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Lee County Edition Summer 2020

FEATURED ARTICLES

Vein Specialists

4Lesson Learned

Revolutionary Rehab

Compression Relief Delivered

3Gulf Coast Audiology

6Acute

Wound Care

Advanced Spineworks

7

Hal L. Bozof, DPM South Florida Eye Clinic

Eliminate Hammertoes

20,000 Documented Eye Floater

Laser Sessions

6 8

Discover Your Clues of Venous Insufficiency

(see Service With A New Smile, page 2)

KATRINE A. FARAG, DMDJOSEPH H. FARAG, DMD

Service With A New SmileRebuilding that beautiful bite may be easier than you think

Commercial and recreational boaters alike were dealt a disappointing surprise a couple of months ago when

the Canadian-based parent company of Evinrude outboard motors announced it would no longer be making the popular boat engines.

Martin Nyberg of Hill Marine Service in Fort Myers was among those greatly a� ected by the news.

“I work for an Evinrude dealer doing outboard motor and pleasure boat repair,” Martin reveals. “We’re a warranty and service center for Evinrude but, unfortu-nately, they’re not going to be making the boat engines anymore.

“� e good thing is, we’re still going to be doing warranty work on all the motors that are still out there, so I’ll still be working on them for the next eight to 10 years. We just won’t be selling any new ones, which is kind of a bummer.”

It’s not just boats and boat engines that Martin repairs. In his spare time, the 44-year-old has been restoring a 1966 Pontiac Tempest that he’s had since he was 19. � e engine and trans-mission have been replaced, and he’ll soon move on to the interior.

“It was the second car I ever owned, and I guess you could say I’ve grown attached to it,” Martin says. “I’ve got it back in pretty decent shape, with all the lights and exterior things working, so I’m almost there with it. It’s a fun hobby.”

Like the boat engines he works on and that Pontiac, Martin’s teeth had fallen into a state of disrepair over the years. But it wasn’t until last year, after a friend asked him to be in his wedding, that Martin decided to take care of the problem.

“I knew I wouldn’t look good in the pictures, so I � gured it was time to � nally do something about it,” Martin explains. “My biggest worry was a missing tooth in the front. I lost that tooth about 20 years ago when I fell and hit a concrete wall around a pool.

“My dentist at the time put a post in there, but 12 years later it came out. By then, my old dentist had retired and

I never did anything about it. Ever since then, I’ve always been a little hesitant to smile or even go out in public much.

“But then my best friend asked me to be in his wedding, and I wanted to make sure I looked good for it. � ankfully, my friend’s mom works at a dentist o� ce, so I went there to see what could be done about that tooth.”

Bridging the Gap That office is Advanced Dentistry of Fort Myers. During Martin’s � rst visit he met with Katrine A. Farag, DMD, who found more than just a missing tooth that needed repair.

“What inspired Martin to visit us initially was that missing right lateral incisor, which is the tooth right next to the two front teeth,” Dr. Farag says. “When I started my examination, however, I discovered he was missing a number of teeth, especially in the back.

“He told me he had been missing those teeth for a while, for many years actually, and what unfortunately happens when you’ve been missing teeth for many years like that is you begin to lose a lot of bone structure and eventually your whole bite collapses. � at’s what happened to Martin. He

was missing a lot of teeth, mostly on the top, so when he would bite down, the lower teeth went straight up to the gum where he was missing the upper teeth.

“The same thing was happening with that missing tooth in front. A lower tooth was going straight into the space where that missing top tooth had been, so the challenge was � tting something into that space.”

In taking on that challenge, Dr. Farag determined she would need to rebuild Martin’s bite. To do that and correct the aesthetic problem created by the missing front tooth, she would need to extract a few other teeth as well.

The fact that some of Martin’s remaining teeth were infected made that decision easier. � e di� cult part for Martin was deciding how to replace all the missing teeth. He had three options, though Dr. Farag quickly cut it to two.

“A lot of people in a situation such as Martin’s come in thinking they’re going to need to get dentures,” Dr. Farag reports. “Many of them assume that’s their only option. But that’s not the case at all. In fact, I told Martin, You’re too young for dentures.

BEFORE

AFTER

For additional health care information,

visit us on the web at

The online

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Comprehensive Dentistry

Katrine A. Farag, DMD, earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University after completing undergraduate studies in neuroscience at Vanderbilt University. She is a member of the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Farag stays up to date on the latest technologies and is a certi� ed Invisalign® provider. Dr. Farag has worked in public health, as well as private practice. She has provided pediatric and adult dental care in Southwest Florida for more than eight years.

Joseph H. Farag, DMD, earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry after completing his undergraduate degree at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Farag served an implant residency at the Misch Institute and is trained in advanced laser dentistry. He is a

member of the American Dental Association, American Association of Dental Practitioners, American Academy of Operative Dentistry and International Association of Dental Researchers. He is a diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Find them on the web at www.advanceddentistryo� tmyers.com

Drs. Farag and Farag look forward to hearing

from readers of Florida Health Care News.

For more information or to make an appointment, call

them or visit their o� ce, which is conveniently

located in Fort Myers at:

16601 San Carlos Blvd. (239) 466-3131

For most of the 20th century, x-ray technology had been used for medical and dental

diagnostics and is still regularly used today. X-ray imaging is a photograph that can penetrate soft tissue such as skin and muscle, but records hard, organic material such as bone, resulting in an image of the skeletal structure. While its a� ordability, simplicity and accessibility are advantages of conventional x-ray, its major disadvantage is that its images are only two-dimensional. They provide clinicians with the height and width of the targeted area, but not with a depth perception.

Fortunately, that problem has recently been resolved by something called cone beam CT, or CBCT. � is technology also uses x-ray beams to penetrate soft tissue, but unlike its predecessor, it produces 3D imaging, with signi� cantly less

radiation and more cost e� ec-tiveness than a medical scan.

“This three-dimensional technology enables us to make better diagnoses and more accurate treatment planning for everything from periodontal disease to oral pathology to dental implants,” says Joseph H. Farag, DMD, “and we have this cone beam technology right here in

our o� ce.”Dr. Farag explains the use of

the CBCT for implants: “Once

3D Advantage3D Advantage

Better Teeth, Better Overall

Health

we have our patient’s CBCT scan, we use a system called SimPlant® by Materialise, which helps us determine the perfect location for every implant. � en, for more complex cases, we use a computer-generated surgical guide. Once we design these implant cases, we send the � le to a specialized laboratory, where they fabricate the guide

out of a polymer material. During surgery, we place the guide in the patient’s mouth, which ensures that we place the implants in the exact position we had originally planned on the computer software.

“With the guide , i t takes the guesswork out of the equation,” Dr. Farag explains. “The guide fits the patient’s teeth perfectly.

It is pre-drilled and already measured to give me the exact positioning for the implants.

When you look at the statistics, it seems obvious that paying

attention to dental health could be the key in attaining overall, long-term health.

According to the U.S. surgeon general, 80 percent of the adult population has some form of gum disease.

