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Ophthalmologist Extraordinaire Eye Trauma Surgeon Dr. Lynn Polonski By April Bourie eye,” said Polonski. interest in ophthalmology,” he said. Recent efforts to raise funds for This renowned surgeon was also inHis fellowship training in sculoplasTucson’s January 8th Memorial bring to volved in the recent incident where a tics was completed at Case Western mind that horrific and indelible time in Tucson police officer was kicked in the University Hospital. the city’s history. It also brings to mind the miraculous recovery that former face by a woman’s stiletto heel while she “While on faculty at the UA in the U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords achieved was being arrested. The heel ruptured ophthalmology department I covered after surviving a gunshot wound to the the policeman’s eye, tore his eyelid and the facial plastic service for UMC due to head during her “Congress on the Corcaused an orbital fracture. Polonski had a lack of coverage,” Polonski said, addner” in 2011. to remove his eye, reconstruct the socket ing that the UA then developed a facial One of the surgeons who made that and repair his eyelid, including the tearplastics trauma team on which he currecovery possible was Dr. Lynn Polonski, ing system. He again used titanium rently participates. “Three years later, an oculoplastic specialist who stopped plates to reconstruct the socket so that we were able to put together a team of the bleeding by decompressing Giffords’ the policeman could wear a prosthetic physicians who work both inside and orbit (eye socket), then reconstructed eye. outside the UA to cover all of the facial her orbital roof several days later at the In addition to these headline-making trauma issues at Banner - University now Banner-University Medical Center cases, Polonski is well-known for his Medical Center.” Tucson. He was an assistant professor work removing cancerous orbital tuIt’s not only his surgeries that improve at the University of Arizona at the time mors that can often occur behind the his patients’ lives. “Dr. Polonski really and presently is on the clinical faculty eye. This requires removal of a portion gets to know his patients and he’s always of the socket to access the tumors, folfor the Department of Ophthalmology. accessible to them, answering calls anylowed by reconstruction of the socket. “Dr. Polonski helped Gabby when she time – day or night,” Weintraub said. This life-saving work seldom makes needed it the most,” said Mark Kelly, The private practice Polonski estabheadlines, but profoundly makes a diflished continues to grow. Catalina Eye Giffords’ husband and a retired NASA ference in the lives of his patients. Care recently moved to larger quarters astronaut. “When she was injured in Polonski decided he wanted to be at 3925 E. Fort Lowell Road where he 2011 she needed an opthalmologist for an ophthalmologist when he was in his works closely with Weintraub and sura difficult surgery. Lynn was the guy we second year of medical school and now geon Dr. Ovette Villavicencio, who spewent to and he did a great job.” specializes in oculoplastics – surgeries cializes in cataract and corneal surgery “Dr. Polonski has unique and unthat deal with the eye socket, eyelids, including a new technique to reduce the matched surgical skills,” said Dr. Leslie tear ducts and face. His other specialprogression of keratoconus. Weintraub Weintraub, a medical optometrist who works with him at Catalina Eye Care, ties include cataract surgery, lid and lacspecializes in diabetic eye exams, glauthe practice he opened in 2009. “Basirimal disorders and removal of orbital coma management, contact lenses and cally, if you read or hear about an actumors, pre- and postoperative surgery care. cident, shooting or any violence affect“During medical school I was do“One of the unique things about ing someone’s eye, it’s a given that Dr. ing research on retinal epithelial cells Dr. Polonski is that he has tremendous Polonski was involved in their care.” in rabbits. I had to use a microscope to relationships with community and uniEighty-six-year-old Leroy Luetscher do the intricate work, and I found that versity physicians, which allow him to was working in his garden in Green ValI had good hands and good technique create special teams to work on specific ley one day when he dropped his prunworking at that level. That led to my issues and emergencies,” Weintraub ing shears, which landed with said. Doctors from as far away the sharp end in the ground as New Mexico and Southern and the handles upright. As California refer patients to he bent down to pick them him. up, he fell, and one handle Dr. Todd Altenbernd, an went through his eye socket six assistant professor at the UA inches into his head, ending in College of Medicine – Tucson, his neck and pressing his casaid, “Dr. Polonski never says rotid artery. Polonski was able no and that’s good because he to remove the shears and reis the only doctor who will reconstructed Luetscher’s orbital spond to these kinds of needs Dr. Leslie Weintraub Dr. Ovette Villavicencio floor with titanium mesh. “He on an emergency basis. He’s Medical Optometrist Ophthalmologist sees better with his repaired indispensable.” Catalina Eye Care Catalina Eye Care eye now than with the other Biz www.BizTucson.com
Winter 2018
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