Orlando Central - Issue #8 (October 2021)

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OFM_Dept_Health_1021_DEPT 9 / 27 / 21 1 : 46 PM Page 2 take advantage of RMA , a nationally renowned net - is an option for advanced cases . “ There’s no downtime , practically , for most of work of clinics that has a 20 % higher success rate “ This is definitely preventable , ” Dr . Kumar those things , ” Dr . Salamon says . “ That’s obviously than the national average when it comes to successful says . “ If we detect it and find it early , we can treat very exciting because not only is it minimal pregnancies . Dr . Patounakis shares his recom - it . That’s the key . ” downtime but they have a very high success rate , mendations for when it is time to seek help . around 70 to 80 % , which is seven or eight out of “ One big determinant is age , ” he says . 10 women who have these problems that we can “ Women under 35 , if they’ve actually treat within the office environment . been trying for 12 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION “ And for the ones who need to go to the oper - months to become pregnant and it hasn’t hap - ating room , we actually have the most advanced pened , then it’s time to seek a specialist . If they’re minimally invasive interventions that also require over 35 and they’ve been trying for six months Women’s minimal downtime . For bladder control it’s liter - to become pregnant and it hasn’t happened , then ally a couple of days . For larger problems like pro - they should also see a specialist . Health & lapse , which is the physical drop of the bladder or “ If there are any known issues of fertility such other organs , we have robotic procedures that only as irregular periods that don’t come every month , Wellness require a couple of weeks of downtime . ” or if there’s a known issue on the male side of the RESOURCE GUIDE No matter which course of treatment is equation , then … they should be seeking the care decided upon , Dr . of a specialist even sooner . ” Salamon hopes to continue edu - Dr . Patounakis adds that women have more cating women about the positive outcomes that can B R E AS T C A N C ER S UPPORT options than ever when it comes to fertility treat - be achieved . In the past , many considered PFDs Florida Breast Cancer Foundation ments . And the common fear that he hears — that a part of life and something they had to learn to ( 321 ) 972 - 5534 women are going to become pregnant with triplets deal with , but he stresses that even the smallest issues FloridaBreastCancer.org or quadruplets as a result of in vitro fertilization — should lead them to see a medical professional . D E R MATOL O G Y is no longer a concern . “ Urogynecology , which is the field that is offi - Associates in Dermatology cially known as female pelvic medicine and recon - [ T ] he answer is that if it’s done the safe way — “ Multiple Locations structive surgery , was born about 25 to 30 years which is the way that we do it by transferring one ( 800 ) 827 - SKIN ( 7546 ) ago , ” he says . “ We have made so many strides in embryo at a time — no , that’s not going to happen , ” DermOrlando.com terms of opening up the discussion about he says . “ You may get twins because the embryo bladder control issues and prolapse issues . These splits when it’s inside of you , but that’s about it and H E A LT H C A R E are now things that are talked about that you that’s pretty rare . That happens about 1 to 2 % of Community Health Center wouldn’t imagine that anybody would have the time . The fear that treatments are going to make 11 Locations talked about on Oprah or Dr . Oz or in a mag - you end up like Octomom or something , that’s a ( 407 ) 905 - 8827 azine . There is definitely a much increased thing of the past — the distant past . ” CHCFL.org awareness about these things . Unfortunately , there are a lot of misconceptions , especially with Diabetic retinopathy I N F E RT I L I T Y younger women who think they’re too young to According to The Office on Women’s Health , dia - RMA Florida have this problem . … We want to make sure we betes affects about 15 million women in the Lake Mary increase the awareness and add to the level of United States , and compared to men with the dis - ( 407 ) 804 - 9670 awareness that is already improving over the last ease , women have not only a higher risk for heart RMANetwork.com decade or so in the United States . ” disease but also a higher risk for blindness . Florida Retina Institute , a team of fellowship - trained oph - N U TRI TIONI S T / D IE TI C IA N thalmologists with 10 locations throughout Women’s infertility Courtney Cayman , MS , RDM , CLT Central Florida , specializes in the treatment of Similar to PFDs , there has long been a stigma Central Florida / Telehealth diabetic retinopathy , which causes damage to associated with women’s infertility , and many of ( 407 ) 494 - 6194 retinal blood vessels and can lead to vision loss . those affected have chosen to keep the issue pri - CourtneyCayman.com Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy may vate . Dr . George Patounakis , medical director at include blurred vision or floaters , but many Reproductive Medicine Associates ( RMA ) of O P H THAL MOL O G Y patients experience no signs of a problem at all , Florida , has seen progress in this regard and notes Central Florida Eye Specialists which makes routine dilated eye exams crucial . the benefits of social media in helping to find Multiple Locations “ The American Academy of Ophthalmology others dealing with the same problem . ( 407 ) 896 - 1400 recommends annual eye exams for Type 1 and “ [ B ] ut we still have a long way to go in terms TheEyeSpecialists.com Type 2 diabetes , ” says Dr . Jaya Kumar , a board - of making it just like any other issue , ” he says . certified vitreoretinal specialist at Florida Retina “ People who have high blood pressure or high Florida Retina Institute Institute . “ When patients are seen and they are cholesterol , you’ll see them talking at parties like , Multiple Locations noted to have abnormalities , they may have to ‘ Oh , I’m on this medication now , ’ or ‘ I’m on this ( 407 ) 849 - 9621 come in more frequently . When the primary diet because I have high cholesterol or blood pres - FloridaRetinaInstitute.com doctor or endocrinologist first diagnoses you with sure . ’ But you don’t really hear that about infer - U R G E N T C A R E diabetes , you should come in and see an eye tility . There’s still that stigma associated with it , America’s Urgent Care doctor within a few months of your diagnosis . ” but both are still medical conditions and we Hunter’s Creek should approach them and think about them in f detected early , diabetic retinopathy can be I ( 407 ) 240 - 0129 similar ways . ” treated with medication , controlling blood sugar AmericasUrgentCare.com Women who are having trouble conceiving can levels and laser procedures . Vitrectomy surgery ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM october 2021 ORLANDO FAMILY 63