An article in Reader’s Digest tells of an 18-year study that concluded that people with gum disease were twice as likely to die from a heart attack and three times more likely to die from a stroke.

Periodontal disease is known to wreak havoc on blood sugar levels, adding to the U.S. diabetic crisis. People with diabetes and bleeding gums have a 400 percent to 700 percent higher chance of dying prematurely from diabetes-related illness.

Mo r e t h a n 3 0 , 0 0 0 Americans are expected to die from pancreatic cancer this year. Periodontal disease appears to be strongly linked to pancreatic cancer, according to a Harvard study on 63,000 male health care professionals in which a 62 percent increase in pancreatic cancer presented in those with periodontal disease.

With so much emerging evidence on the link between healthy teeth and healthy bodies, it seems wise to pay close attention to your mouth and � nd a dentist who takes the time to monitor your dental health closely.

“So, we talked about dental implants, but because he had so little bone left in the area where he lost the teeth, the surgery required to prepare him for implants would have been very extensive. � at’s why he decided to go with a full � xed upper bridge.”

The fixed upper bridge would include replacement teeth for all those teeth that had been lost previously, including the missing tooth in the front, and it would be secured by new crowns placed on healthy existing teeth.

� e � rst step in fashioning that bridge was to extract Martin’s failing teeth. That included extracting what remained of the missing front tooth, which still had some structure to it beneath the gums.

“For this kind of bridge, you need to have enough good anchors to support it, and we were fortunate that Martin did,” Dr. Farag explains. “We prepped those good teeth with crowns to serve as the anchors.

“� e other replacement teeth were connected to those crowns so it’s all one piece. � en, for the

missing tooth in the front, we added what we call a pontic. � at’s a fake tooth, but it’s connected to the other anchors and looks and functions like a real tooth.

“The whole thing is done from a mold, and from that mold the lab makes a temporary bridge that Martin wore until the permanent bridge was ready. But even with the temporary, he could eat and smile and do everything normally.”

Con� dence Builder Martin smiles a lot these days. He was � t with a temporary bridge

in time for the wedding and later received the permanent bridge, which he’s ecstatic about. He says his new smile has made him a lot more con� dent and outgoing.

“ I t h a s changed my whole outlook,” Martin raves. “They did a beautiful job and took great care of me. I haven’t had a full set of teeth for a long, long time, but I do now, and they look awesome. I ’m s u p e r impressed with what they’ve done for me.

M a r t i n n o w v i s i t s A d v a n c e d Dentistry of

Fort Myers for regular cleanings. He’s also planning to have Dr. Farag restore his lower arch, which will require the placement of a partial. Martin says he’s con� -dent Dr. Farag will do a great job on that arch as well.

“Dr. Farag and her whole sta� are just great,” he enthuses. “� ey made me feel very comfort-able and took away any fears I had right away. I let my teeth go for

Service With A New Smile(continued from page 1)

far too long, and Dr. Farag did a great job reconstructing the damage I did.

“I’m thrilled about all that they’ve done for me and love the new smile they gave me. � at’s why I readily recommend them to anybody. In fact, I just recom-mended them to a neighbor. I told him, You de� nitely want to see Dr. Farag. She’s great.

“She makes you feel comfort-able, she gives you options for the work that has to be done and she explains everything that’s going on. She tells you what they’re doing and why they’re doing it, and the sta� is just wonderful. � ey’re all very kind and consci-entious. You won’t � nd anyone better in the area.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photos cour-

tesy of Advanced Dentistry of Fort Myers. mkb

Drianis Duran, AuD, is a board-certi� ed audiologist with clinical expertise in the areas of hear-ing loss, and dizziness and balance disorders. She holds credentials from the American Board of Audiology, the American Academy of Audiology, the Academy of Doctors of Audiology and the Florida Academy of Audiology. She has also received certi� cation from the American Institute of Balance and has trained with some of the leaders in the audiology � eld.

Visit Gulf Coast Audiology on the web at www.gulfcoastaudiology.com

DRIANIS DURAN, AUD

Find out if your hearing problems can be eased with one of the many models of state-of-the-art hearing instruments

available at Gulf Coast Audiology.Dr. Duran invites readers of Florida Health

Care News to call for a consultation or to visit her at her o� ce in Fort Myers at:

8900 Gladiolus Dr., Suite 201

(239) 267-7888

Hear Better Now

During the 34 years he spent working as an educator in and around Baltimore, Michael Savarese served in almost every capacity possible, from teacher to principal to administrator. His work

in the � eld didn’t end with his retirement.

Staying abreast of the latest news and hearing it clearly is as important as ever these days. In an e� ort to help those with hearing loss stay connected, Dr. Duran is offering patients a complimentary TV connector. Just like the one Michael received, this TV connector has a simple plug-

and-play inter face that allows the wearer of certain Phonak devices to hear the sound from T Vs and other audio devices directly through their hearing aids. To learn more about this special o� er, contact Dr. Duran’s o� ce.

“After I retired, I started my own company,” Michael reports. “It was called PACES, which stands for Parent and Children Educational Services. I mostly worked with home-schoolers.

“Home-schoolers tend to get a bad knock sometimes. People say, Why don’t you just send your kids to school? But home-schoolers are some of the most dedicated parents you can � nd, and for the most part they are very devoted to learning.

“� ink about it; when you’re teaching your kids at home, you’re teaching them every minute of the day; it doesn’t stop. Even when they go on vacation, they’re teaching them things like maps, distances and geography. So their kids are always learning.”

Now 85, Michael is still learning himself. He recently learned � rsthand how someone with a severe hearing loss can often be the last one to learn they actually have such a loss. If not for friends and family, he might still be waiting to learn that lesson.

“Like most people, I thought I could hear pretty well,” Michael says. “I didn’t hear anybody saying anything bad about me, so I � gured I was okay. And I could hear birds and things like that, so I thought everything was � ne.

“But when I would talk to my brother, my wife or my friends, I’d get a di� erent story. � ere were times when someone would say something, and I’d miss what they were saying, and someone else would say, You’re going to have to repeat that, he didn’t hear you. Again, I thought I was � ne. But when your brother, your wife and your friends are telling you you’re missing stu� , you’ve got to pay attention. So I visited my primary care physician, and she recommended I see Dr. Duran.”

A Gradual Loss Drianis Duran, AuD, a certi� ed audiologist with Gulf Coast Audiology, says Michael is typical of many of the patients she sees, because others were more bothered by Michael’s hearing loss than he was.

“When I ask a new patient, What brings you here today? the answer is usually, My wife or my husband, or the patient points to whoever brought them,” she

says. “Hearing loss is often more noticeable to others than it is to the patient.

“Because the loss is very gradual, people don’t always notice just how drastic their hearing loss is. Many even think their family exaggerates, that they hear well but their spouse mumbles or talks while walking away from them, things like that.

“Michael was having that problem, but it was actually a failed hearing screening that � rst brought him to us. � at was in 2015, and I explained at that time that he had a high-frequency hearing loss. � at’s the type where you feel like you can hear, but you can’t hear clearly. � at type of hearing loss happens gradually, and what happens is you feel like you hear well and everyone around you mumbles. It’s almost like you’re hearing underwater, but you blame everyone around you because you’re in denial.”

