Author Archives: SJ Eye
COVID-19 Update: Modified Office Hours
In response to the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, South Jersey Eye Associates will be modifying our office hours starting Monday, April 6, 2020. These hours will remain in effect until Thursday, April 30, 2020.
SJEA MODIFIED OFFICE HOURS
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Our office staff will continue to process orders and answer your phone calls. Feel free to leave a message should you need to contact us off-hours.
Dr. Brandon Wuzzardo will remain available for emergency and Virtual Eyecare* visits for the duration of this crisis. Unfortunately, we are unable to schedule routine eye exams at this time.
VIRTUAL EYECARE
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Enter our virtual waiting room at www.southjerseyeye.com
If you should experience an ocular emergency outside of our office or Virtual Eyecare hours, please contact South Jersey Eye Associates’ main number at 856-455-5500 and follow the prompts for assistance.
We are here for you and look forward to seeing you soon!
April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Observed in April and sponsored by Prevent Blindness, Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month is designed to educate women about what they can do to help stop vision loss.
Women tend to put the health of others first before themselves, however, their health should be a priority, especially as it relates to vision. Studies show…
- More women then men have cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration
- Women have a higher prevalence of dry eye than men
- Women are at higher risk for eye disease than men
- Hormone changes from pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause, may affect women’s vision.
Some tips for women to follow to protect their vision, include:
- Stop smoking
- Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
- Avoid sharing eye cosmetics
- Advise your eye doctor if you are pregnant
- If you notice any changes in your vision, contact your eye doctor immediately
- Schedule a regular comprehensive dilated eye exam
We look forward to seeing you soon.
SJEA Adds New Optometric Physician To Its Staff
South Jersey’s Comprehensive Eyecare and Eyewear Center Welcomes Dr. Russell W. Chappius III
Bridgeton, NJ (March 2020) –South Jersey Eye Associates (SJEA) is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Russell W. Chappius III, to the SJEA family. Dr. Chappius will officially join the eyecare and eyewear center as an optometric physician on July 1, 2020.
Both Dr. Brandon J. Wuzzardo and Dr. Michael A. Feinstein, optometric physicians at SJEA, expressed enthusiasm for the newest member of their staff.
“We’re thrilled to have Dr. Chappius, a highly trained and caring physician, join South Jersey Eye Associates,” said Dr. Wuzzardo, “Being from the area, many of our patients already know Dr. Chappius personally. He is a great addition to our team and will help us continue to provide our patients with Eyecare At Its Best.”
Dr. Chappius will graduate from Salus University in May with extensive training in primary eye care. He completed internships and clinical observation at The Eye Institute and South Jersey Eye Associates, where he observed under Dr. Wuzzardo. He has also completed externships at Bear Eye Associates and The Wilmington VA Medical Center. Most recently, Dr. Chappius completed training to fit scleral lenses and is currently completing his final externship at The Eye Institute with an emphasis on Low Vision.
“Dr. Chappius is a Bridgeton native who knows our area and our way of life,” states Dr. Feinstein, who will be retiring this June, “He has the same values as myself and Dr. Wuzzardo; and will do a great job of filling my shoes which is very comforting to know.”
Dr. Chappius currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Allison and intends to return to South Jersey this summer. Dr. Chappius exclaims, “Returning to my hometown and taking care of its vision needs was always part of the plan.”
Non-Essential Exams Postponed
In a continued effort to keep our patients and staff safe, and help slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), South Jersey Eye Associates has made the decision to postpone all non-essential exams for the next 2 weeks, starting Monday, March 23, 2020 through Monday, April 6, 2020.
If you are unsure if your individual situation is considered essential, please call 856-455-5500 to speak with a member of our staff.
In case of a vision-related emergency, our doctors will continue to be available 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. Call 856-455-5500 for emergency instructions.
South Jersey Eye Associates will remain diligent in monitoring the situation and will provide our patients with updates as they become available.
Your confidence and peace of mind is important to us.
We look forward to seeing you!
Your Health and Safety are Our First Priority
2020, The Year for Healthy Vision
When making resolutions for the new year, don’t forget to include those for healthy vision…
• Schedule a comprehensive eye exam
• Research your family health history and find out if you are at risk for eye disease
• Eat healthy foods
• Get active
• Quit smoking
• Wear protective eyewear
• Rest your eyes by taking a break from the computer every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Start the year off right and schedule an appointment with one of our doctors for a comprehensive eye exam.
Don’t Lose Sight of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States.
With glaucoma typically having no symptoms in its early stages, early detection through a comprehensive dilated eye exam and treatment with medication or surgery can help reduce severe vision loss from glaucoma. Anyone can get glaucoma, but those at higher risk include:
- African Americans age 40 and over
- Everyone over age 60, especially Hispanics/Latinos
- People with a family history of the disease
Learn more about your risk for Glaucoma by speaking with your doctor here at South Jersey Eye Associates. Schedule an appointment today.
SJEA Winter Coat Drive – Extended to February 3
UPDATE: The cold start this morning was a brisk reminder that winter is very much still with us. As you put your coat on to venture outside, please think of all those that could use an extra layer of warmth this winter. With that thought in mind, South Jersey Eye Associates has extended its Coat Drive to Monday, February 3.
While you are out shopping this holiday season, consider picking up a new coat for the South Jersey Eye Associates Coat Drive, through January 31. All NEW coats collected will benefit The Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition which provides “Warming Centers” to homeless persons in the community, giving them shelter from frigid overnight temperatures during the cold winter months. Help us keep our community warm this winter.
SJEA’s Fall Food Drive
As we begin this season of gratitude, South Jersey Eye Associates is starting its Fall Food Drive. This year the collection will benefit GOT FOOD?—a free and confidential food pantry available to all registered Rowan College of South Jersey – Cumberland students.
Bring in your donation of non-perishable food, diapers, formula, or personal hygiene products and receive 20% off select eyewear.
Restrictions apply. See optician for details. Now through November 30th.
What Every Diabetic Should Know About Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy, a progressive disease of the retina, is a common complication of diabetes and one of the leading causes of blindness. The condition occurs when small blood vessels in the back of the eye are damaged by a build-up of glucose or fructose. This damage causes progressive vision loss in two ways: proliferative retinopathy, when abnormal blood vessels form and leak into the center of the eye, and macular edema, when fluid leaks into the macula, the part of the eye responsible for sharp central vision. Sometimes the blood vessels in the eye will provide the clearest indication of broader medical disorders like diabetes and hypertension, telling the story that the rest of the body may not.
Anyone with diabetes—type 1 or type 2—is at risk for diabetic retinopathy. The disease often has no early warning signs and can become advanced without any outward indications, which is why it is critical for all diabetics to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Blurred vision, “floaters”, and double vision can all be symptoms of diabetic retinopathy, but an individual at risk should not wait for symptoms before scheduling an exam. With timely treatment and care, most patients with diabetic retinopathy can avoid substantial vision loss.