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OFM_Florida Retina Institute Profile_1021FINAL_CEN.qxp_Profile 9 / 27 / 21 3 : 13 PM Page 1 An Eye on the Future prevent vision loss and blindness . If you have maintaining a balanced diet , exercising and regularly Patients with vascular disease diabetes or high blood pressure , make sure to get seeing their primary care physician or endocrinologist . may develop serious vision your eyes checked . ” If abnormalities in their eyes are detected , the best For more than four decades , Florida Retina In - plan of action will be determined by Florida Retina problems , but the team at stitute has been providing groundbreaking care for Institute . Florida Retina Institute is a wide range of issues affecting the eyes , and it con - “ We have different treatments based on the focused on preventing major tinues to treat severity of the disease , ” Dr . Kumar says . “ There are patients of all ages at 10 locations different medicines we inject in the eye , some of throughout Central Florida . Retinopathy is one of damage down the line . them are steroids and others are called anti - VEGF the practice’s specialties , and its experienced staff of by MATT COSENTINO agents that can help prevent vision loss and improve fellowship - trained ophthalmologists goes to great vision . We have laser treatment available to prevent lengths to ensure the public is educated about the iabetes is said to be abnormal vessels from growing and bleeding . Then effects of diabetes and hypertension . one of the fastest - for the really advanced stages we perform surgery to As Dr . Kumar notes , many patients are surprised growing chronic D clear blood or to repair retinal detachments . ” to hear that vascular diseases commonly have a diseases in the world , Dr . negative impact on their eyes . “ Diabetes and high Kumar , now in her fourth year at Florida and in the United States blood pressure often affect peripheral vision , meaning Retina Institute , is confident that patients will feel alone there are 1.5 mil - the edges of the retina , and don’t necessarily involve safe and secure the minute they enter the office . lion new cases each year . the central part of their vision until later on in the “ It’s really patient - centered care , and we focus The numbers for hy - disease process , ” she says . “ They may not even have on tailoring treatments to what’s best for each pertension are even Dr . Jaya Kumar symptoms until they develop very severe conditions patient , ” she says . “ We have an excellent , caring more alarming , with like retinal detachments . support staff , from the patient coordinator who nearly half of all American adults experiencing “ Some diabetic patients between the age of 20 answers the phone to the receptionist who helps high blood pressure and being in jeopardy of and 40 have lost vision completely in one eye , and in with check - in and all of our technicians who walk heart disease or stroke . the other eye they’re patients through their checkups . We have received a barelyhanging on because there’s What , exactly , does this have to do with the lot of positive feedback from patients who actually so much damage to the retina from a lack of oxygen eyes ? Surely , vision is not the first concern that enjoy coming to their appointments . ( ischemia ) or scar tissue . Ultimately , many require comes to mind for someone who receives a diagnosis “ Another highlight is our state - of - the - art tech - surgery , but unfortunately , their long - term visual of diabetes or hypertension — but it shouldn’t be nology that has really helped us grow our practice . prognosis can be poor due to the chronic disease . ” too far down the list . We’ve even expanded into the teleretinal imaging Dr . Kumar says the most common symptom Over time , these conditions can lead to retinopa - platforms , especially during COVID . But the real key of retinopathy is blurred or distorted vision , when thy , in which the retinal blood vessels are damaged is the leaders of our practice , a group of 13 doctors all patients develop macular edema or swelling in the and retinal function is compromised , resulting in center part of their vision . Increased floaters , flashes , fellowship - trainedat the top institutions in the country vision loss or even blindness . The good news is that decreased clarity of colors and difficulty with night who are down to earth , compassionate and their No . these complications can be avoided with regular vision are other issues to look for . 1 focus is providing excellent patient care . ” checkups , and the team at Florida Retina Institute is Of course , many patients do not have any eager to help . symptoms at all until it’s too late , which is why “ The eyes really are the window to so much of routine dilated eye exams are so important . The what’s going on in the vascular conditions of the Florida Retina Institute American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends body , ” says Dr . Jaya Kumar , a board - certified vit - Multiple locations in Central Florida annual checkups for those with Type 1 and Type 2 reoretinal specialist at Florida Retina Institute . “ Di - including Orlando , Kissimmee , diabetes , and they should schedule a visit with an abetes and high blood pressure affect every blood Lake Mary and Clermont eye doctor a few months after their diagnosis . vessel in the body , so it’s really important not to ( 877 ) 357 - 3846 Patients are encouraged to control their diabetes ignore any symptoms you might be having . Early FloridaRetinalnstitute.com or hypertension by keeping up with their medications , detection and treatment are crucial to helping 64 ORLANDO FAMILY october 2021 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM

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