Author Archives: SJ Eye

Dr. Samantha A. Miletta will officially join the trusted eyecare and eyewear center as an Optometric Physician on June 3, 2024, and will practice primary care optometry primarily at its Millville location.

Dr. Brandon J. Wuzzardo, Optometric Physician and owner of SJEA, expressed enthusiasm for the newest member of his staff. Together with Dr. Russell W. Chappius III, who has been with SJEA since 2020, the on-site doctors and affiliated specialists strive to offer South Jersey the latest in vision care services, all with a patient-first philosophy.

“We’re thrilled to have Dr. Miletta, a compassionate and highly trained physician, join South Jersey Eye Associates,” said Dr. Wuzzardo, “Being from the area, many of our patients already know Dr. Miletta personally. She is a wonderful addition to our team and will help us continue to provide our patients with Eyecare At Its Best.”

Dr. Miletta graduated from Rowan University in December 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and will graduate from Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in May 2024. She was a long-time patient at South Jersey Eye Associates and shadowed Dr. Brandon J. Wuzzardo for several years before starting optometry school.

Dr. Miletta’s training consisted of an internship at The Eye Institute, with externships at Cassey’s Optical, Gubman Eye Associates, Wilmington VA Medical Center, South Jersey Eye Associates, and William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center at The Eye Institute which specializes in low vision training. These externships included training in contact lenses, ocular disease, and low vision. While at SJEA, Dr. Miletta completed her optical clerkship in July 2021 and completed a 3-month externship from November 2023 through February 2024.

A lifelong resident of Fairton, Dr. Miletta exclaims, “SJEA has always made me feel like family—from being a patient to now being an optometrist in the practice. I am excited to be able to give back to the community I grew up in!”

Optometric Physician Dr. Russell W. Chappius presents South Jersey Eye Associates “Eye on Vision” for April.

April is Sports Eye Safety Month and our doctors at SJEA want to help you keep your eyes healthy anytime you are participating in sports activities. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that over 30,000 sports-related eye injuries are reported every year. Most of these eye injuries are preventable.

Eye protection is not only for prescription wearers, but for anyone active in sports. In fact, regular eyeglasses and contact lenses provide little or no protection and regular eyewear may even cause an eye injury when worn while participating in a sporting event.

To prevent injury, athletes are advised to wear eye protection that may include safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards designed for a particular sport and that meet American Society for Testing and Materials(ASTM) standards.

Athletes also need to visit their eye doctor regularly for comprehensive eye care so that they can perform their best on the court or field with clear and healthy vision.

Contact SJEA today to learn more about sports eye safety to ensure you and your family has their best vision possible. We look forward to seeing you!

Optometric Physician Dr. Brandon J. Wuzzardo presents South Jersey Eye Associates “Eye on Vision” for March.

March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month and our doctors at SJEA want to help you keep your eyes healthy anytime you are at work—either in the office, at the job site, or at home.

To prevent a work-related eye injury, no matter the size of the job, it is essential that you…

• have a full understanding of safety risks.
• observe proper safety guidelines.
• wear adequate eye protection.

SJEA’s Eyewear Center stocks a wide range safety eyewear—glasses, goggles and visors—by all the leading names in eye protection. All of which comply with ANSI guidelines. SJEA also works with employers building eye safety programs, offering special benefits to businesses purchasing safety eyewear.

Contact SJEA today to learn more about personal eyewear safety to ensure you and your family has their best vision possible. We look forward to seeing you!

Optometric Physician Dr. Russell W. Chappius III presents South Jersey Eye Associates “Eye on Vision” for February.

February is Age-Related Macular Degeneration & Low Vision Awareness Month. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (or AMD) causes damage to the macula, the part of the eye that lets us see objects that are straight ahead. The most common symptom of AMD is a blurred area near the center of vision.

For some, AMD advances so slowly that vision loss takes a long time to occur. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in one or both eyes.

