CHICAGO, IL – February 11, 2015 – Beginning Wednesday, Feb.
11, 2015, the Illinois Eye Institute (IEI), under the leadership of Dr.
Dominick L. Opitz, associate professor of optometry, will conduct a weekly
eye clinic at The Loretto Hospital to provide specialized eye care diagnosis
and treatment to patients with mild-to-serious eye conditions.
Dr. Opitz’s arrival could not be timelier with the recent accomplishment
of Loretto’s Senior Ophthalmologist Dr. Mark J. Benjamin, who advanced
to the forefront in cataract surgery when he performed the hospital’s
first dropless cataract procedure on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, and was
the first to utilize the new dropless cataract technology in Illinois,
according to Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, the San Diego, CA, company that
formulated the medication.
“Having a team of eye doctors of this caliber at The Loretto Hospital
who truly cares about this community - and delivering positive health
outcomes - is a huge win for us,” said Dr. Sonia Mehta, CEO and
CMO of Loretto Hospital.
Dr. Opitz is a multidisciplinary in medical/surgical eye care and specializes
in treating patients with glaucoma, uveitis, and ocular surface disease.
He received his undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago, and
earned his doctorate of optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry
in 1996. Following graduation, he completed a hospital-based primary care/ocular
disease residency at the Hampton Virginia Veterans Administration Medical
Center from 1996- 1997.
Since 2006, Dr. Opitz has been a full-time faculty member at the Illinois
College of Optometry, and is currently an Associate Professor in the department
of clinical education. In addition, Dr. Opitz serves as the senior director
of ophthalmology services and practice development for the Illinois Eye
Institute and is the director of continuing education for the Illinois
College of Optometry. Together, Dr. Opitz and Dr. Benjamin will provide
a full-range of eye care services including: comprehensive eye exams,
glaucoma screenings and treatment, cataract evaluations and treatment,
diabetic eye care, macular degeneration evaluations, dry eye treatment
and surgical consultations.
When asked about bringing his expertise to Loretto, Dr. Opitz said: “I’m
really excited about this [partnership]. There is definitely a need for
these types of eye care services in underserved communities like Austin.
So, it’s really about providing excellent care and access to quality
health care regardless of one’s ability to pay.”
For more information about The Loretto Hospital’s Eye Clinic call 773-854-5306.
About The Loretto Hospital
The Loretto Hospital is a not-for-profit, community-based, and acute care hospital
located on Chicago’s Far West Side of Chicago. Founded in 1939 by
a group of community doctors to create a patient centered hospital that
would serve the community regardless of a patient’s ability to pay,
Loretto has provided comprehensive medical care and social support services
to the Austin Community for 75 years. Although the largest percentage
of the hospital’s patients resides in Austin, neighboring communities
and suburbs also utilize Loretto as a healthcare resource. For more information,
please visit
lorettohospital.org.
About Illinois Eye Institute (IEI)
The Illinois Eye Institute is a nonprofit multi-specialty eye center that
provides comprehensive eye care to individuals of all ages from the Chicago
area and beyond. The IEI treats patients regardless of their financial
status, providing charitable services and outreach programs to people
in need. With more than 100,000 patient visits annually, the IEI is not
only Chicagoland’s largest eye care provider, but one of the largest
in the United States. For more information, please visit
illinoiseyeinstitute.org.