Michael was certainly in denial. The results of his hearing screening notwithstanding, he passed on Dr. Duran’s initial recommendation to be � t with hearing aids. She knew he’d be back, though, and this past spring, Michael returned with a new attitude.

“When Michael came back to us earlier this year, he was very receptive to the idea of getting hearing aids,” Dr. Duran says. “So we talked about options and � t him right away with hearing aids, and he was very, very happy with the results.”

A Real MarvelMichael was � t with Phonak Marvel hearing devices. Among the most advanced in the industry, they contain Bluetooth technology that allows the wearer to stream audio from electronic sources such as a TV or smart-phone directly through the hearing aids.

As Michael soon found out, the direct streaming feature not only makes for a much clearer, cleaner sound, it also a� ords the wearer a new level of independence and freedom that can greatly enhance their lifestyle.

“When I’m watching TV now, it’s like the people on TV are talking directly to me,” Michael says. “It’s really amazing. I can even leave the room where the TV is and still hear the TV clearly. It’s just wonderful.”

Michael’s hearing aids also include a feature that allows him to create specific settings for different

environments. For crowded areas, for example, he can use a setting that dims the ambient noise around him and enhances the voices of those closest to him.

“With these hearing aids I can literally hear things I couldn’t hear before,” Michael raves. “I can hear all the birds. I can even hear my feet walking across the � oor. I can hear paper crumpling. I didn’t realize just how much I was missing until I got them.”

Michael’s � rst follow-up visit with Dr. Duran came at a time when her o� ce was temporarily closed because of COVID-19 concerns. But in what amounted to a virtual visit, Dr. Duran still made the same adjustments she would normally make face-to-face.

“� at � rst follow-up visit is where we address any questions and make any changes that are needed to ensure everything is working optimally,” Dr. Duran explains. “So what we did with Michael was we had him come to our o� ce and wait in our parking lot.

“Once he was there, we went down to his car, got the hearing aids, brought them back in, and from there I checked them out and read all the data. � en we gave them back and made a call to him on his cellphone and carried out the rest of the appointment on the phone.

“Michael was actually the � rst patient we did that with, and it taught us that there are a lot of di� erent ways we can treat patients, whether it’s through curbside service or sending supplies directly to their home. We’re doing a lot of that now.”

It was during Michael’s second follow-up that Dr. Duran set up the direct streaming component that has Michael hearing the TV and phone so clearly. He rates his experience with Dr. Duran and her sta� as exceptional.

“Dr. Duran is truly one of a kind,” Michael raves. “They don’t come any better than her. She really is wonderful. She diagnosed my problem and never pushed me one way or the other, and when I was ready to get the hearing aids, she stepped up and did a great job.

“I have only nice things to say about her sta� . � ey’re all so kind and helpful. I can’t imagine there’s a better a place to get hearing aids, which is why I’ve already given her name and number to some of my friends. I will recommend her to anybody.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

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Editorial Staff

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Bob Mize Gary Smith Steve TurkDistribution

Advanced Dentistry of Fort Myers

Comprehensive Dentistry

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Comprehensive Dentistry hearing Care

Visit their screening website,

eVeinscreening.com

Smooth Out Your Problem VeinsDr. Magnant welcomes all questions

regarding this article as well as other topics related to veins.

Call or visit one of the two Vein Specialists locations:

Fort Myers1500 Royal Palm Square Blvd.,

Suite 104

Bonita Springs3359 Woods Edge Cir., Suite 102

(239) 694-VEIN (8346)

Joseph G. Magnant, MD, FACS, RPVI, is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is board-certi� ed by the American Board of Surgery in vascular surgery. He earned his medical degree from Medical College of Virginia. He completed a general surgery residency at Medical College of Virginia Hospitals and a fellowship in vascular surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. Dr. Magnant focuses exclusively on vein evaluation and modern treatments in a dedicated, outpatient, vein-centered facility. Dr. Magnant is an active member of the American Vein & Lymphatic Society, Society for Vascular Surgery and Society of Vascular Ultrasound.

InstaInsta

Follow them on:

SYMPTOMS (What you feel)

✓ Leg pain ✓ Achiness ✓ Nighttime cramps or charley

horses ✓ Nighttime urination ✓ Heaviness ✓ Restless legs

SIGNS (What you see)

✓ Varicose veins ✓ Spider veins ✓ Swollen legs ✓ Cankles ✓ Discolored skin ✓ Bleeding ✓ Open wound

If you have more than one of these on each side or more than two on one side, you should consider a vein evaluation.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY

Outward signs or symptoms may not be visible

Ever since William Olson was a child, he excelled at drawing, a talent he later parlayed into a career as an architect. � e 79-year-old Chicago native owned a

successful � rm in the Windy City for more than 40 years until he retired and relocated 10 years ago to Florida.

“I graduated from the University of Illinois with a master’s degree in architec-ture in 1962,” William recounts. “Illinois is one of the toughest universities around, so I consider that quite an accomplishment. After graduation, I completed three years of apprenticeship, and then took the licensing exam. I passed it the � rst time.

Visit Vein Specialists’ website at www.weknowveins.com, or email them at info@weknowveins.com

Dr. Magnant began his evaluation by ordering an ultrasound examination of William’s legs. � e noninvasive test is performed by registered vascular sonogra-phers in Vein Specialists’ accredited vascular laboratory. The results of the ultrasound showed that William had a condition called venous insu� ciency.

“Venous insu� ciency exists when the one-way valves in leg veins that return blood from the lower legs to the heart do not close tightly,” Dr. Magnant explains. “When those valves close, they actually prolapse beyond the point of stopping blood � ow, basically like a faulty check-valve.

“Essentially, those valves open and close, then � op open the other way, which allows blood to leak and then pool in the lower legs. � at pooling creates high pressure in the veins, and that leads to the signs and symptoms of venous insu� ciency.”

Signs are indicators of disease that are visible. � ey include varicose veins, swelling, skin discoloration, bleeding veins and leg ulcerations. Symptoms are indicators that are felt but are not visible. They include heaviness, achiness or cramping, restless legs and frequent nighttime urination.

If left untreated, venous insu� ciency can progress further and cause more serious complications such as bleeding veins, break-down of the skin and venous ulcers.

The Nighttime Triad“It’s a certainty that people with vari-cose veins have venous insufficiency,” Dr. Magnant states. But other patients may not have any obvious signs on the outside. � ey may only have the unseen symptoms such as the nighttime triad of leg cramps, restless legs and frequent urination.

“William was that type of patient,” Dr. Magnant recalls. “He did not have the obvious presentation of venous insufficiency: varicose veins. But he did have achiness, heaviness, leg cramps, skin rash and discoloration of both legs. And he had these symptoms for seven years. But he did not realize that they were related to venous disease.”

Over the years, William visited several physicians seeking answers to his symptoms, but they did not recognize the problem. Patients with less recognized symptoms of venous insu� ciency are often overlooked or misdiagnosed by physicians unfamiliar with vein disorders and treatments.

