11835 Carmel Mountain Rd. Suite 1304-211
San Diego, CA 92128
April 2025
Happenings of the Society
I AM AN OPTOMETRIST
So, what do you do for a living? How many times have we been asked this question? In a world that seeks to label us by our occupation, how we answer this question can shed some light on how we view our chosen profession. I assume that most of us would answer this question with “I am an optometrist”. A subsequent follow up question might be “where do you work.” At this point, we would probably elaborate on our modality of practice. First and foremost, though, we make claim to our beloved profession of optometry.
Membership in our national, state and local optometric society is available to all optometrists, regardless of how or where you practice. Expansion of scope, protection of existing privileges and vigilance over new state and federal legislation benefits ALL optometrists regardless of modality of practice. We are all united in the common goal to assure that optometry maintains a prominent role in the health care delivery system. Free quality continuing education, access to insurance and financial programs, networking opportunities and free legal advice are a few of the additional benefits enjoyed by society members.
Thank you for your continued support of the AOA, COA and SDCOS. It’s through your membership that we can continue to assure that our profession will thrive in the years to come.
John C. Pack,O.D.
President SDCOS 2025
(619) 806-1282
jpackod@yahoo.com
OD Relations Liaison
Please contact Dr. Lucia Millet, OD, Society Optometrist Relations Liaison at odjobs@sdcos.org to be put on an official list for the following:
fill-in/part-time work
full-time work
purchase/partner in/sell a practice
This service is offered free of charge to SDCOS members.
Upcoming CE Meeting
Thursday, April 24th
NEW LOCATION: WestPac Headquarters: 5280 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92121
https://www.westpacwealth.com/
Speakers:
Dr. Alex Foster, M.D.
Chirag Shah, M.D.
Kevin Garff, M.D.
Catering Theme: Asian Cuisine
Sushi, boba, make your own bao and more!
Featured Event Sponsor: Tura
Featured Sponsors
Upcoming COA CE Meeting
Optowest Virtual CE 6 hours
Sunday, April 13
8AM- 4PM
$20 for all COA members
Retina Corner
Laser Therapy for Diabetic Retinopathy From a Newcomer
By Thomas Lazzarini, MD
Dear SDCOS,
I would like to start this month’s Retina Corner with a brief introduction. I grew up in Los Angeles County and look forward to establishing roots here in San Diego as I establish my practice with Retina Consultants San Diego and get settled with my young family. I have met only a small minority of you and look forward to continuing to develop relationships within the local eye care community and collaborating with you in patient care over the coming months and years. I attended Yale University for college and medical school and did my ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, where I also served as the co-director of ocular trauma for Miami-Dade County.
One of my favorite conditions to manage is diabetic retinopathy (DR). I have been privileged to train and practice in an era with a diverse armamentarium for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) including anti vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents, corticosteroids, and laser therapy. Beginning with the introduction of intravitreal Bevacizumab in 2005, the safety and efficacy of anti-VEGF agents, as well as their non-destructive nature, have cemented their central role in the management of DR. Despite these impressive advances in pharmacotherapeutics for the management of DR, laser remains an important treatment modality for PDR and DME in my practice.
The efficacy of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for PDR was demonstrated in the Diabetic Retinopathy Study in the 1970s and has been the standard of care for PDR for decades. More recent studies including Protocol S from the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network have shown that therapy with anti-VEGF agents was noninferior to PRP and effectively regressed retinal neovascularization in PDR. Drawbacks to anti-VEGF monotherapy for PDR include the risk of rapid progression of retinopathy with decreased injection frequency or loss to follow-up (LTFU), which is common in the PDR patient population. Alternatively, PRP is a permanent treatment that can durably stabilize PDR and promote good long-term vision. In general, I favor early PRP for PDR to limit the risk of tractional retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage, even with LTFU.
The role of laser for the management of DME in the present era is more limited. Anti-VEGF agents and steroids have been shown to improve central retinal thickness and visual acuity without the risk of scotoma and retinal atrophy that can occur with macular laser for DME. For this reason, anti-VEGF injections are generally my first-line option for the management of clinically significant DME. For certain patients, laser remains an important adjunctive or alternative to anti-VEGF injections. I will typically offer focal laser to patients with center-involving DME emanating from a discreet microaneurysm as opposed to diffuse DME that involves the center. Some patients with recalcitrant central DME related to a microaneurysm >500 microns from the fovea despite monthly anti-VEGF injections can have complete resolution of their fluid after a single session of focal laser.
The management of diabetic retinopathy is complex. Despite the progress in pharmacotherapeutics over the past decades, laser remains a relevant option for both PDR and DME. Having multiple treatment modalities with demonstrated efficacy is a luxury that provides the retinal specialist with the ability to tailor the therapeutic strategy to the individual patient’s anatomical and personal needs.
Thank you so much for reading this month’s article. I am currently accepting new patients in Carlsbad, La Jolla, Poway and Hillcrest, which will be my primary office. Please feel free to reach out any time via text, email or phone call. My contact information is below. I look forward to getting to know more and more of you over the coming months.
Best wishes, and until next time,
Thomas
Thomas Lazzarini, MD
Retina Consultants San Diego
626-537-5857 (cell)
lazzarini@rcsd.com
www.rcsd.com
Classifieds
Moreno Valley High-Visibility, Well-Established Optometry Practice for Sale (CAO114)
Well-established, high-visibility optometry practice grossing $500K with more room to grow. Contact Frank at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com for more information. Lic.#2091491 (CAO114) NDA Request: https://www.omnipg-opto.com/california-listings.html (03/24)
Busy Private Practice looking for an associate OD in San Diego and Camp Pendleton military base. Generous base pay plus easy daily bonus pay. Please send resume and questions to: marineeyecare@gmail.com (12/24)
Turnkey Eye Clinic – Fully Equipped & Move-In Ready!High-traffic Central San Diego location with a diverse patient base. Text or Call to secure this prime medical space today! Great location with a dentist in the same building; 858 504 2020 (3/25)
Exceptional Opportunity: Thriving Optometry Practice & Prime Medical Office Building in San Diego FOR SALE, with the REAL ESTATE. Unlock the potential of your optometry career with this golden opportunity! Highly profitable and growing optometry practice for sale in Central San Diego, together with its modern Medical Office Building. Discover the perfect blend of profitability and growth in this dynamic location (the second most active redevelopment zone, after downtown, in San Diego). Whether you're starting a new practice or expanding an established one, this is your chance to shine in a highly dense area, strategically positioned near more than 80 schools and 9 minutes from Downtown San Diego, and surrounded by 4 major freeways. Step into the future of healthcare with a contemporary medical office building, featuring three separate suites, that can be joined if needed into one big clinic and a total of 7 highly upgraded and move-in ready exam rooms. What sets it apart? Half of this impressive structure can be leased to other medical professionals, delivering a steady income stream, while the other half continues to house the thriving optometry practice. Seize the moment to drive your practice's growth while building equity in a high-potential, modern commercial real estate property. This isn't just an opportunity; it's a game-changer for those who dream big. For more details, please reach out via email (bnemati@earthlink.net). (2/24)
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