AMD by itself does not lead to complete blindness. However, the loss of central vision can interfere with simple everyday activities, such as the ability to see faces, drive, read, write, or do close work, such as cooking or fixing things around the house.

While there is no cure for AMD, detection and treatment may slow disease and prevent severe loss of vision.

Contact SJEA today to schedule an appointment to learn more about AMD & Low Vision to ensure you and your family has their best vision possible. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Optometric Physician Dr. Brandon J. Wuzzardo presents South Jersey Eye Associates “Eye on Vision” for January.

January is glaucoma awareness month. According to the American Optometric Association, glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in the United States, with the most common form of glaucoma typically having no warning signs. Therefore, a comprehensive dilated eye exam is essential for diagnosis and to monitor any changes.

As glaucoma can affect anyone at any age, the following factors can increase your risk:
• Being over the age of 60.
• Being African American.
• A family history of glaucoma.
• Certain medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
• Having experienced physical injuries to the eye.
• Other eye-related risk factors include thinner corneas, optic nerve sensitivity, retinal detachment, eye tumors, and eye inflammation.
• Prolonged use of corticosteroids.

Learn more about your risk for Glaucoma by speaking with your doctor here at South Jersey Eye Associates. Schedule an appointment today.

Optometric Physician Dr. Russell W. Chappius III presents South Jersey Eye Associates “Eye on Vision” for December.

December is Safe Toys & Celebrations Month. With about 1 in 10 children’s eye injuries coming from toys, South Jersey Eye Associates encourages everyone to choose gifts that are age-appropriate for children, avoiding those with sharp edges and projectiles and taking safety precautions where necessary. And please, remember to supervise your children at all times.

When it comes to celebrations this time of year, remember to point away from guests’ faces when opening the champagne and leave any fireworks to the professionals.

Should you or a loved one suffer an eye injury, be sure to contact SJEA so we can evaluate the extent of the injury and ensure that everyone has the best vision possible.

Optometric Physician Dr. Brandon J. Wuzzardo presents South Jersey Eye Associates “Eye on Vision” for November.

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Month. Diabetic eye disease refers to eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of the disease. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States for those under the age of 65. If you have diabetes, it’s important to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic eye disease may not have any early symptoms. Finding it early can help you take steps to protect your vision.

Contact SJEA today to schedule an appointment to learn more about Diabetic Eye Disease and ensure you and your family have their best vision possible. We look forward to seeing you!

October is a very special month for South Jersey Eye Associates with milestone anniversaries to celebrate!

• Dr. Wuzzardo’s 10th anniversary of practicing optometry (2013).

• Dr. Wuzzardo’s 7th anniversary of ownership of the practice (2016).

• The 2nd anniversary of SJEA’s second location in Millville (2021).

• The 37th anniversary of providing “Eyecare At Its Best” to the South Jersey region (since 1986).

At your next appointment, be sure to wish Dr. Brandon J. Wuzzardo, Dr. Russell W. Chappius III, Dr. Lynne M. Porreca, and all the amazing staff a wonderful October!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Optometric Physician Dr. Russell W. Chappius III presents South Jersey Eye Associates “Eye on Vision” for October.

October is Halloween Eye Safety Month. To ensure that your family enjoys a vision-safe Halloween, follow these safety tips from Dr. Chappius:

• Test any eye or face makeup on the back of your hand to check for allergy or sensitivity.
• Avoid costumes with masks, wigs, floppy hats, or eye patches that block vision.
• Refrain from pointed props such as spears, swords, or wands that may harm other children’s eyes.
• Carry a bright flashlight to improve visibility.
• Never buy cosmetic contacts without a prescription! Never share your cosmetic contacts with others or use someone else’s contacts! Improper use of cosmetic lenses can lead to serious eye complications. These problems include bacterial infections, swelling, eye pain, sensitivity to light, conjunctivitis (pink eye), corneal scratches, corneal ulceration, and even permanent loss of sight.

Contact SJEA today to schedule an appointment to learn more about Halloween Eye Safety and ensure your family has the best vision possible.

We look forward to seeing you soon!