NSUCO - The Visionary Fall 2010

the VISIONARY • Summer/Fall 2010 44 The Orlando VA Medical Center (VAMC) is located on the site of what was once the Orlando Naval Training Center’s Hospi- tal, while the surrounding residential area is now known as Baldwin Park. The center, which serves an area of nearly 90,000 veteran patients in East Central Florida, is one of seven members of the VISN 8 Healthcare System. The Orlando VA Medical Center includes the VAMC, the Community Living Cen- ter, the Residential Rehabilitation Program, the Viera Outpa- tient Clinic, the Daytona Outpatient Clinic, and four community-based outpatient clinics located in Clermont, Kissimmee, Leesburg, and Orange City. The East Central Florida veteran population is slated to benefit from a new hospital that is scheduled to be built in 2012. This much-needed facility will make it easier for East Central Florida veterans to access the VA’s world-class medical center and relieve the burden of traveling long distances for their in- patient care. The Orlando VAMC Eye Clinic has four residency-trained op- tometrists on staff. The optometrists provide primary eye care as well as management of chronic ocular diseases and ocular manifestations of systemic dis- eases. The staff optometrists are licensed practitioners creden- tialed and privileged to perform full-scope optometry, including the usage of topical and some oral medications based on their state of licensure to treat eye dis- eases. The optometrists also par- ticipate in low-vision exams for patients who are visually impaired and specialty contact lens exams and fitting. Optometrists are the only ones who will be supervising optometry students and optome- try residents. In addition, the Orlando VAMC Eye Clinic has four ophthalmolo- gists on staff, including one retinal specialist and one cornea special- ist. The ophthalmologists manage advanced chronic ocular diseases and ocular manifestations of sys- temic diseases as well as perform the following surgeries: • Cataracts • Trabeculectomy • Strabismus • Blepharoplasty • Pterygia Removal • Eyelid-Growth Removal • Cryotherapy • Focal Laser • Panretinal Photocoagulation • YAG Capsulotomy • Laser Peripheral Iridotomy • ALT/SLT • Intravitreal Injections With seven eye technicians on staff, including one who is dedi- cated to working in the visual field room each day, these highly trained individuals screen patients by performing a brief his- tory, visual acuity assessment, autorefraction, and autolen- sometry. The technicians also do ancillary tests as directed by the doctor such as corneal pachymetry/topography, IOL B Y J OHN M. S PALDING , O.D., FAAO (’97), R ESIDENCY S ITE D IRECTOR NSU Affiliate Residency Spotlight ORLANDO VA MEDICAL CENTER