Latest Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Highland Ophthalmology Celebrates Grand Opening of New Vision Center in New Windsor

New Windsor, New York (PRWEB) June 22, 2009 – Highland Ophthalmology Associates, LLC will host the grand opening of its new eye care facility in New Windsor, New York. The new 6,000 square foot, state-of-the-art specialty eye care center features nine exam lanes, six diagnostic rooms equipped with the latest in ocular imaging and testing equipment, and an expanded optical shop. Staffed with four physicians and a dedicated staff, the contemporary facility provides the highest level of eye care to its patients. "We have always strived to provide the highest level of sub-specialty eye care to patients of our community," said Dr. Mary Davidian, Founder and Medical Director of Highland Ophthalmology Associates.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled at 12 noon on Thursday, June 25th, 2009.

Highland Ophthalmology Associates conveniently accommodates local residents that require specialty eye care services. Through the expertise of board-certified medical eye doctors, it provides the latest in eye exams, diagnostics, and prescription eyewear, along with advanced cataract, corneal transplant and glaucoma surgeries. Patients no longer have to travel far distances to receive these specialty services. "In the past, patients needing specialty eye care services had to be referred to physicians in New York City or Albany, since access to Fellowship Trained Cornea and Glaucoma Surgeons was not available locally," said Dr. Thien Huynh, Glaucoma Specialist at Highland Ophthalmology. "Patients not only had to travel far distances for their surgeries, but also had to continue to travel far for their follow up care."

Dr. Mary Davidian and Dr. Thien (Tim) Huynh are board-certified ophthalmologists, medical doctors who are specially trained to provide a wide spectrum of eye care, from prescribing glasses and contact lenses to complex and delicate eye surgery. Having completed a Cornea Fellowship at the University of California at Irvine after her residency training at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in Manhattan, Dr. Davidian has worked closely with Dr. Richard Mackool, one of the innovators of modern day cataract surgery. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), the New York Keratorefractive Surgery Society, the New York Intraocular Lens Implant (NYIOL) Society, and the New York State Ophthalmological Society (NYSOS) in which she has served on the Board of Directors. She is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and New York Medical College, where she is actively involved with resident education.

Dr. Thien (Tim) Huynh received his fellowship training in Glaucoma at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and brings this unique expertise to the community. He earned his medical degree from NYU School of Medicine and performed his medical internship at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York City before completing a residency in ophthalmology at Drexel University's College of Medicine in Philadelphia. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Magna Cum Laude graduate from Harvard University.

Dr. Miriam Rolf and Dr. Maureen Wallen are optometrists who practice general eye care and conduct contact lens fittings. Together, the doctors and staff at Highland Ophthalmology are able to provide patients with their complete eye care needs.

The new office of Highland Ophthalmology Associates is conveniently located at 140 Executive Drive, New Windsor, NY 12553.

For information about the grand opening event, please contact Nancy Ingersoll at (845) 562-0138.

For Immediate Release

Eye Doctors Urge Exams During Glaucoma Awareness Month

Highland Ophthalmology Associates to Offer Free Glaucoma Screenings

Newburgh, New York – January 2, 2007 – In honor of Glaucoma Awareness Month, Highland Ophthalmology Associates, in Newburgh, NY, will be offering free Glaucoma Screenings on Saturday, January 13, 2007. Highland Ophthalmology Associates encourages anyone at risk to please participate in their Glaucoma Awareness Program.

It is estimated that over 3 million Americans have glaucoma and half are at risk for going blind because they remain undiagnosed. "Glaucoma is a complex disease, because there are no symptoms in the early stages.  By the time vision loss is noted by the patient, the disease process is quite advanced.  If detected early enough, vision loss from glaucoma can be treated and prevented,” said Dr. Tim Huynh an Eye M.D. and a fellowship trained glaucoma specialist at Highland Ophthalmology. "As part of Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, we are urging people who might be at risk to come to our office for a free Glaucoma Screening."

“Who is at risk?  African-Americans have a higher incidence of glaucoma, and it often appears at a younger age than in other racial groups. Anyone with a close relative - father, mother or sibling - with glaucoma is also at risk. Older people, those with diabetes and people who have had a serious eye injury are considered at risk as well" says Dr. Huynh.  “Anyone who falls into these groups should call us or their Eye M.D. to have their eyes examined. Although glaucoma cannot be cured, early detection and treatment can usually preserve vision.”

Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve, responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain, is damaged. It can be associated with elevated pressure within the eye and often leads to vision loss. It begins with the loss of peripheral vision and then advances to a reduction in central vision. Glaucoma can potentially lead to blindness.

On Saturday January 13, 2007, Highland Ophthalmology will be hosting complimentary glaucoma screenings at their office between the hours of 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments can be scheduled to help minimize wait time by calling (845) 562-0138.

For Immediate Release

Glaucoma Specialist Joins NewNewburgh, NY Ophthalmology Practice

Newburgh, NY - July 10, 2006 - Thien (Tim) Huynh, M.D. has joined Highland Ophthalmology Associates in Newburgh, NY where he will practice glaucoma as well as general ophthalmology.

Dr. Huynh is a Fellowship Trained Glaucoma Specialist who brings this unique expertise to our community. He earned his medical degree from NYU School of Medicine. He performed his medical internship at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, in New York, NY before completing a four year residency in ophthalmology at the Drexel University College of Medicine, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then continued on to receive his fellowship training in glaucoma at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

Glaucoma is a disorder associated with pressure in the eye, and is characterized by damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma affects 2 million Americans, and half of those people are unaware they have the disease. Glaucoma is much more complex than most patients would like to believe. This very fact is the reason that glaucoma sub-specialist ophthalmologists have an additional one to two years of fellowship training beyond the four years of general ophthalmology residency training.

