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The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, April 6,1994 Happy endings occur almost daily in any hospital, but- none is more remarkable remarkable than what happens in the ophthalmology unit at Memorial Hospital, Bowmanvillc. It's a gift of sight. "People come in here with poor vision, usually unable to sec hardly anything at all through one eye, and 45 minutes later they can see," says Cathy Dilling, nurse manager, same- day surgery. "When you stop to think about it, that's fantastic." More than 250 patients had eye surgery at the hospital last year, more than twice the number a year earlier, and more than 350 operations arc expected'this expected'this year. More than 250 patients had eye surgery at the hospital last year. Most operations are for cataracts and lens implants, but there are children children whose eye muscles are strengthened strengthened by surgery and babies only months old who receive surgery to remove blockages in their tear ducts. Blockages are not a threat to vision. The operation for cataracts involves involves removal of the lens of the eye when it has become clouded on the inside. An artificial lens designed specifically for that person is implanted. implanted. "The lens is about the size of a pea," says Ms. Dilling. A machine called an A-scan is iused to do an ultrasound examination of the eye to determine the exact size ' 'of the implant needed and what strength the new lens should be. Vision in both eyes must be balanced balanced to achieve the best possible eyesight. Some patients can discard their glasses after a cataract operation but will need them for reading. Most patients spend only a day at the hospital, but some stay overnight if they are from out of town or elderly elderly and the hospital decides it would be better for the patient to spend more time preparing for the operation. operation. The ophthalmology program also includes a clinic for patients with a variety of eye disorders, including glaucoma and damage caused by diabetes. diabetes. Glaucoma is a hereditary condition condition caused by high pressure in the eye. "It's a loss of peripheral vision, a sort of tunnel vision," says Dr. Athy Ro, one of the hospital's ophthalmologists. ophthalmologists. "The condition develops slowly. slowly. There's not pain or discomfort, which is why routine examinations are important, especially if there's a family history of glaucoma." The treatment for glaucoma involves involves using drops to relieve the pressure. Surgery is performed only in severe cases. The. ophthalmology program at Memorial Hospital was launched two years ago by a vision of a different kind. Hospital administrators were expanding expanding services to include more outpatient,. outpatient,. same-day surgery and community community services, when the Ontario Ministry of Health published the results results of a survey of health services in the province. Included in the report was the fact that 12 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women said they could with Elizabeth Belanger-Linkletter CTC Summer 1994 marks the 50th Anniversary of D-Day and the Allied Invasion of Normandy. What has happened happened since is nothing short of remarkable. To experience this vibrant rebirth, you must experience Europe as it is now. The borders borders of most countries are now open. And you are free to explore as you wish, whether it be bn your own; fully independent, with only air fare and a car rental, or an escorted tour where everything everything is booked and most things paid for before you travel. You have options open to you now that a few years ago were just a dream. Think of Norwegian fjords or Swiss Alps. The countryside of Ireland or perhaps a tour of Greece with a cruise thrown in for good measure. It's a vacation but it is also a history lesson, and nothing is more touching to the heart 'of Canadians than to visit Vimy Ridge and see our Canadian Flag flying high above a memorial memorial on French soil. If you have travel tips that you want to share in this column, call Blessings Travel Centre. Remember, when you think of Travel, Think of Blessings Travel Centre Vanstone Mill 623-0005 > © not see well even when wearing glasses. Further research by hospital administrators administrators into the need for eye care services found that while ophthalmology ophthalmology services were available at hospitals in Ottawa, Peterborough and Trenton, the need for such services services was so great that patients in need of surgery often had to go on a waiting waiting list. Hospital administrators felt that residents of Clarington would prefer to go to their local hospital for ophthalmology ophthalmology services. Glaucoma is a hereditary condition caused by high pressure in the eye. They also looked at the large number number of patients at the hospital's emergency emergency department who required eye care services as a result of accidents. "We get almost 600 patients a year with eye injuries," says Eric Harina, Executive Vice-President of Operations. "We were already meeting meeting their needs so it seemed logical to expand what we were doing into a full ophthalmology program." Most of the emergency department department patients have injuries classed as "foreign bodies" in the eye, such as pieces of metal, and superficial injuries injuries such as paint spray. Sports injuries injuries arc another common injury. Dr. Hossam Yassein, the hospital's hospital's ophthalmologist, agreed to mn the expanded program and the hospital hospital included money in its budget for the purchase of specialized equipment equipment such as the A-scan ultrasound. Dr. Ro joined the ophthalmology program a year later as the number of operations doubled. A recent survey of patients using the hospital's ophthalmology services found patients coming from Ajax, Whitby, Courtice and Oshawa in the west, Port Perry and Lindsay in the north, and as far as Napancc, Belleville Belleville and Kingston in the east. "We expected patients to come from beyond Clarington, but we've been surprised at how far some of them are coming," says Mr. Hanna, the hospital's Executive Vice- President of Operations. "It's really a regional service." A recent