Monthly Archives: February 2012

Westbury, NY (February 16, 2012) – On Thursday, February 9, Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island (OCLI) received a special recognition award from the American Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” (MSABC). OCLI is an independent ophthalmology practice on Long Island with 9 locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties and 260 employees. OCLI was the 7th largest fundraising team in the nation for MSABC’s annual walk that took place at Jones Beach in October 2011. A longtime supporter of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, OCLI is proud to be a Local Flagship Sponsor of the Walk. As a Flagship Sponsor, the OCLI team raised a total of $52,790.

“We are proud to be a sponsor of MSABC and honored to receive this award from the American Cancer Society,” said Tom Burke, CEO of OCLI and OCLI Team Member. “I am pleased to announce that we will continue to sponsor the MSABC Walk in October 2012. Not only is this an opportunity for OCLI to join the community to fight back against breast cancer, it is also a way to inspire hope by raising funds and awareness to help those facing the disease and save lives”.

The OCLI team was lead by Ellen Corcoran and Jennifer Messina. Ellen is the office manager of OCLI’s Lynbrook and East Meadow offices and Jennifer Messina is Executive Assistant at OCLI’s Westbury Central Business Office. More than $1.5 million in total was raised by thousands of dedicated community members who participated in the inspirational walk at Jones Beach to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate people about the disease and raise funds and awareness to create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays. More than 200 Making Strides walks take place nationwide each year to celebrate people who have battled breast cancer, educate people about ways to reduce their risk, and empower communities to join the fight.

The money raised from the MSABC Walk helps the American Cancer Society to save lives by helping people stay well by taking steps to prevent cancer or find it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking research and by fighting back by encouraging lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. It is not too late to donate to the OCLI team. Donations are still being accepted online at www.ocli.net by using the pink ribbon and “Donate to our Team” link.

For more information about Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and other American Cancer Society breast cancer programs, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline.

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

About Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island
OCLI, one of the largest ophthalmology practices in the nation, consists of 25 eye doctors and specialists representing most subspecialties of ophthalmology and optometry in 9 locations throughout Long Island; in Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, Valley Stream, East Setauket, Manhasset, East Meadow, Port Jefferson, Inwood and Mineola. OCLI also has a research department that is involved in FDA studies to improve the treatment and diagnosing of ophthalmic diseases. For more information, please call 1-866-SEE-OCLI (1-866-733-6254) or visit http://www.ocli.net.

Media Contact:
Sara Rietbroek, InfiniTech
516.829.5502
sriet@infinitechpronline.com

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Read about Dr. Gerard D’Aversa and his daughter Jaclyn D’Aversa in Eye on medical do-gooders as seen in Newsday on February 20, 2012. Click here to read more.

February 13, 2012 (Westbury, NY) – Garden City residents Dr. Gerard D’Aversa and his daughter Jaclyn are being featured in a national ad campaign for Marchon Eyewear. Dr. D’Aversa, an ophthalmologist at Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island (OCLI) and Jaclyn have appeared in a series of print ads that are currently running in national optical trade magazines. They are also featured in a video on Marchon’s website:
www.marchon.com/EyeMakeaDifference/drgerard.html

In the video, the D’Aversas talk about their Unite for Sight mission trip to Accra, Ghana where they spent ten days at the North Western Eye Clinic providing clinical care, vision screenings and implementing educational programs for children and adults. Dr. D’Aversa performed sight-restoring surgery and brought medical supplies and equipment. He also trained the clinic’s director, Dr. Michael Gyasi, how to perform modern cataract surgery using phacoemulsification. “Prior to our trip, Dr. Gyasi was performing large-incision surgery on his patients which usually requires longer healing times,” said Dr. D’Aversa. “When performing surgery with the phaco machine, the incisions are much smaller and no stitches are needed which leads to a much faster visual recovery.”

