. She most recently worked for three years at Vistar Eye Center in Roanoke, VA, and had previously worked for seven years as Clinical Director for a 16-physician practice with seven locations in Salem, VA. In her previous positions, Gotkiewicz assisted physicians in all aspects of patient care, trained technicians, was a certified VISX and IntraLase operator, and trained staff on electronic medical records.

As Senior Clinical Manager at Florida Eye Health, Gotkiewicz will be working with the entire medical team in every aspect of the practice. A Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT), Gotkiewicz appreciates the value of certification and looks forward to assisting any non-certified clinical team members in achieving their COA or COT status. “Training has always been a key part of my work,” said Gotkiewicz.  “I think it’s important for the staff to have the proper training whether it’s learning how to operate a new piece of equipment or having a better understanding of all the eye diseases that we treat,” she added.

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Jeffrey L. Willig, MD

Dr. Willig is a medical ophthalmologist and Uveitis Specialist.  Uveitis is a swelling and irritation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, which provides most of the blood supply to the retina. Uveitis can be caused by autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, infection, or exposure to toxins.

After receiving his Doctor of Medicine from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr. Willig performed his Medicine Internship at Manhattan Veterans Medical Center and Ophthalmology Residency at Lenox Hill Hospital. He completed an Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine.  He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Willig will see patients in the Fort Myers and Naples offices of Florida Eye Health For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Fort Myers office at 239-418-0999 or the Naples office at 239-430-3939 or request an appointment online at http://bettervision.net/contact-us/schedule-an-appointment/

Diabetic Retinopathy, a condition occurring in people with diabetes, causes progressive damage to the retina, the light sensitive lining at the back of your eye. It is a serious sight-threatening complication of diabetes.

Local Ophthalmologist Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, joins the American Academy of Ophthalmology in reminding those who have diabetes or are at risk for the disease—especially people with black, Latino, Native American or Pacific Islander heritage — that having an annual dilated eye exam is an important step toward protecting their eyes and vision, along with proper medical care, careful glycemic (blood sugar) control, and other lifestyle choices that reduce the health impacts of diabetes.

According to Dr. Frantz, medical director of Florida Eye Health, “The earlier diabetes is caught and appropriate lifestyle changes and treatment begin, the better the chance of avoiding vision loss and other health consequences.”

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:

•    Seeing spots or floaters in your field of vision

•    Blurred vision

•    Having a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision

•    Difficulty seeing well at night

Dr. Robert Sherman, a retina specialist who recently joined Florida Eye Health’s medical team, will work closely with the other doctors at Dr. Frantz’s practice and area primary care doctors to provide quality, patient-focused eye care that is so important to patients with diabetes. Dr. Frantz explained that prolonged periods of high blood sugar may lead to the accumulation of fluid in the lens inside the eye that controls eye focusing. This changes the curvature of the lens and results in the development of symptoms of blurred vision. The blurring of distance vision as a result of lens swelling will subside once the blood sugar levels are brought under control. Better control of blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes also slows the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy.

An eye doctor is an important member of the diabetes health care team. Often there are no visual symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. Part of living with diabetes and successful eye care is having a comprehensive dilated eye examination on at least an annual basis – more often for people with existing eye issues or more serious retinopathy. Early detection and treatment can limit the potential for significant vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.

Dr. Frantz and his medical team offer a broad spectrum of eye care from eye exams and eyewear to cataract removal, management of eye diseases, state of the art blade-free iLASIK laser vision correction, eyelid surgery, and hearing services at five office locations throughout Southwest Florida including Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres and Naples.  For more information, call the main office of Florida Eye Health at (239) 418-0999.

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Dr. Robert Sherman

Florida Eye Health Medical Director Dr.  Jonathan M. Frantz  has announced that Robert M. Sherman, MD, FACS, a board-certified  ophthalmologist and retina specialist, has joined the medical staff at Florida Eye Health.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Sherman as part of our team at Florida Eye Health,” said Dr. Frantz.  “I think our patients who are at risk for or have been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy or other abnormal growth of blood vessels in the back of the eye, will truly appreciate being able to receive specialized treatment at our practice.”  As part of his treatment plan for these patients, Dr. Sherman provides Lucentis and Avastin injections and performs retinal laser procedures.

Dr. Sherman received his Bachelor’s Degree and Doctor of Medicine from New York University; performed his Internship and Residency at New York Medical College, Long Island Jewish Hospital, and Queens General Hospital; and completed his Retina Fellowship at New York Medical College and Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital.  He also served as a Major and Chief of Ophthalmology in the U. S. Army at Fort McClelland, Alabama.

Dr. Sherman is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Medical Association and the Miami Ophthalmology Society.

He will see retina patients in the main office of Florida Eye Health at 12731 New Brittany Blvd., Fort Myers.   For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 239-418-0999, toll free 800-581-0999, or request an appointment online now .

Halloween is a popular time for people to use decorative contact lenses or the latest fad, circle lenses, to enhance their costumes. However, given how easy it is to obtain theses products, it’s becoming increasingly popular for people to purchase these novelty lenses all year-round; but few know the risks associated with these lenses. “Most people believe that decorative lenses do not require the same level of care or consideration as a standard contact lens because they can be purchased over-the-counter or on the Internet,” says Dr. Frantz, medical director of Florida Eye Health. “This is far from the truth.”

