Keeping your eyes healthy and your vision the best it can be is the focus at Envision Ophthalmology and Wellness
By Mary Malik
Growing up in the Cleveland area with her grandmothers a constant presence in her home, E. Shanika Esparaz, M.D., double-board-certified in ophthalmology and a retina specialist, was surrounded by the circle of life.
“I understood at a young age that healthy eyesight is something to cherish and take care of,” Dr. Esparaz says.
With a mother as a physician, Dr. Esparaz combined her exposure to the medical field and interest in vision to study ophthalmology. Witnessing eye surgeries and what an immediate difference a quick and painless procedure can make in a patient’s vision, Dr. Esparaz was hooked.
“After medical school and residency, I returned to this area with my husband and two daughters and started Envision Ophthalmology and Wellness,” Dr. Esparaz says. “I offer medical and surgical treatments for macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and more.”
Dr. Esparaz says that the American Association of Ophthalmology recommends a dilated eye exam by age 40 if no other issues exist that may affect eyesight.
“There is a subset of younger patients where dilated exams are recommended earlier and that would be where conditions like diabetes, hypertension or family history exist,” Dr. Esparaz says. “For macular degeneration and retinal disease, prevention and early detection are key.”
Envision is a direct care practice where Dr. Esparaz takes the time to educate her patients with the kindness, patience and respect they deserve. Through the state-of-the-art equipment available here, Dr. Esparaz can detect certain things that may threaten a patient’s vision and is able to perform corrective procedures right in the office.
“I don’t have to refer patients to surgery centers for most procedures,” says Dr. Esparaz. “I have retinal lasers and can treat glaucoma and more conditions right here in the office where patients are comfortable.”
Board-certified in lifestyle medicine, Dr. Esparaz is passionate about educating patients on the importance of a healthy lifestyle to prevent and treat diseases of the eye.
“Things like heart disease, hypertension and diabetes can all affect your eyes,” Dr. Esparaz says. “Avoiding those things through nutrition, exercise and smoking cessation all affect not just your eyes but also your overall health. Prevention through education is a large part of my practice.”
There are unavoidable causes of eye problems, like age, genetics and some environmental factors.
“We’re all aging, and genetics play a big role in eye health,” Dr. Esparaz says. “If macular degeneration, cataracts, high blood pressure or diabetes are genetic, you are at a higher risk but you can do things to reduce the risk. The retina is filled with blood vessels. I describe it as the heart of the eye. The same issues that affect the heart affect the eyes.”
And digital eye strain is an epidemic these days. Dr. Esparaz recommends the 20-20-20 approach to combat eye strain. If you’re looking at a screen all day, take a break every 20 minutes for 20 seconds and look at something 20 feet ahead of you.
Dr. Esparaz offers membership packages that include yearly screenings, exams, counseling and active treatments.
“For high-risk patients, it’s critical to stay on top of exams and treatments,” Dr. Esparaz says. “With Envision, I can spend more time with my patients and together we can develop a plan to keep them healthy and their vision the best it can be.”
Envision Ophthalmology and Wellness is located at 6551 Wilson Mills Road, Suite 103, next door to Austin’s Steakhouse. For more information call 440-291-3051, email Dr. Esparaz at info@envisioncleveland.net or check the website envisioncle.com.