patient was Sarah Waller, Waller, of Bowmanvillc, who had cataracts cataracts removed from both eyes in operations operations six months apart. '■ "They were just marvelous, verjt- considerate 'and very caring," said : Mrs. Waller. "If I had lots of money and could choose any doctor and any hospital in the world, I'd have it done right here." Mrs. Waller, who recently celebrated celebrated her 86th birthday, was having severe eye strain. There was no.pain or discomfort from the operation, she says, and the strain has gone. Gwynnc Burke of Garden Hill, near Port Hope, also had a cataract operation and now has almost perfect vision in that eye. "I still use glasses for reading, because because of problems in the other eye, but my vision is really good," he said. "Before the operation it was 20- 50, which isn't good enough to drive a car, but now it's 20-20." THE NORTHUMBERLAND-CLARINGTON BOARD OF EDUCATION REGISTER NOW FOR SENIOR KINDERGARTEN FRENCH IMMERSION Ontario Street Public School and Courtice South Public School continue to offer Senior Kindergarten French Immersion. We are now accepting registrations for the 1994- 95 school year. The program is open to children five years of age on or before December 31,1994 whose parents or guardians reside within the boundaries of The Northumberland- Clarington Board of Education. For more registration information, please call Ontario Street Principal Steve Fortier at 905-623-5437 or Courtice South Principal Pat Adams at 905-436-2054. © COMMUNITY LIAISON GROUP SITING TASK FORCE Low-Lcvcl Radioactive Waste Management GROUPE DE LIAISON COMMUNAUTAIRE GROUPE DE TRAVAIL Choix d'un silo de gestion des déchets faiblement radioactifs THE CLARINGTON COMMUNITY LIAISON GROUP MEETING SCHEDULE The Clarington Community Liaison Group (CLG) business meetings are held the first and third Monday of the month: Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: Clarington CLG Resource Centre 37 King St., West. - Village of Newcastle The Joint Technical Working Group on Clean-up Criteria Clarington, Hope Township, Port Hope Is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, April 6th at: Location: Port Hope CLG Office Walton and John Streets, Port Hope Time: 7:00 p.m. Topic: To discuss working documents on Clean-up Criteria for the Welcome, Port Granby and Port Hope Waste Sites. For further information, please contact Dana Kerr 987-7786 © Dr. Anthony Ro demonstrates an examination procedure in the Memorial Hospital Ophthalmology Unit. ' : Crime Stoppers Need Help from Public to Solve Break and Enter Crime Stoppers and the Durham Regional Police are asking for the Public's help in solving a Break Enter Enter and Theft which occurred in Oshawa on Sunday, August 29th. . At 3:25 a.m. a lone male entered the Becker's Store at 50 Taunton Road East. The suspect gained entry by kicking the lower portion of the front glass door and then crawling through. The suspect then removed a small quantity of money from the cash register and also a couple of packages of cigarettes. The break and enter was noticed by a man dropping off papers at 5:50 a.m. The suspect was caught on a security security camera and his described as: male, white, 25-30 years old, 5'8" - 5'10" tall, 160 pounds, dark moustache moustache and goatee with dark hair just past the shoulders. The suspect was wearing a light coloured ball cap worn backwards, black short sleeved M.P.P. Wants GO Service Restored People throughout the riding of Durham Centre are now receiving a newsletter and questionnaire about restoration of full GO train service to Whitby , and extension of full service to Oshawa oncer ihc new tracks are ready, _• "I am very pleased with the initial response" • says MPP Drummond White. "The phones arc ringing constantly.,! constantly.,! want to encourage everyone to mail in their responses in the next few days." Drummond White is circulating a petition to alert GO Transit and the Ministry of Transport to the many people seriously inconvenienced by the reduction of GO Train service to Whitby. The petition notes that full GO Train service is a cmcial link in our transportation system. "It is vital in reducing traffic congestion in the Greater Toronto area" remarked Mr. White. Concerned citizens who wish to help bring back full GO Train service may call Drummond White's office at 905-430-1141 to get a copy of the petition. T-shirt, blue jeans and white running shoes. He wore a belt pouch to put the stolen money in. A re-enactment of this crime plus actual footage will be shown on CITY TV, Channel 57, Cable 7, on Thursday, April 7th during the 6 and 10 p.m. news. It will also be shown on CKVR in Barrie and CHEX in Peterborough Peterborough on Friday, April 8th, during during the news. Crime Stoppers is asking anyone with information on this Break and Enter or any other serious offence to call. As a caller you will not be asked to identify yourself or have, to go to court. A Cash Reward of up to $1000 is being offered if your tip leads to an arrest. The Crime Stoppers phone number number is: 436-8477 that's 436-TIPS Sergeant Grant Arnold is the coordinator coordinator with the DRCS and writes this article to help combat crime. | APRIL IS TIRE TIME | Vfree 1 : ^ Tire Mounting on New Tire „ Purchases^- ■ 1 Featuring SB700A15 All Season Performance Radial 1 SALE REG. 175/70R13S $49.95 $61.05 185/70R13S $51.95 $63.05 185/70R14S $59.95 $69.60 195/70R14S $66.95 $79.95 205/70R14S $67.95 $79.95 1 Also Low Profile Performance Tires 1 185/60R14H $69.95 $82.35 195/60R14H $79.95 $91.50 205/60R14H $83.95 $97.70 205/60R15H $86.95 $101.95 205/65R1 SH $92.95 $112.10 AH above tires come with Road Hazard Warranty 11 1 Sale Ends April 30/94 YES! WE'RE OPEN 1 11 Durham's #1 U-Fix-lt & Performance FRI.. APRIL 1ST | |^^^ne^oadEast i £owmanvnie eH ^97^5555©|: It's the happiest time of your life, but it's also the busiest! Call us at The Statesman and order your Wedding Invitations. Call us during the month of April and we'll give you 15% off the regular price. a In addition, we'll give you a Wedding Photograph and Write-up, Absolutely FREE. / Call us at 623-3303 and ask us for the books. You can even take them home, overnight. The Canadian Statesman 62 King Street West Bowmanvillc Telephone 623-3303