There is no such thing as a “one size fits all” contact lens. Lenses that are not properly fitted may scratch the eye or cause blood vessels to grow into the cornea. “The lenses may even cause an infection that could leave you with a corneal abrasion,” added Dr. Frantz.  Many of the lenses found online or in beauty salons, novelty shops or in pop-up Halloween stores are not FDA-approved and are being sold illegally. Websites often advertise decorative contacts as if they were cosmetics, fashion accessories or toys. With whimsical, playful packaging, their targets are often teens and young adults. But the increasingly popular circle lenses, which are especially liked by teenage girls, are not FDA-approved.

“All contact lens are medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye-care professional,” said Dr. Frantz. To protect the eyes, an eye-care professional measures each eye in order to properly fit contacts for the patient. Additionally, the eye-care professional instructs the patient on appropriate contact lens care. Lenses that are not cleaned and disinfected increase the risk of eye infection. Even if you have perfect vision, you need to get an eye exam and a prescription from an eye-care professional in order to wear any kind of contact lens.

Dr. Frantz says that not all patients are good candidates for contacts (prescription or decorative lenses). Patients who have frequent eye infections, severe allergies, dry eye that is resistant to treatment, a very dusty work environment or an inability to handle and care for the lenses may not be suitable candidates for contacts. An eye-care professional can help you make a decision that is right for you and your eyes.

Under a 2005 federal law, distribution of all contact lenses is restricted to licensed eye-care professionals. Illegal sale of contacts can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. Consumers should only buy decorative contact lenses from an eye-care professional or a seller who asks for a prescription.

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Note:  You Tube link to “Halloween Contact Lenses Can Be Scary”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0D_vTtVFXk&feature=player_embedded

We encourage our patients to use their flexible spending accounts, which allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for certain medical costs, including iLASIK laser vision correction, eyelid surgery, eye exams, replacement contact lenses, glasses, sunglasses, and optical accessories.  We also offer Care Credit financing plans for these services.

If you’re considering iLASIK, Dr. Frantz is now offering a $1,000 Autumn discount through December 21, 2011.  LASIK, which corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, continues to provide a greater degree of freedom from glasses and contact lenses for millions of active people in our area. What’s different about 100 percent blade-free iLASIK, which is offered exclusively in our area by Dr. Frantz, is that it utilizes IntraLase, where a beam of laser light is used to create the corneal flap, the critical first step in the iLASIK procedure.  iLASIK  is 100 percent tailor-made for the patient’s vision and the unique characteristics of their eyes.

Why not make an appointment now for a personal complimentary screening with our laser vision coordinator to learn about the procedure and find out how much it will cost. That way, if LASIK surgery is not in your budget for this year, you’ll have some idea of how much money to put into your flexible spending account for LASIK surgery in 2012. Keep in mind that the IRS will be cutting the maximum allowed in a flex spending account from $5,000 in 2012 to $2,500 in 2013.

Call our Center for Laser Vision Correction at 791-2020 or fill out the online appointment request form to schedule your complimentary LASIK screening or eye exam.

As a two-year fellowship-trained cornea and refractive specialist, Dr. Frantz concentrates his practice on cataract removal, CustomLens implants, and 100% blade-free iLASIK.  He established Florida Eye Health in 1994 and now has five locations throughout Southwest Florida. His medical team includes a glaucoma specialist, an eyelid & facial cosmetic surgeon and seven board-certified optometric physicians who provide pre and post-operative care as well as management of eye diseases and routine eye exams.

To recognize Cataract Awareness Month in August, local Cataract and LASIK Specialist Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and ophthalmologists across the country want to debunk the myths about cataracts and remind people they don’t have to live with vision loss from cataracts.

A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed for vision. They form slowly and cause no pain. Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but if the cataract does grow and begin to affect your vision, it can usually be removed with surgery.

“Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide; however, in most cases, vision loss from cataracts is reversible,” said Dr. Frantz.  “New techniques developed over the past decade have made cataract surgery one of the safest and most successful procedures available in terms of restoring quality of life to patients.” Each year there are more than 1.6 million of these delicate eye surgeries performed in the United States.

“There are no drugs or exercises that will make a cataract disappear, and contrary to popular belief, cataracts are not removed using lasers. Lasers are used in follow-up procedures, if needed. Cataract surgery is most often done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia,” says Dr. Frantz. “The cloudy natural lens can be replaced with an artificial lens to give the eye proper focusing power. In most cases, the improvement in the patient’s vision is profound.”

So how do you know if you have a cataract? Dr. Frantz explains: “Some people notice a gradual painless blurring of vision, double vision in one eye or fading or yellowing of colors. When older patients mention sensitivity to glare and/or bright light or trouble driving at night, it may be caused by cataracts. Or, if a patient needs frequent changes to his or her glasses or contact lens prescriptions, I’ll evaluate him or her for a cataract.”

Dr. Frantz wants to dispel the notion that a cataract has to be “ripe” before it’s removed. “That’s just not true. The best time to have a cataract removed is when it starts to interfere with the things you like to do.” We offer free cataract evaluations performed by one of our board-certified optometrists at all five of our locations,” Dr. Frantz added. To qualify for a free cataract evaluation, you must be a NEW patient who is at least 55 years old.

Cataract surgery, although quite safe, is still surgery. If cataracts don’t affect your quality of life, you may feel that surgery is not needed. The only person who can really decide when it’s time to have them removed is you, under the care of your doctor.  “We offer free cataract seminars throughout the year to help people learn more about cataracts,” said Dr. Frantz. A schedule of seminars can be found on this website.