“I have heard other physicians refer to the disease as varicose vein disease rather than venous insu� ciency,” Dr. Magnant states. “Varicose veins are a sign of the underlying disease, which is venous insu� ciency.

“It is important that physicians under-stand this and make the correct diagnosis so that patients with presentations other than varicose veins are not missed and have the opportunity to be treated appropriately.”

To treat William’s venous insu� ciency, Dr. Magnant chose an endovenous ablation procedure called ClosureFAST™, a thermal treatment that uses radiofrequency heat to seal damaged leaking leg veins. By sealing the diseased veins, blood � ow is naturally redirected to healthier veins, which reduces pooling in the legs and improves symptoms and signs.

“We start the ClosureFAST procedure by inserting a small intravenous catheter into the abnormal vein, and through this IV the heating catheter is inserted and advanced into the vein,” Dr. Magnant explains. “We then inject liquid with local anesthesia around the vein to collapse it around the catheter and to absorb the heat from the vein wall during the heating process.

“� e local anesthetic in the liquid helps prevent the patient from feeling pain. � e vein is then heated with radiofrequency energy, which causes it to shrink into scar tissue and get absorbed by the body.”

“During the procedure, he and his sta� explained everything that was going on,” William remembers. “Dr. Magnant took care of my right leg with this venous procedure, but he said my left leg wasn’t nearly as bad as my right leg and did not need to be treated just yet.”

Sound the AlarmCanton, Ohio, native Tris Heestand, 58, feels lucky to be retired and living in Florida – again. Tris and her signi� cant other moved to the Sunshine State the � rst time in 2006 seeking a better environment for their family.

“We wanted to raise the kids in a little better area with a better lifestyle,” Tris elabo-rates. “Florida seemed like the greatest place to start anew. At that time, we lived in the Palm Harbor area north of Clearwater.

“After a while, the inevitable happened. We headed north again for the same reason a lot of people go back: some of our family members became ill. Years later, we looked at each other one day and said, It’s time to go back to Florida.”

“We started new again,” Tris comments. “But this time, we moved into a 55-plus community in North Fort Myers, which we enjoy very much. � ere are many good people here. � ere are also friends we met up north who live in this area, and I have a sister who lives in Naples.”

Like several members of her extended family, Tris su� ers with a condition called congestive heart failure. A common symptom is leg swelling, but Tris soon learned that her swelling had another cause. Her bulging varicose veins were a clue.

“My legs hurt and were weak, and my ankles swelled terribly,” Tris describes. “� ere was a cluster of ropey varicose veins at the top of my left thigh, and one vein ran down the outside of my leg and across the outside. If I was on my feet for a while, the veins would bulge out a good half-inch.

“� e varicose veins were very sensitive. Sometimes, they would burst on their own and I’d get a bruise for no reason. I did not even have to hit them. � is typically occurred around my knee, where the skin is thinner. I would be standing there and I’d feel it. � en, I would glance down and my leg would look like somebody kicked it.”

What’s more, Tris’ large varicose veins emitted a signi� cant amount of heat energy, so much that she routinely set o� alarms at airport security checkpoints.

“Every time I went through security at the airport, I got stopped,” she recounts. “When I went through the scanning machine, the alarms would go o� . It was always from my groin area and the top of my left thigh, and there’d be nothing in my pockets and I’d be wearing shorts, so they had to search me.”

Over time, the swelling and achiness in Tris’ legs grew worse, and she decided to have them evaluated. She didn’t want the

problems in her legs to complicate her heart condition. Tris had heard people talk about Dr. Magnant, and she liked what she heard, so she called and made an appointment.

“Dr. Magnant ordered an ultrasound and discovered that I had venous insu� ciency,” Tris recalls. “He explained everything using charts, graphs and computers. He said that venous insu� ciency is when the valves in the leg veins aren’t functioning the way they should so there isn’t proper blood venous � ow.”

Under PressurePooling of blood associated with venous insufficiency leads to high pressure in the veins in the lower leg, and branches connected to those veins can become dilated. It’s these dilated branches, not the main veins, that become ropey varicose veins.

“Tris had a branch from her upper thigh that was being pressurized,” Dr. Magnant describes. “Over time, that vein unwound and progressed all the way down her leg to the front of her calf. But her problem was not that vari-cose vein. Rather, it was the leaking vein on the inside that was feeding that branch, which then became varicose.

“Our goal is always to treat the underlying venous insu� ciency, but in Tris’ case, we also had to remove the bulging varicose veins. We chose two minimally invasive procedures for her treatment: endovenous laser ablation and microphlebectomy.”

During endove-nous laser ablation, Dr. Magnant uses ultrasound imaging to place a small intra-

venous needle in the abnormal vein under local anesthesia. A catheter is advanced into the problem vein through the IV. Using laser energy, Dr. Magnant gently heat seals the walls of the diseased veins.

Over time, the sealed veins are absorbed by the body. Blood � ow from the closed veins is rerouted through healthy veins, and venous pressure is reduced back to normal levels.

“Phleb is ‘vein’ in Latin, and micro means ‘small,’ so with microphlebectomy, we make small incisions through which we remove diseased varicose veins,” Dr. Magnant educates. “We use a technique in which we inject water around the vein to essentially squeeze all the blood out of the vein, making it easier to remove the actual varicose veins. � is leads to less bruising and better postoperative results.”

“On my left leg, Dr. Magnant removed the cluster of veins at the top and the one that ran down the outside of my leg, and he sealed o� the main feeder vein on the inside,” Tris recalls. “Two weeks later, I went back and had the other leg done, but all he had to do on that side was seal one vein.

“� e next time I went through security at the airport, I didn’t get stopped. I went right through. It was the � rst time in prob-ably a dozen � ights.”

“O� -the-Charts Good”Dr. Magnant used two di� erent types of endovenous ablation to treat William and

Tris. With William, he used radiofrequency ClosureFAST, and with Tris he used laser ablation. Both procedures seal diseased leaking leg veins with heat. � e vascular surgeon also removed Tris’ varicose veins using microphlebectomy.

“My procedures were not painful at all,” Tris reports. “� ey use local anesthesia, so I just felt a little pin prick. I didn’t know what to expect, especially being awake, but Dr. Magnant made me feel very at ease and relaxed throughout the procedures.I was very pleased.

“Up and moving around the second day was a little uncomfortable, but after that, with compression hose, it was wonderful. I wish I knew it was that easy. I would have had it done years ago.”

William agrees.“� e ClosureFAST procedure that I had

was not di� cult at all,” he says. “� ere’s hardly any pain, and that really impressed me. Since Dr. Magnant performed his ClosureFAST procedure on me, my vein condition has improved and my legs feel great.

“The staff at Vein Specialists who took care of me were fantastic. � ey were quick, e� cient and calming. Dr. Magnant is o� -the-charts good and very, very profes-sional. � e entire system he has is top notch. And they move you along quite quickly there, so you are not waiting a long time. It’s very impressive.”

After having her bulging varicose veins removed by Dr. Magnant, Tris is happy with the new appearance of her legs.

