with regular astigmatism, Martin said, which a distorted or slanted image, caused when the cornea is shaped like a football or oval instead of a normal round shape. A “Symfony” lens will, for the first time, help people with mild macular degeneration, astigmatism and mild glaucoma by “creating an extended depth of vision,” she said. Martin is the only eye surgeon in the Valley currently authorized to use the Symfony lens, but others are expected to be approved after the first of the year.
Eisenhower Eye Surgery Center Martin, the medical director of the outpatient eye surgery center at Eisenhower Medical Center, coordinated and established the surgical eye care center at Eisenhower
in 2013. It had been closed for 10 years prior to her arrival. She oversaw the training of technicians and nurses and ordered state-of-the-art equipment and instruments. One new device, called “Zeiss Lumera” surgical scope, magnifies the eye 10 to 20 times, which allows the surgeon to accurately see fine details while doing the cataract procedure. . Martin does 11 of cataract procedures every Monday and another six on Thursday at Eisenhower, and has been an eye surgeon for nearly 20 years. She holds medical degrees from UC San Francisco and Stanford University and Medical Center, where she specialized in ophthalmology. Who is Dr. Martin? She grew up on a small farm in North Tustin, Orange County. “My mother wanted me to be the farmer’s
daughter,” she said. They raised 50 pigs, 20 sheep and another 20 cows. At a young age, her mother taught her how to castrate pigs, “something my father could not bear to do.” Her father, a true rocket scientist,
works as a nuclear engineer. Despite winning scores of blue ribbons in 4-H and being crowned California’s Pork Queen, Martin followed her father’s career path into the world of science and medicine.
FULL DISCLOSURE AND THE SURGERY I had cataract surgery this year by Martin. The thought of someone slicing into my eye freaked me out. Of the five senses, my eyesight is the one I fear losing the most-- no longer able to drive a car, work on the computer, or the see the sunrise in the morning…. the list goes on. I knew my vision was deteriorating, so I interviewed several eye surgeons in the Valley and decided on Martin. With steady hands, Martin prefers a surgical blade (not a laser, which can leave jagged edges) to make a tiny incision of about 2.4 mm, roughly as large as the capital letter “O” on this page. Using a “phaco emulsification” ultra sound machine, the foggy lens is broken down into small particles and vacuumed out and a new lens inserted, which takes about 15 minutes or less for each eye. I was given a sedative to calm my nerves and medication that locked my eyes in place so that they would not move or blink. I was awake the whole time. After the first eye, I had the second procedure six weeks later. I choose to have the left eye corrected to 20/20 for distance vision and the right eye at 20/40 for close up and mid-range vision. The brain somehow does the math and I have clear, continuous vision for reading a book, working on a computer and driving a car. After wearing glasses since the age of 10, my new visual acuity without glasses seems like nothing short of a miracle. Really. As I have gotten older, nothing has gotten better. Except this!
“E komo mai” Come and join me!
HULA for Fitness & Fun (ages 18 and older)
Beginners welcomed - ENCOURAGED!
Premier Home Care for All Ages Skilled, Licensed & Insured Caregivers Available 24hrs a Day, 7 Days a Week For your Short or Long Term needs Si#er Services • Companion Care • Meal Prepara4on Errand Running • Grocery Shopping • Transporta4on Light Housekeeping • Bathing Assistance • Dressing Assistance Surgical Post Op Care • Incon4nence Care Mobility Assistance • Transfer Assistance Respite Care • Personal Hygiene Assistance Hospice Assistance Care & Various other Ac4vi4es of Daily Living
Current 6 week session ends 10/17 • Next 6 week session begins 11/7 Palm Desert Community Center 43900 San Pablo Avenue Palm Desert, CA.
Increase core strength, flexibility, grace, rhythm and balance... and, learn a little of the rich Hawaiian culture and language at the same time. To register, visit: MyRecreationDistrict.com Phone: 760-347-3484 or e-mail Jean Jacques: jean@jljesq.com DROP INS WELCOMED! Instructor, Jean Jacques (a’uana instructor & performer for lu’au and weddings).
“A’a ka hula, waiho ka hilahila i ka hale.”
760.895.1725
Translation: “When one wants to dance the hula, bashfulness should be left at home”.
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November/December | Valley Woman
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