With the acquisition of the phaco machine and the training he received from Dr. D’Aversa, Dr. Gyasi became the second doctor in the entire country who was able to perform modern cataract surgery, essentially changing the way medicine and cataract surgery are being performed in Ghana today.

Unite for Sight, based in New Haven, CT, is a nonprofit organization providing eyecare worldwide and offering high-impact, hands-on public health opportunities for volunteers. Unite for Sight only pays for the surgeries; the phaco machine that was used by Dr. D’Aversa to train Dr. Gyasi was donated by Island Eye Surgicenter in Carle Place. The D’Aversas received a tremendous amount of support from a number of other sources including companies that donated lenses and medical supplies, donations from family members and OCLI patients, fundraisers and a young elementary school student who collected hundreds of eyeglasses by placing boxes in local shops and going door to door. “Without the support of so many, we never would have been able to carry out our mission,” said Dr. D’Aversa.

“We were thrilled to be chosen by Marchon Eyewear for the ad campaign,” said Jaclyn, currently a senior at Barnard College of Columbia University. “My dad and I are excited about sharing our story about how we were able to make a difference in the lives of many people while sharing an unforgettable experience.”

Headquartered in Melville, NY, Marchon Eyewear is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of eyewear and sunwear that exemplifies supreme quality, fashion forward trends and technological innovation.

To view the ad and video, please visit www.ocli.net, OCLI’s Facebook page, YouTube or Marchon’s website at: www.marchon.com/EyeMakeaDifference/drgerard.html

Several experts of Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island (OCLI) participated in a point-counterpoint discussion for Ocular Surgery News (OSN) about several ocular surface diseases. Dr. Eric D. Donnenfeld, OSN Cornea/External Disease Editorial Board member, moderated the discussion panelists, who included OCLI Drs. Marguerite McDonald and Henry Perry. The doctors weighed in on the diagnoses and treatments of refractive ocular allergy, cystoid macular edema in a diabetic patient with cataracts, increase in intraocular pressure and managing vitreous loss.

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On Wednesday, February 1, Dr. Russell Fumuso of Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island (OCLI) spoke to a group of approximately 40 seniors at St. Agnes Parish Center in Rockville Centre. Dr. Fumuso spoke for about an hour and a half about Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration and Cataracts. After the presentation, Dr. Fumuso answered questions from the audience pertaining to the topics he discussed and about ocular health in general. All those who attended received giveaways and information compliments of OCLI.

In honor of national Glaucoma Awareness month, Dr. David Sachs, MD, of Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island (OCLI) spoke to a group of seniors at the East Meadow Public Library on Thursday, January 19. In addition to a two-hour lecture filled with various Q&A’s from the audience, Dr. Sachs and staff also performed vision and glaucoma screenings on individuals that chose to stay after the lecture. Topics discussed ranged from macular degeneration, both wet and dry, cataracts, LASIK surgery and glaucoma. Dr. Sachs discussed at length the symptoms and follow up actions necessary to address each disorder that was mentioned.

Pictured in the photo is Dr. David Sachs of OCLI’s East Meadow office (left) with Joseph McDonough of East Meadow (right). Also pictured in the photo in the back is Sara Sullivan, a Assistant Office Manager at OCLI’s East Meadow office.

Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island’s Dr. Gerard D’Aversa and his daughter Jaclyn D’Aversa have been selected to be honored by Marchon in their Eye Make A Difference Campaign because of the extraordinary difference they made during their trip to Ghana with Unite for Sight. Click here to view the video.

Dr. Eric Donnenfeld was named the recipient of the 2010 Distinguished Service Award by the Nassau Surgical Society. He was recognized for his professional excellence, generous contributions and leadership within the ophthalmology community. One noted example of his contributions was a trip to Armenia where he performed glaucoma surgery on patients who otherwise didn’t have access to quality eye care. The Nassau Surgical Society described Dr. Donnenfeld’s dignity, grace and humor, and remarked that he “has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues, family and friends.”