“My legs look pretty good for someone who is 58 years old,” she reports. “� ere’s no swelling in my ankles anymore, and I can’t even � nd the incisions Dr. Magnant made in my leg. I’m so pleased about that.

“I also have no idea where the cluster at the top and the main vein that ran down and wrapped around my leg were. My varicose veins are gone! I’m truly thrilled with my entire experi-ence at Vein Specialists and with my outcome.”

William o� ers a word of advice to others who are experiencing symptoms similar to his own such as achiness, heaviness and nighttime leg cramps.

“I highly recommended Dr. Magnant and the ClosureFAST procedure to anybody who has venous insu� ciency and aching legs and can’t sleep at night.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Before and after images cour-

tesy of Vein Specialists.William’s photos by Jordan Pysz. Airport

photo courtesy of Shutterstock ID: 25359169. mkb

“I opened the � rm in 1968 in partnership with an older gentleman. We did residential architecture and had 18 people working with us. At one point, I developed a website-based program where clients could choose their homes and confer with contractors. We all used that program and worked in concert.”

William worked hard and actively participated in sports his entire life. His legs got pretty beat up and were often sti� and sore. Seven years ago, he started experiencing discomfort in his right leg. His doctor told him there was a problem with the blood � ow returning from his right leg.

“As time passed, my left leg was a� ected as well,” William recalls. “� ey told me there was a problem with that leg, but it wasn’t as severe as the one in my right leg. Both legs felt heavy and cramped up a lot at night, which was very painful. I had to get up and walk around.”

After William developed a red, bumpy rash on his legs, his cardiologist

r e commended a colleague who tested William’s

legs. � e specialist told William his blood � ow was � ne and no

treatment was necessary. But William’s symptoms persisted and eventually worsened. � en, in the pages of Florida Health Care News, William learned about vein disease, the actual cause of his leg discomfort and a potentially treatable disease.

“Every time I got blood drawn or visited a doctor, I found the newspapers in the o� ce and read about my problem and the latest techniques to treat it,” William relates. “I also learned that these techniques, which are proven and e� ective, are covered by Medicare, and that was very important to me.

“I held on to that information for about a year, but then I woke up one morning and had to put my legs up because of the pain. I was concerned that my problem was getting worse, so I called Dr. Magnant’s o� ce and made an appointment.”

William had saved an article about Joseph G. Magnant, MD, of Vein Specialists in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs. Dr. Magnant, a board-certified vascular surgeon, is dedicated to the modern and comprehensive evaluation of leg vein disorders and the most advanced minimally invasive treatment of those disorders.

Before After

Tris has achieved excellent results thus far, but she is still undergoing treatment

at Vein Specialists.

Discover Your CluesTris was

repeatedly singled out

for scanning at airport

security check-points, much

like this woman at

Seattle-Tacoma International

Airport on February 5, 2009. The

reason was that Tris’

high-energyvaricose

veins emitted enough heat

to set o� the alarms.

Tris’ Legs

Page 4 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2020 | Lee County Edition Lee County Edition | Summer 2020 | Florida Health Care News | Page 5vasCular surgery

Visit Acute Wound Care on the web at

www.acutewoundcare.comor call them directly:

Toll-free

(855) 949-HEAL (4325)

Locally

(239) 949-4412

Are You Suffering From

Chronic Limb Swelling?

Compression Relief DeliveredCompression device eases limb swelling from

lymphedema, vein disease

For 31 years, Carol* served Americans as an employee of the federal government. Her position was within the Social

Security Administration, where the bulk of her tenure was spent with the agency’s Supplemental Security Income division.

“SSI is actually a welfare-type program,” Carol elaborates. “It allots � nancial aid based on disability and need. I really loved my job, but I retired in 2004 and moved from New York to Florida. I really love it here, but for years now, my legs have been a mess.

“I had to have a knee replaced in one of them, and in both legs I have terrible swelling and discoloration. I hate the way my legs look and the way they bother me all the time. But thankfully, the pain is not extreme.”

In an effort to learn the cause of her discomfort, Carol visited several physicians who explained that she

had lymphedema, or excess � uid in the lymph system, and venous insu� ciency, which is improper functioning of the valves in leg veins.

“Following the diagnosis, a friend of mine from Delray Beach recommended a vascular doctor for my veins,” Carol says. “He performed several procedures on my legs, but the swelling continued, so he recommended Acute Wound Care.”

Beyond Standard Acute Wound Care is a fully accredited home medical equipment provider specializing in hospital-grade compres-sion devices and specialty wound-care dressings. � e compression pumps are designed to remove � uid that has accu-mulated in a patient’s legs or arms and are approved by most insurers.

“The pump’s limb-sized sleeves gently massage the limb, draining

any excess fluid back into the body’s circulatory system so it can be naturally eliminated,” describes Alyssa Parker, certified compression therapist with Acute Wound Care. “This alleviates swelling and many painful symptoms.

“� e pumps are highly e� ective and noninvasive, and for the legs, they are much easier to use than compression stockings. Patients generally use the pump twice a day for 45 minutes, usually in the morning and evening. While using the pump, patients simply sit back with their limbs raised to further assist with decreasing swelling.”

� e sleeves of the compression pump contain multiple chambers. During treat-ment, each chamber � lls with air. � en, each chamber releases, and the pattern repeats in a rhythmic fashion, forcing any excess � uid out of the limbs.

“The pump boosts circulation by contracting the leg muscles, assisting blood flow back toward the heart,” Alyssa remarks. “Results are often apparent immediately. Many patients see a noticeable di� erence in the swelling and the size of their limbs after their � rst 45-minute pumping session.”

� e compression pumps can also be used for patients with chronic wounds and non-healing ulcers, which can occur in people with venous insu� ciency. � e pumps assist in the wound-healing process by circu-lating the healing factors in the blood.

“For patients who have open wounds, the pumps can still be used as long as the wounds are covered,” Alyssa explains.

“Noticeable Di� erence” As soon as Acute Wound Care received Carol’s prescription, a compression therapist contacted her to answer any questions. � e therapist later delivered

the device, set it up and explained how to use and care for it.

“� e therapist who came to my home was knowledgeable, pleasant and effi-cient,” Carol says. “She was very helpful in showing me how to use the pump, which I use twice a day, in the morning and in the evening for an hour each time.

“Since I started using the pump, the swelling has de� nitely gone down. I recommend Acute Wound Care and their compression pumps to anyone with swollen legs. � ey are very good and helpful.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo courtesy of AcuteWound. mkb

*Patient’s name withheld at her request.

BEFORE

AFTER

In-o� ce procedure corrects unsightly, painful condition

Ellie Cherwick has always hated her feet.

“I just hated the way they looked,’’ Ellie laments. “And

I’ve always had problems with them.’’One of those problems is hammer-

toes, which is a bending or curling of the toes that often results in the formation of corns or calluses as the toe deformity presses unnaturally against the patient’s footwear and/or the ground.

