It has been a while since I posted so it’s time to fill you in on what’s been happening and what is on the horizon for you and me and Optix Family Eyecare.

Firstly, we have a new intern, Lori, who is an aspiring optometrist.  One of the things I love most about my profession is the ability to teach and inspire young people to follow in my footsteps.  I have seen two interns go on to attend optometry school and I am proud to have had an influence on their lives.

The optometric profession has been good to me and my family.  Thirty one years ago I graduated from the New England College of Optometry in Boston.  In that time I have seen tens of thousands of patients and have hopefully affected most of them in a positive way.  In addition to just examining someone’s eyes, I know I have saved many lives over the years.  As a primary care eye care provider, I am often the first doctor that a patient sees with the complaint of headache, double vision, dizziness, or just plain blurry vision.   These symptoms may be normal for many people.  But for others they can be signs of diabetes, hypertension, tumors, glaucoma, heart disease, stroke and more.  As a primary care giver, it is my job to determine normal from abnormal.  It is often not my job to make the final medical diagnosis, but to get the patient to the correct specialist so that they may receive the proper medical care and treatment.  Going to the optometrist is not just to get eyeglasses or contact lenses.

This week is Vision Expo in New York.  It’s an opportunity to see most of the world’s eye care technology under one roof.  Frames, lenses, equipment, and most importantly continuing education are provided at Vision Expo.  This is where may staff and I learn about new products for our patients and where we get the tools to provide quality services to them.   Every year, I truly look forward to this week.  I learn, my staff learns, and you benefit.

2011 will be the best year for Optix Family Eyecare.   2011 will be the best year for our patients with new products and services.   2011 will be the best year for my wife and me personally, as our son Evan is getting married to a beautiful woman, Paula, and our son Brett will be starting school to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Be healthy, be happy and come and enjoy our services at Optix.  You will be glad you did.

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum

www.optixeyecare.com

What happened to the years? I was born in 1954, the year Willie Mays made the over-the-shoulder catch in the World Series.  I have seen the great blackout, Vietnam, the Beatles, Woodstock, President Kennedy get shot, Nixon too, the 7 day Arab-Israeli war, and so much more.  My children know this from history books and I was there.  It’s hard to believe that I am as old as I am.

I graduated from the New England College of Optometry in 1980 and have been a practicing optometrist for over 30 years.  In that time I have met and helped thousands of people maintain their vision and general health.  I have saved many lives by discovering previously undetected tumors, hypertension, diabetes and more.  I have treated hundreds of people with eye diseases like keratoconus, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.  I have prescribed eyeglasses and contact lenses for thousands of patients with myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.

I have improved the lives of so many patients by affording them the ability to see life without a blur.  So why do I feel that I haven’t done enough.   In 2011, I resolve that I will be more diligent in explaining what I am doing and what have done for my patients.  I will continue my staff education policies so that we can educate our patients about all the new products and services available to them to improve their vision, eye health, and quality of life.  I will continue to invest in the Optix computerized infrastructure to provide more efficient patient services using the most up-to-date technology.   And finally, I resolve to be the best eye doctor, father, husband, son, and friend I could be.

Happy New Year

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum

www.optixeyecare.com

www.facebook.com/optixeyecare

You must live on Long Island, “Like” us on Facebook, and write your New Year’s Resolution on our wall to be entered to win a free pair of sunglasses.  Entry must be posted by midnight on December 31, 2010.

Go to www.facebook.com/optixeyecare and write your New Year’s Resolution.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A JOYOUS NEW YEAR

THE OPTIX STAFF

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum

Dr. Michelle Zalaznick

Dr. Todd Lustig

Judy, Gilma, Sharon, Jan, Cathy, Eileen, Greg, Evan and Brett

And the best thing that people are doing for themselves again is taking care of their healthcare.   Vision care is a big part of the healthcare picture as it is widely accepted that the eyes are the windows to the body.  So many disease processes can be discovered from examining the eyes.  These include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, blood disorders, thyroid disease, brain tumors, skin cancer, HIV, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and a host of other problems. Of course, testing your vision quality so that you can see at your best is a primary focus of an eye examination.

