CHICAGO, IL – February 11, 2015 – Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, the Illinois Eye Institute (IEI), under the leadership of Dr. Dominick L. Opitz, associate professor of optometry, will conduct a weekly eye clinic at The Loretto Hospital to provide specialized eye care diagnosis and treatment to patients with mild-to-serious eye conditions.
Dr. Opitz’s arrival could not be timelier with the recent accomplishment of Loretto’s Senior Ophthalmologist Dr. Mark J. Benjamin, who advanced to the forefront in cataract surgery when he performed the hospital’s first dropless cataract procedure on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, and was the first to utilize the new dropless cataract technology in Illinois, according to Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, the San Diego, CA, company that formulated the medication.
“Having a team of eye doctors of this caliber at The Loretto Hospital who truly cares about this community - and delivering positive health outcomes - is a huge win for us,” said Dr. Sonia Mehta, CEO and CMO of Loretto Hospital.
Dr. Opitz is a multidisciplinary in medical/surgical eye care and specializes in treating patients with glaucoma, uveitis, and ocular surface disease. He received his undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago, and earned his doctorate of optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1996. Following graduation, he completed a hospital-based primary care/ocular disease residency at the Hampton Virginia Veterans Administration Medical Center from 1996- 1997.
Since 2006, Dr. Opitz has been a full-time faculty member at the Illinois College of Optometry, and is currently an Associate Professor in the department of clinical education. In addition, Dr. Opitz serves as the senior director of ophthalmology services and practice development for the Illinois Eye Institute and is the director of continuing education for the Illinois College of Optometry. Together, Dr. Opitz and Dr. Benjamin will provide a full-range of eye care services including: comprehensive eye exams, glaucoma screenings and treatment, cataract evaluations and treatment, diabetic eye care, macular degeneration evaluations, dry eye treatment and surgical consultations.
When asked about bringing his expertise to Loretto, Dr. Opitz said: “I’m really excited about this [partnership]. There is definitely a need for these types of eye care services in underserved communities like Austin. So, it’s really about providing excellent care and access to quality health care regardless of one’s ability to pay.”
For more information about The Loretto Hospital’s Eye Clinic call 773-854-5306.
About The Loretto Hospital
The Loretto Hospital is a not-for-profit, community-based, and acute care hospital located on Chicago’s Far West Side of Chicago. Founded in 1939 by a group of community doctors to create a patient centered hospital that would serve the community regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, Loretto has provided comprehensive medical care and social support services to the Austin Community for 75 years. Although the largest percentage of the hospital’s patients resides in Austin, neighboring communities and suburbs also utilize Loretto as a healthcare resource. For more information, please visit lorettohospital.org.
About Illinois Eye Institute (IEI)
The Illinois Eye Institute is a nonprofit multi-specialty eye center that provides comprehensive eye care to individuals of all ages from the Chicago area and beyond. The IEI treats patients regardless of their financial status, providing charitable services and outreach programs to people in need. With more than 100,000 patient visits annually, the IEI is not only Chicagoland’s largest eye care provider, but one of the largest in the United States. For more information, please visit illinoiseyeinstitute.org.