� e condition is one that Ellie’s mother and daughter have had to deal with as well, and for years, Ellie dealt with her hammertoe issue by simply wearing closed-toe shoes to mask the hammertoes’ unsightly nature.

“� ey mostly just looked bad,’’ Ellie says of her hammertoes. “They didn’t really cause me any discomfort until just recently when they became painful. I

lot,” Dr. Bozof explains. “� e older we get, the more likely the hammertoes are to get worse. � ey are more prevalent in women, but I do see men with them as well.

“As they did with Ellie, hammertoes can become very painful,” the doctor continues. “Sometimes, they can rub against the inside of the shoe, causing a corn to occur. Unless the a� ected toe is straightened out, there will inevitably be an issue with corns or calluses.

“Sometimes, an ulcer can form as well. � is results in extreme discomfort caused by the toe hammering against the ground and can lead to an infection. Also, painful calluses may develop on the bottom of the foot due to the underlying contracture of the hammertoes.”

Progressive ProcedureDr. Bozof says hammertoes are very common and notes that in the past treatment for them was done surgically and typically required four to six weeks of recovery time. Today, however, there is a pain-free in-office procedure that eliminates hammertoes quickly.

“This new procedure starts with the application of a local anesthetic that numbs the toe,” Dr. Bozof explains. “After that, a very small opening requiring no stitches is made to release the tendon, which allows the toe to straighten out.”

Dr. Bozof says that following the procedure the patient’s toe is put in a bandage that is worn only for a day. He adds that most patients can walk on the foot with the treated toe the same day, “usually without any pain.”

Ellie confirms that the procedure was indeed painless and adds that she is

back to enjoying working in her yard and wearing most any shoe she wants again.

“I couldn’t wait to get a pedicure once the procedure was � nished,” Ellie says. “Dr. Bozof does great work. I am ecstatic with the results! I love my feet again!”FHCN staff article. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

Ellie happily

shows o� her feet

Hal L. Bozof, DPM, is board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and the American Academy of Wound Management. He is a fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons. He completed his undergrad-uate degree at Memphis State University and received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the Dr. William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. He completed a podiat-

ric surgical residency at Baptist Memorial Hospital of Memphis.

Dr. Bozof is a member of the American Podiatric Medical

Associat ion, Flor ida Podiatr ic M edical A s s o c i a t i o n a n d American Academy of Pain Management.

For more information, visit Dr. Bozof’s website at www.ftmyersfootdoctor.com

Do You Have Hammertoes, Foot Pain or Toenail Fungus?

Dr. Bozof is Lee County’s leading provider of podiatry services. He and his staff can help you get back on your feet. For more information regarding the array of services he can provide, call or

visit his o� ce in Fort Myers at:

2540 Winkler Ave.(239) 278-4100

Se Habla Español

guess they just got worse over time, so I decided to do something for myself and get them repaired.”

Ellie’s decision resulted in a visit to her long-time podiatrist, Hal Bozof, DPM, who says hammertoes are typically caused by an irregular and potentially permanent shortening of tendons and muscles that results in the deformity of the toe joints.

“� is contracture is often the cause of a muscle imbalance in the foot that causes the toe to dorsally contract, meaning the toe pushes up and the end of the toe hammers to the ground,” Dr. Bozof explains. “Frequently, it is inherited or the cause of wearing shoes that are the wrong � t.”

Dr. Bozof notes that hammertoes can develop at virtually any age, adding that it’s not uncommon for people in their 30s or even their 20s to get them.

“It can develop at a young age, espe-cially in women who wear high heels a

Eliminate Hammertoes

Bryan T. Hunte, DC, is a sports medicine specialist and chiropractor with more than 19 years of experience. He earned his

undergraduate degree in � tness and cardiac rehab/exercisescience and biology from Ithaca College. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic

degree in 2001 from National University of Health

Sciences. He is board-eligible for his diplo-mate in rehabilitation.

The sta� at Advanced Spineworks in Bonita Springs specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of

severe neck and lower back pain, whiplash and general cervical

and lumbar disorders, including arthritis and herniated discs. For more information or to schedule an appointment,

call or visit their o� ce:

16517 Vanderbilt Dr., Suite 3

(239) 221-6200Visit them on the web at www.advancedspineworks.com

Relieving Pain, Promoting

Health

When Michelle began

treatment at Advanced

Spineworks, she rated her pain as eight or nine on a scale of one to 10.

Now she rates it at zero

I t’s not often that someone aban-dons a successful 23-year career in law to chase after a medical career, but at age 44 and in the

wake of what she refers to as a life-altering four-year stay in China, that’s what Michelle Brown did.

“I moved to China with my husband, who took on a new job there, and during our stay we experienced a totally di� erent culture,’’ Michelle explains. “One of the new or di� erent things I was introduced to there was Chinese medicine.

“I had never heard of that before, but when I � rst got to China I had some real issues with allergies and asthma that weren’t being treated with pharmaceuti-cals. After a while, someone suggested I try Chinese medicine, which I did.

“Four years later, after we came back to America, I went to medical school and, � nally, about 10 years ago, I opened up my practice, where I provide primary health care through acupuncture, laser injection therapy and other Chinese modalities.”

Going back to school took quite a toll. Not mental, though. It was a physical one, brought on by the long hours sitting through lectures and labs. � ey rekindled a back issue she had been � ghting since she was a teen.

“I was diagnosed with a slight curvature of the spine when I was young, and when I was 16 I started getting chiropractic treatments for it,’’ she says. “I have no idea what kind of shape my back might be in had I not done that.

“But all that time sitting and working in school again caused another � are-up. It got so bad that I actually went to the Cleveland Clinic and saw a back specialist, who said I wasn’t a candidate for surgery and tried to correct it with physical therapy.”

Chance Meeting� e physical therapy alleviated some of Michelle’s back pain, but not enough to make her consistently comfortable. As a result, she tried other treatments such as spinal decompression, steroid injections and homeopathic medicines.

Taking a ‘highly scienti� c approach’ to alleviating chronic pain

None of those provided the relief she sought, and for years she fought daily through the pain, which was so crippling that she had to abandon her regular workout routine and even struggled to get through her days at work.

“The pain was so great that it actually made me fatigued,” Michelle says. “I had to sit a lot more than usual, because I couldn’t stand for very long. It seemed as if my neck was always falling out of alignment.”

Michelle even tried acupuncture, but that didn’t bring lost-lasting relief either.

A chance meeting last year � nally made a di� erence. While attending a health fair, she was introduced to Bryan T. Hunte, DC, of Advanced Spineworks, and shortly after made an appointment to see him.

His practice in Bonita Springs utilizes chiropractic care and goes a step further in caring for patients by taking a “highly scienti� c approach” to rehabilitation.

“That’s what makes our facility unique,” Dr. Hunte says of Advanced Spineworks. “We don’t just stop at relieving someone’s pain. We focus on the corrective phase of care using equipment that cannot be matched by traditional approaches.

“� is corrective phase of care is what restores the musculature around the injured area. When the musculature is restored, the patient experiences relief. And the equipment we use has a unique way of restoring this support even in the most severe of cases.