Some people think that an eye exam can be very intimidating but of course, most of us know better.  If you want a good laugh, there is a very funny video of comedian Brian Regan talking about his eye exam experience on youtube.com.

Probably the best gift you can give for the holiday season is the gift of sight.  Think about what you spend on frivolous gifts that are either put in the closet, re-gifted or returned.  An eye care or eyewear gift certificate will be used with enthusiasm as your family or friend chooses that sunglass or contact lenses they always wanted or gets the great news from their optometrist that their eyes are healthy.

How long has it been since your family members have had their eyes examined?  Has it been more than a year or two?  Likely you have gone to the dentist perhaps even twice a year.  Why is that?  You have over thirty teeth but you only have two eyes.  Many insurers will cover or partially cover the fee for an eye examination and some will even give you some money towards eyeglasses.

Flexible Spending Accounts can also be used for eye examinations, eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Remember to use yours in 2010 so your benefits don’t go to waste.

GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND FAMILIES

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum
www.optixeyecare.com

good use in some fashion or another.  Academics though, are just that… academics.  As most people learn over the years, with experience comes wisdom.

So how have I become wiser over the years?  The answer is simple.  I have aligned myself with students who are either undergrads considering optometry school or are presently optometry students.  Even after 30 years of practice, these students have influenced the way I approach patients.  First of all, if you are hiring these students, they make absolutely the best employees.  They are enthusiastic about learning what you can show and teach them, they absorb information like sponges, and never seem to tire as long as they are being stimulated with a variety of patient encounters.  The benefit to me and my practice is that the

y ask questions that make me think about areas that have been in the back of my brain for years, are willing to help in any way possible, and are willing to take on the duties of a technician thereby enabling my associate and I to see more patients.  An additional benefit is that our patients are very impressed with the fact that my associate and I “teach” so they see us as experts.  This is a value added experience and thus a value added service to our patients.

In my practice, the students are exposed to both every aspect of clinical care in our virtually paperless office and to the business side of optometry.  They observe the various front desk duties, they observe and often assist in patient pre-testing, they shadow in the exam room, follow the patient to the dispensary, assist patients in choosing eyewear, assist in the lab to fabricate the eyewear, call patients to notify that the eyewear is completed and observe the dispensing.  They observe me or my staff in the business office, while we notify or discuss issues with patients, delegate responsibilities to other valuable employees, ordering contact lenses, interpreting visual fields, GDX or Retinal Photos, and get a sense of what it really takes to run a successful optometric practice.

I am proud to believe that I have been a positive influence on young people considering optometry as a profession.  I am proud of the fact that I actually remember how to answer most of the questions these students can tender.  I am proud of the fact that they seem to respect my opinions related to the profession.  I am proud to offer my expertise to young minds that are eager for knowledge.  I am truly wiser for it.

For those students that may have an interest in interning with me, please go to my website for our telephone number and give me a call.  I look forward to it.

The website URL is www.OptixEyeCare.com

Joel Kestenbaum, OD

www.optixeyecare.com

This photo was recently taken at our annual holiday dinner.  Thanks to a great staff and very loyal patients, Optix recently celebrated our 25^th year serving our community.

Now that I have a new photo of our staff, I just had to rave about what a good job they do.  Along with my associates Dr. Michelle Zalaznick and Dr. Todd Lustig, each member of my staff is an integral part of the great Optix eyecare experience.

Our Opticians:
Judy, Jan, Cathy and Jack

Our Technicians:
Gilma and Eileen

Our Support Staff:
Sharon and Jeanette

Our man in charge operations:
Evan

Our optometry student intern missing from this photo but just as important to us:
Matt Geller

Thank you to my staff.

Thank you to my patients.

We are all looking forward to treating your eyecare needs for the next 25 years, one day at a time.

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum

www.optixeyecare.com

Many employers offer flex spending plans to their employees as a benefit to help reduce Uncle Sam’s tax bite.  A medical flex account is an employer-provided benefit that allows you to contribute a set amount from your paycheck in order to cover out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses such as health insurance co-pays, uninsured treatments, or even over-the-counter drug purchases.