Dr. Huynh is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the New York State Ophthalmological Society (NYSOS).

For Immediate Release

Newburgh, NY Eye Surgeon Offers Alcon’s AcrySof® ReSTOR® Intraocular Lens for Cataract Correction

Newburgh, New York – June 14, 2005 – Mary Davidian, M.D., of Highland Ophthalmology Associates, a leading ophthalmic surgeon in Newburgh, announces the offering of Alcon’s AcrySof® ReSTOR® Intraocular Lens (IOL) for cataract patients.

The AcrySof ReSTOR lens is a foldable IOL that represents breakthrough technology because of its unique, patented optic design, which allows patients to experience the highest level of freedom from glasses ever achieved in IOL clinical trials. The AcrySof ReSTOR IOL uses a combination of three complementary technologies: apodization, diffraction and refraction, to allow patients to experience a full range of high-quality vision without the need for reading glasses or bifocals. The benefit for patients is a high level of spectacle freedom.

Dr. Davidian has been using the earlier generation of the Alcon AcrySof lens for many years to correct cataract patients distance vision. "With the new ReSTOR lens, we can now offer our patients the ability to see clearly at near, intermediate and distance vision", said Dr. Davidian.

Ideal candidates for the ReSTOR lens are those patients over 50 who need both distance correction and reading glasses, bifocals/trifocals, or progressive lenses, or those who have cataracts. The ReSTOR lens has been used with great success in Europe for the last two years, but just received FDA approval for use in the United States. The regular AcrySof lenses, manufactured by Alcon, have been used in the US since 1990, and are the most frequently implanted lens in the US. To date, more than 21 million AcrySof lenses have been placed. In the US clinical trials more than 80% of patients who had placement of the ReSTOR lens NEVER wore glasses after the surgery. 94% were able to read the newspaper and drive without glasses.

Latest News and Articles

High-tech eye care right here at home

By Deborah J. Botti, Mid-Hudson Senior Gazette
Printed Weeks March 5th and 12th, 2007

Did you know that fair-skinned people are at higher risk for macular degeneration, and that cataracts will affect everyone if they live long enough? It's impossible for even the most educated consumer to keep abreast of every new revelation or advance in technology. That's why there are specialists.

And Dr. Mary E. Davidian, who founded Highland Ophthalmology Associates in Newburgh a decade ago, wants it known that a patient needn't travel to Manhattan to ensure state-of-the-art care and cutting-edge technology. Davidian and her staff bring Manhattan to Mid-Hudson.

Davidian is a board-certified medical doctor and fellowship trained cornea specialist and refractive surgeon. She's on staff at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in Manhattan, where she also teaches residents. That affiliation, coupled with her participation in ophthalmologic societies, connects her with those in the vanguard.

Dr. Thien (Tim) Huynh, joined the group last July. He received his fellowship training in glaucoma at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and specializes in the early detection and treatment of that disease.

Add to the mix two optometrists qualified in primary eye care and an optician, who crafts glasses and cuts lenses, and the result is an all-care practice that can diagnose and treat just about every visual/eye abnormality. "We offer the full spectrum of eye care right here at home," Davidian says.

And here's an eye on what you need to know.

Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens, resulting in blurry vision. "They're a normal part of the aging process," Davidian says, putting anyone age 60 or older at risk. Steroid use, eye trauma and diabetes can also increase their likelihood.

Years ago, the complication rate from cataract surgery was high, Davidian says, so doctors often held off surgery until the cataract was "ripe", meaning the patient was legally blind. "Today, an ultrasound probe is inserted through a tiny self-healing incision and used to break the cataract into small pieces, allowing for a quicker recovery time," she says. "A lens is then implanted."

Single power and newer multifocal lenses are available, meaning they have multiple powers to address distance and near vision - and everything in between.

Glaucoma, or high pressure in the eye, results when the normal eye fluid does not drain properly. Left untreated, blindness results. "A person can have perfect blood pressure and abnomal eye pressure," says Huynh. "There are no symptoms, no pain or discomfort." Once diagnosed, the disease cannot be reversed. The treatment goal is to prevent progression. Oftentimes the new breed of eye drops are successful. If not, Huynh might perform delicate microsurgery called a trabeculectomy, which allows fluid to drain through a microscopic hole. Another option is the insertion of a tiny filtering tube between the cornea and the iris.

Macular degeneration is the degeneration of the macula, or the central part of the retina. Those with that lack of pigment - in the skin and in the eyes - are more susceptible. Studies indicate that wearing sunglasses and taking antioxidants are helpful.

Macular degeneration can be categorized "wet" or "dry". Wet means blood vessels are leaking, causing a dramatic decrease in vision. There has been success with injections that cause the regression of the vessels. "In this case, we make the diagnosis and set the patient up with one of our retina colleagues," Davidian says.

The cornea is the clear front that covers the iris and pupil. Scars or swelling can cause the cornea to distort light, resulting in glare or blurred vision. Inherited dystrophies, trauma and infections (sometimes caused by sleeping in contact lenses) can affect the cornea. A corneal transplant is considered when vision or swelling cannot be corrected, giving patients the chance of improved sight.

For optimum eye health, annual exams are crucial, the doctors say.