“In the end, our goal is to create an independent individual who can enjoy the activities they had once given up.”

Dr. Hunte started by performing a thorough evaluation, which revealed herniated discs in her lower back and neck, and a subluxation, or misalign-ment, of the vertebrae in her neck.

The subluxation was likely the greater cause of Michelle’s pain: When she stood up straight, it caused her spine to twist and tighten, and when she tried to sit down, it would cause her back to go out of alignment.

That’s why none of the remedies she tried previously provided long-lasting relief. Any correction made by a chiropractor, for example, was soon erased by the body’s response to the subluxation, the pain which radiated down to her knees.

To correct the problems, Dr. Hunte recommended Michelle undergo therapy using two of the advanced corrective devices at Advance Spineworks, the MCU machine and the Eccentron™.

Strong O� erings The MCU, or Multi-Cervical Unit, is a nonsurgical device that can diagnose weaknesses in the neck and get the patient back to normal strength through a speci� ed regimen. � e MCU creates a workout – designed around the test results to restore strength and balance in the neck – that cannot be reproduced by traditional methods in physical therapy.

� e Eccentron is a negative-resistance device on which a patient performs leg exercises that improve strength, balance and endurance. Like the MCU, it assesses the patient’s progress throughout the course of the workout and provides objective data.

� e Eccentron program consists of 30 minutes of strength training, providing up to 670 repetitions. � e combination of repetitions and the thought that goes into playing a game on the Eccentron stim-ulates atrophied muscles and reconnects them to the nervous system.

“When Michelle came here, she was all but resigned to the belief that she would continue needing adjustments and would at best just be able to manage her pain,’’ Dr. Hunte says. “But that’s not what we do here. We get to the root cause of the problem, and in the case of a disc problem such as Michelle’s, as long as the structure of the spine allows someone to get stronger, we will get them stronger 95 percent of the time. � ose are pretty good odds.”

Michelle began treatment on the MCU and Eccentron concurrently this past December. She rated her pain level as an eight or nine on a scale of one to 10 at the time, but after just nine sessions on the devices she was “totally out of pain.”

“Dr. Hunte also did some tradi-tional chiropractic work on me using some di� erent adjustments from what I previously had, but the key for me was the work on the rehabilitation machines. I was absolutely amazed by the results,” Michelle says.

“I was so impressed that I sent my husband there because he had been su� ering with shoulder pain forever, and he’s out of pain, too. I even send patients of mine to see Dr. Hunte, and the results they’ve been getting are unbelievable.

“I am incredibly fortunate to have found Dr. Hunte and Advanced Spineworks. Dr. Hunte has brought to the health care environment something that is not provided by any other health practitioner in this area. It’s a unique rehabilitation treatment that you don’t see in traditional physical therapy, and I recommend it highly.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

BEFORE

AFTER

In-o� ce procedure corrects unsightly, painful condition

Ellie Cherwick has always hated her feet.

“I just hated the way they looked,’’ Ellie laments. “And

I’ve always had problems with them.’’One of those problems is hammer-

toes, which is a bending or curling of the toes that often results in the formation of corns or calluses as the toe deformity presses unnaturally against the patient’s footwear and/or the ground.

� e condition is one that Ellie’s mother and daughter have had to deal with as well, and for years, Ellie dealt with her hammertoe issue by simply wearing closed-toe shoes to mask the hammertoes’ unsightly nature.

“� ey mostly just looked bad,’’ Ellie says of her hammertoes. “They didn’t really cause me any discomfort until just recently when they became painful. I

lot,” Dr. Bozof explains. “� e older we get, the more likely the hammertoes are to get worse. � ey are more prevalent in women, but I do see men with them as well.

“As they did with Ellie, hammertoes can become very painful,” the doctor continues. “Sometimes, they can rub against the inside of the shoe, causing a corn to occur. Unless the a� ected toe is straightened out, there will inevitably be an issue with corns or calluses.

“Sometimes, an ulcer can form as well. � is results in extreme discomfort caused by the toe hammering against the ground and can lead to an infection. Also, painful calluses may develop on the bottom of the foot due to the underlying contracture of the hammertoes.”

Progressive ProcedureDr. Bozof says hammertoes are very common and notes that in the past treatment for them was done surgically and typically required four to six weeks of recovery time. Today, however, there is a pain-free in-office procedure that eliminates hammertoes quickly.

“This new procedure starts with the application of a local anesthetic that numbs the toe,” Dr. Bozof explains. “After that, a very small opening requiring no stitches is made to release the tendon, which allows the toe to straighten out.”

Dr. Bozof says that following the procedure the patient’s toe is put in a bandage that is worn only for a day. He adds that most patients can walk on the foot with the treated toe the same day, “usually without any pain.”

Ellie confirms that the procedure was indeed painless and adds that she is

back to enjoying working in her yard and wearing most any shoe she wants again.

“I couldn’t wait to get a pedicure once the procedure was � nished,” Ellie says. “Dr. Bozof does great work. I am ecstatic with the results! I love my feet again!”FHCN staff article. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

Ellie happily

shows o� her feet

Hal L. Bozof, DPM, is board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and the American Academy of Wound Management. He is a fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons. He completed his undergrad-uate degree at Memphis State University and received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the Dr. William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. He completed a podiat-

ric surgical residency at Baptist Memorial Hospital of Memphis.

Dr. Bozof is a member of the American Podiatric Medical

Associat ion, Flor ida Podiatr ic M edical A s s o c i a t i o n a n d American Academy of Pain Management.

For more information, visit Dr. Bozof’s website at www.ftmyersfootdoctor.com

Do You Have Hammertoes, Foot Pain or Toenail Fungus?

Dr. Bozof is Lee County’s leading provider of podiatry services. He and his staff can help you get back on your feet. For more information regarding the array of services he can provide, call or

visit his o� ce in Fort Myers at:

2540 Winkler Ave.(239) 278-4100

Se Habla Español

guess they just got worse over time, so I decided to do something for myself and get them repaired.”

Ellie’s decision resulted in a visit to her long-time podiatrist, Hal Bozof, DPM, who says hammertoes are typically caused by an irregular and potentially permanent shortening of tendons and muscles that results in the deformity of the toe joints.

“� is contracture is often the cause of a muscle imbalance in the foot that causes the toe to dorsally contract, meaning the toe pushes up and the end of the toe hammers to the ground,” Dr. Bozof explains. “Frequently, it is inherited or the cause of wearing shoes that are the wrong � t.”

Dr. Bozof notes that hammertoes can develop at virtually any age, adding that it’s not uncommon for people in their 30s or even their 20s to get them.

“It can develop at a young age, espe-cially in women who wear high heels a

Eliminate HammertoesPage 6 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2020 | Lee County Edition Lee County Edition | Summer 2020 | Florida Health Care News | Page 7

Compression therapy

poDiatry ChiropraCtiC/neCk painpoDiatry

20,000 Documented Eye Floater Laser Sessions

Patients often ask Scott L. Geller, MD, “Why can’t my local doctor laser eye � oaters?”