If you have been fortunate enough to be healthy this year, you may have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that you must use before year’s end?

Everyone needs eyecare to maintain healthy eyes and most people need eyewear to provide clear, comfortable vision.  An FSA can help reduce the costs.
An FSA can be used for:

• Eye Examinations and Contact Lens Fittings
• Eyeglasses
• Sunglasses
• Lasik (Laser Vision Correction)
• Contact Lenses and Solutions

Come speak to our staff at Optix Family Eyecare Center.  Let us help you maximize your benefits.

Joel Kestenbaum, OD
www.optixeyecare.com

At Optix, our staff has a common purpose.

OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE HAPPINESS BY PROVIDING QUALITY VISION SOLUTIONS FOR ALL OF OUR PATIENTS WITH THE HELP OF A FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF.

It’s obvious that when you go to Disney World, you expect a great time.
What is equally obvious to Optix patients is that our staff goes out of our way to ensure their satisfaction.

Just like Disney World fans return year after year, Optix patients return year after year for vision care, contact lenses and eyeglasses.

What makes Disney World different from other amusement parks is the people who create the experience.  What makes Optix different from other eyecare providers is the people who create the experience.

I’ve always known that you have to treat people the way you would want to be treated.  That is what has made Optix so successful.  The Disney Institute didn’t teach me this, my parents did.  So what did I learn at the Disney Institute?  They confirmed something I already knew.  That is to surround yourself with good people and enjoy life to its fullest. I have a great staff, a wonderful and caring life partner named Judy, incredible children, and remarkable friends.

Disney and Optix………  Creating Happiness For People

Joel Kestenbaum OD

(Top Row: Judy Kestenbaum, Jan Axelrod, Cathy Brandwein, Gilma Mejia)
(Bottom Row: Jack Lawless, Eileen Rosen, Sharon Sutker, Dr. Michelle Zalaznick)
___________________________________________________________________________
Anyone who runs a business knows that employees are the backbone.  Practicing optometry at Optix almost 25 years, I have been lucky enough to see very few employees leave for other employment.  I guess I was smart enough to hire good people and those good people have stayed with me to help build our eyecare practice.

My longest employee, Jack Lawless is also a close friend.  Jack now spends the winter in Florida and returns to Optix for the balance of the year.  He is a true people person and has helped shape our practice to what it is today.  Eileen Rosen has also been an integral part of our Optix family for over 20 years.  It is nice to know that people enjoy their working environment.  It tells me a lot about myself and about the atmosphere we’ve created for our patients in the office.

How long have the others worked at Optix?
-    My wife Judy, over 15 years.
-    Gilma Mejia over 7 years.
-    Jan Axelrod and Sharon Sutker, over 6 years.
-    Evan Kestenbaum, 3 years
-    Cathy Brandwein almost 2 years

I am proud to call those who are not family, my friends.  I am proud to say that each loves working with our wonderful patients and has made Optix their second home.

I want to congratulate Matt Geller who will be attending SUNY College of Optometry in August, 2009.  Matt is an optometric intern at Optix and has taken on the responsibility of organizing and posting all these blog articles.  We look forward to having Matt back in the office after he graduates SUNY Albany in May.

Great people have made Optix a great place to practice optometry.  Thank you to my valued staff and friends.

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum

Beginning March 15, 2009, if you schedule a Free Lasik Consultation with Dr. Kestenbaum or Dr. Zalaznick, you will receive a $500 gift card to be applied towards Bladeless Custom Lasik at TLC Laser Center. This is a limited time offer for patients who complete the laser procedure prior to June 9, 2009. Our patients have had tremendous success with lasik including Dr. Kestenbaum’s son who loves the results.

Remember, for good candidates, lasik is an excellent alternative to eyeglasses or contact lenses. Think about your lifestlye and ask Dr. Kestenbaum or Dr. Zalaznick if lasik is right for you.

Call OPTIX today to take advantage of the $500 gift card offer.