By Lori Lovely
Growth and change are taking place at the Illinois Retina & Eye Associates. The practice, founded in 2003 as the Illinois Retina Institute, treated only patients with retina conditions, but when founder and retina surgeon, Dr. Kamal Kishore, saw that patients needed additional care for cataracts and other eye diseases, he addressed the issue by expanding services and bringing in a comprehensive ophthalmologist.
“He saw a need in the community,” explains Susanne Myers, marketing director. “The expansion of our practice is a direct reflection of our commitment to meet those needs.”
With the addition of Dr. Michael Grossman, a comprehensive ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon, they are now better able to serve patients in the Peoria area.
Due to an aging baby boomer generation, the need for cataract evaluations and treatment increases every year. “Other than dry eyes, cataracts may be the most common eye condition I treat,” says Grossman.
Although some patients are referred by their optometrist, not everyone regularly sees an eye doctor. Because cataracts are a slow, progressive condition, patients don’t always notice this gradual loss of vision. In fact, it’s only after cataract surgery that many patients realize how much vision they had lost. According to Dr. Grossman, “Patients are almost uniformly surprised in how well they see following surgery because they were quite unaware of the extent to which cataracts were clouding their vision.”
Change of Address — And More
Just as the Illinois Retina & Eye Associates has expanded its services, it has also expanded physically. The Peoria clinic moved to a new centrally located building next to Westlake Shopping Center. “We wanted to create a new and modern, yet family-oriented space that reflects the evolving nature of our practice, as well as our continued commitment to individualized care,” Dr. Kishore explained.
The new facility is three times the size of their previous location and features several amenities, such as two spacious waiting rooms, TVs, free Wi-Fi, and lots of windows for good lighting. Handicap-accessible, it offers plenty of adjacent parking.
Since last January, the practice has added two doctors, a new building, and undergone a name change. “Our practice has grown from two employees with Dr. Kishore, to three clinic locations in Peoria, Peru and Galesburg, four doctors and 17 employees,” Myers reflects.
Meet the Doctors
A board-certified ophthalmologist and retina specialist, Dr. Kamal Kishore treats diseases of the retina, vitreous and macula. He has received numerous honors, the most recent of which was an award for Best Video of Innovative Surgery in 2014 during the annual meeting of American Society of Retina Specialists in San Diego, Calif. He is also a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and has written numerous scientific book chapters and papers in peer-reviewed ophthalmology journals, the results of which he has presented at national and international conferences.
Joining the practice in 2011, Dr. Anthony Ekong is a fellowship-trained specialist in diseases of the retina, macula, vitreous and uveitis. His interests include macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, and ocular inflammatory diseases. Dr. Ekong is Illinois’ only dual-trained retina and uveitis subspecialist outside Chicago and is one of just 115 in the nation.
Dr. Michael Grossman provides a range of care that includes annual eye health exams, kindergarten eye exams, cataract “no-stitch” surgery, droopy eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and glaucoma treatment. The St. Louis native is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
In private practice for 13 years, Dr. Richard Ahuja, a board certified ophthalmologist and fellowship trained retina specialist joined the practice last month and provides specialized retina care in the Peru clinic.
The More Things Change…
While the practice has expanded to include cataract and general ophthalmology, Dr. Kishore and Dr. Ekong remain full-time retina specialists, fellowship-trained in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears and detachments, macular holes, macular puckers, inflammation, eye injuries, and complications from previous surgeries.
Equipped with the most advanced technologies such as the high-definition spectral domain OCT that provides superior imaging of the macula and other information, individualized treatment options can be tailored to each patient’s need.
“With prompt treatment, often vision can be restored,” Dr. Kishore says, pointing out new treatment plans, new medications, and more options for treating special eye conditions such as macular degeneration. Because many retinal conditions are painless and exhibit subtle symptoms, it is important to get regular eye exams. Seek treatment if you notice increased flashes or floaters, sudden vision loss (even partial), and letters “twisting or turning.”
Recognizing their commitment to quality health care and the community, the group will continue educational articles in Healthy Cells Magazine®, and be guests on the “Healthy You” radio show, affiliated with the publication. They will also continue to partner with the UnityPoint Methodist Wellmobile to offer free health education and eye disease screenings on the second Thursday of each month. Complete details can be found on www.wellmobile.com.
For more information, contact Illinois Retina & Eye Associates in Peoria at 309-589-1880, Galesburg at 877-223-7403 or Peru at 815-223-7400.
Photo credit: Dr. Ekong and Dr. Ahuja photos by Color Classics, other photos by Daryl Wilson Photography.