“Because this is a niche area of interest and most ophthalmologists will not take the time to really get into it,” Dr. Geller states. “It’s a bit like plastic surgery. Any intern can make an incision and stitch skin, but it takes years of expe-rience to size up a patient, know exactly how to modify a technique and get the absolute best result possible.”

Dr. Geller has that experience. He has performed more than 20,000 eye � oater laser procedures. He also has given an impressive number of lectures around the world on his research and technique.

“Florida has some great ophthalmic centers, including the schools in Tampa, Gainesville and the Bascom-Palmer Eye Institute in Miami,” says Dr. Geller, “But their interests lie elsewhere. So, all the advances have been done here, outside academia, by private clinics.”

Understanding the PatientMany ophthalmologists don’t understand what a patient with eye � oaters is expe-riencing, Dr. Geller says. As a matter of routine, he adds, they measure the patient’s best vision, which is typically normal, check for a retinal tear or detachment and, barring anything unusual, tell the patient he or she will be � ne, because the retina looks � ne and the � oater will either fade or the patient will get used to it.

To which the patient responds, “But doctor, I can’t see.”

“It is true that, for the majority of patients, floaters do seem to fade, or the patient does get used to them,” Dr. Geller notes. “But that’s not always the case. � at’s why ophthalmologists need to listen to the patient’s problem and thoroughly

examine the vitreous gel, where eye � oaters are formed.

“If the ophthalmologist measures only the patient’s best vision on an eye chart, they may not correctly diagnose the problem and might dismiss the patient out of hand, telling them that nothing needs to be done, which may leave the patient bewildered and frustrated.

“� is is one of the areas of ophthalmology that is routinely ignored by many ophthalmologists, and the reason for this is simple: � ey don’t take the patient’s visual acuity with the � oater in the visual axis.

“We have seen patients reporting improvement of overall vision even with macular degeneration and lazy eye [amblyopia], where the floater causes interfering noise with the good eye.

Japan, the People’s Republic of China, Russia and almost every European country,” the doctor notes.

Recently, Dr. Gellerwas a featured lecturer for the fourth year in a row at an International Ophthalmology Meeting in Taormina, Sicily, Italy. Other experts from the Netherlands

and Italy presented papers on their experiences treating eye floaters with the laser as well as traditional surgery. Patients from other areas of Italy came to Sicily to be examined and treated by Dr. Geller.

“I have quite a reputation in Europe and have treated patients in Italy with the Ellex Laser, but in the US I � nd the Swiss made LASAG laser to be the best,” states

tell them they need vitrectomy surgery,” Dr. Geller notes. “But the problem with vitrectomy surgery, which is the surgical removal of the entire vitreous gel, where � oaters begin, is that it is not without its own problems.

“Most patients over the age of 40 will develop an early cataract and will need another operation as early as six months to a year later. � is is due to the physiology of the eye, not the skill of the surgeon. 

“In my hands, with my years of expe-rience, complications are rare,” assures Dr. Geller, who presented his results at the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2012, and other meetings worldwide.

Finding Dr. GellerDr. Geller con� des that patients often � nd him in a roundabout way.

“Recently, a man in West Palm Beach went to the satellite clinic of a world-famous Miami eye institute,” the doctor reports. “� ey told him they couldn’t do anything for him except vitrectomy, but they also told him there’s an ophthalmol-ogist on the west coast of Florida who can treat your eye with a laser.

“It wasn’t a direct referral, but the patient managed to � nd me and was ecstatic with his results. Subsequently, I uploaded a video of his procedure to YouTube.com and Vimeo.com, which can be found among dozens of videos I’ve posted.”

Dr. Geller cautions that not all patients can be helped with his laser procedure, though he is pleased to report that, partially due to his meticulous patient selection process, his patient results are excellent.

Laser SelectionDr. Geller also welcomes colleagues to observe or just call if they need to re� ne their own technique.

“Laser treatment of eye floaters is fascinating,” Dr. Geller says. “I look forward to doing this every day.”

Dr. Geller says that while his greatest satisfaction comes from helping patients who have been told by their own ophthal-mologists that nothing can be done, he actually welcomes the opportunity to share his technique with others in his � eld.

“Other ophthalmologists need only call me or ask one of my patients about their results,” he says. “I’m proud of our track record and of the patients we’ve helped.”Article submitted by Scott L.Geller, MD. FHCN file photo. mkb

SOUTH FLORIDA EYE CLINICSCOTT L. GELLER, MD

Scott L. Geller, MD, is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and Rush Medical College. While in medical school, he was awarded a student fel-

lowship to study tropical medicine at a missionary hospital in India, and pursued additional studies at the famous Brompton Hospital

in London. He interned at Presbyterian Hospital, Paci� c Medical Center, San Francisco, and completed his residency in oph-thalmology at Sinai Hospital of Detroit, which was affiliated with Wayne State Medical School and Kresge Eye Institute. Dr. Geller was fellowship-trained in anterior segment and refrac-tive surgery with Dr. William Myers of the Michigan Eye Institute. Dr. Geller is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and has presented papers on eye � oater laser treatment at the International Congress of Ophthalmology, European Congress of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, European Congress of

Ophthalmology and the Florida Society of Ophthalmology.

See what patients say about the Eye Floater Laser at www.vimeo.com/eye� oaters and on the Scott Geller MD YouTube channelwww.vitreous� oaters.com

For Eye Floater Solutions

South Florida Eye Clinic is located in Fort Myers at:

4755 Summerlin Rd. Call Dr. Geller at:

(239) 275-8222or toll-free at:

(877) 371-3937

SCAN THIS WITH YOUR SMART PHONE

TO SEE SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS BY

DR. GELLERwww.vitreous� oaters.com

SCAN THIS WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE

TO SEE ACTUAL PATIENTS

www.vimeo.com/eye� oaters

South Florida Eye Clinic sta� are the experts with a worldwide patient base

“At South Florida Eye Clinic, we always measure the patient’s worst vision on the eye chart to see exactly how bad the vision gets with the � oater obstructing it.”

Laser TreatmentDr. Geller has performed more than 20,000 documented eye floater laser procedures across more than 30 years of service to patients from all over the world.

“We have a worldwide patient following and have helped people from

Dr. Geller. “And we are the only facility using it in the US.”

“My � rst scienti� c presentation was at the 1989 International Congress of Ophthalmology in Singapore,” he adds. “It was followed by lectures at several conferences in China, including the pres-tigious Shanghai Eye and Ear Institute.

“Other major meetings included the 1997 European Congress of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in Prague; the 1999 Florida Society of Ophthalmology; the 2001 European Congress of Ophthalmology in Istanbul; the 2010 World Congress of Ophthalmology in Berlin; and the 2010 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in Boston. � ere was also a peer-reviewed presentation at the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Chicago in 2012.”

Dr. Geller’s latest presentations were at the prestigious Florida Society of Ophthalmology and the Orione Ophthalmic Congress in Italy, where he performed eye � oater laser sessions on selected patients.

“Many doctors tell their patients, Live with it, nothing can be done, or they

Page 8 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2020 | Lee County Edition eye Floater treatment