11835 Carmel Mountain Rd. Suite 1304-211
San Diego, CA 92128
May 2025
Last Friday I had the honor of teaming up with the VSP Mobile Eye Clinic and the San Diego Executive Lions Club to provide exams and glasses to several dozen underprivileged kids in the San Diego South Bay School District. This ongoing project began last year under the leadership of our past president Eric White and was recognized by the California Optometric Association as the project of the year.
It's hard to imagine trying to learn how to read when your refractive error hovers around a +5.00-4.75x10. For many of these kids, overcoming a language barrier compounds the incredible challenges they face in the educational system. Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, poor vision will no longer be an obstacle that stands in the way of these kid’s success. A special thanks to Dr. White, Dr. Meisel and Dr. Grosu for volunteering their time!
As a member of the San Diego County Optometric Society, you are indirectly participating in these types of community projects. If you would like to volunteer your time to help the underserved, please consider spending a few hours at the Lions Optometric Vision Clinic. For more information, please contact our board liaison Dr. Anaya Jalsingh at: ananya4july@gmail.com or Dr. Bob Meisel at (619) 818-3031.
John Pack, O.D.
President SDCOS 2025
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.
Volunteer Outreach
A recent initiative by the Lions Optometric Vision Clinic (LOVC) provided volunteer opportunities for local optometrists and much-needed vision care to students in the community. The STEAM Academy, located in Spring Valley, hosted a vision event in early April for students who had been pre-screened by their school nurse. Support personnel included several local Lions, Caden Rankle (a student from CSU San Marcos), Enrique Rodriguez (LOVC Manager), and Dr. Bob Meisel. Fourteen students were examined, and seven received prescriptions.
The second school involved in the initiative—America’s Finest Charter School, located in East San Diego—hosted its event a week later. SDCOS doctors and LOVC personnel had previously assisted with a vision screening at the school several weeks prior. The support team again included Caden and Enrique, along with Helen Quintanilla (LOVC Board Member) and Mike Brandenburg (LOVC Board President). Drs. Eric White and Bob Meisel provided exams for 29 students, with 22 receiving prescriptions. Most of these students would not have had access to eyewear without this LOVC program.
If you're interested in learning more about volunteering opportunities, please call or text Dr. Meisel at 619-818-3031.
Upcoming CE Meeting
Thursday, July 17
NEW LOCATION: WestPac Headquarters: 5280 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92121
https://www.westpacwealth.com/
Speaker:
Dr. Margie Recalde, O.D.
Ocular Nutrition
Catering Theme: Islands of Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines
Retina Corner
Double Whammy
Dear SDCOS Friends,
It has been a pleasure getting to know many of you over the past couple of months. I have been very impressed with the vibrant and interconnected optometric community here in San Diego, and it is a privilege to integrate into this ecosystem of eye care excellence as I settle in with Retina Consultants San Diego. For this month’s Retina Corner, I will be sharing an interesting case from my clinic.
A 60-year-old woman called in urgently with distorted central vision. She had been seen by the practice several years prior, at which time she was 20/20 OU with an unremarkable baseline macular examination including OCT (Figure 1A-D).
At the time of her urgent visit, her visual acuity had declined to 20/40 OD and 20/50 OS. She had bilateral irregular foveal reflex (Figure 2A,B). OCT imaging of the right eye revealed vitreomacular adhesion with traction as well as lamellar foveal disruption, consistent with a stage 1a impending macular hole (Figure 2C). OCT imaging of the left eye revealed a partial posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) with an operculum overlying a 250 micron central full-thickness macular hole (Figure 2D).
At the time of her urgent visit, her visual acuity had declined to 20/40 OD and 20/50 OS. She had bilateral irregular foveal reflex (Figure 2A,B). OCT imaging of the right eye revealed vitreomacular adhesion with traction as well as lamellar foveal disruption, consistent with a stage 1a impending macular hole (Figure 2C). OCT imaging of the left eye revealed a partial posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) with an operculum overlying a 250 micron central full-thickness macular hole (Figure 2D).
As is often the case, there was good news and bad news. The good news was that the postoperative eye was looking great and the macular hole had closed with a very good anatomical result. The bad news was that surgery would now be required to fix the macular hole in her right eye.
This case brings up many important aspects of macular hole pathogenesis and management. Macular holes develop during the process of age-related vitreous contraction in eyes with previously normal foveal anatomy. As the hyaloid contracts, vitreomacular traction develops causing a stage 1a macular hole, or an impending macular hole, as is seen in Figure 2C. Approximately 50% of Stage 1a holes close spontaneously, however, as in my patient, approximately 50% progress to full-thickness holes. Patients who develop a macular hole have approximately a 10-30% chance of eventual involvement in the fellow eye, frequently within a year of the initial macular hole. If the fellow eye has a pre-existing PVD, the risk of developing a second macular hole is dramatically reduced. Because of this, I always closely examine and image the fellow eye during my consultation for a macular hole to accurately counsel my patient on the chances that we will be having a similar discussion in the fellow eye and to emphasize the importance of close follow-up. Finally, the really good news – macular holes that are treated promptly have very high single surgery closure rates with upwards of 90% of full thickness holes closing, and even better odds in the case of smaller holes (<400 microns), with good visual outcomes.
I hope that you enjoyed this month’s edition of Retina Corner. As always, if you have any questions or there is ever something I can help with, please feel free to contact me at any time.
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 (05/25)
Owner Wishes to Retire. In an upscale shopping center in Escondido, California. Solo private practice was established in 1996. Has a large patient base. The equipment is in excellent condition. A full scope Optometry practice. Complete sale or buy-out option. Please email basantis2004@yahoo.com. Serious inquiries only.(05/25).
Urban Optiks Optometry in San Diego is hiring a part-time Associate Optometrist to join its boutique, patient-focused practice. We’re seeking an enthusiastic, personable OD who is committed to delivering high-quality, personalized eye care. Schedule: 1–3 days per week, flexible based on availability. To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to hr@uoosd.com.
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)
We’re seeking a motivated and entrepreneurial-minded optometrist to join our growing private practice in Central San Diego. This is a unique part-time opportunity to work in a modern, high-visibility medical office with a 25+ year industry veteran and explore a potential path to equity ownership. Our practice is located in a boutique medical building near downtown San Diego, with upgraded exam rooms, strong patient flow, and a diverse community.
If you're looking to build your career outside of the corporate grind, with the flexibility to grow into ownership, we’d love to connect. To learn more, contact us via text/call 858-504-2020.
Boutique Medical Office Building & Optometry Practice For Sale – Central San Diego. For sale: A thriving optometry practice and modern medical office building in Central San Diego’s high-growth redevelopment zone—just 9 minutes from downtown and surrounded by major freeways and schools.The building features three upgraded suites (7 total exam rooms) and offers flexibility to operate as one large clinic or separate units. Half the building is currently leased to a dental practice, generating steady rental income, while the other half houses the established optometry practice.An ideal opportunity for a healthcare professional or investor looking to own real estate and grow a practice in a dynamic urban location. For details, contact bnemati@earthlink.net or call/text 858-504-2020
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