Retina Institute of Hawaii Welcomes Dr. George Papastergiou

Thursday, May 10, 2012

George Papastergiou, MD, PhD has joined the team at Retina Institute of Hawaii as an ophthalmologist and surgeon specializing in treatment of retinal, macular and vitreous diseases.

Dr. Papastergiou will be seeing patients at Retina’s Honolulu office as well as the new offices on Hawaii’s Big Island in Hilo, Waimea and Kona. He joins specialists Michael D. Bennett, MD, FACS; Clifton S. Otto, MD; Karl E. Waite, MD; and Kellen Kashiwa, OD, all experts in evaluating and treating retinal diseases. A highly specialized tissue located at the back of the eye, the retina translates light to nerve impulses that are then transmitted to the brain to produce sight. 20/20 vision can only be achieved if the retina is working properly. READ MORE

Preventative Measures

Wednesday, April 24, 2012

Many people slather on sunscreen before hitting the waves but don't give a thought to eye protection while in the water.

Chronic sun exposure can lead to a common eye condition called pterygium, a noncancerous growth on the cornea that can affect vision.

Surfers and others who spend a lot of time outdoors and in the ocean have a greater potential for developing eye problems, according to Dr. Michael Bennett, founder of the Retina Institute of Hawaii and an active waterman himself. Water can reflect up to 100 percent of damaging ultraviolet light from the sun. READ MORE

Hawaii's First IMT Patient Receives the Gift of Sight

Thursday, Mar 29, 2012

On January 10, 2012, Merrill Smith underwent the first IMT surgery in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since then, he has been working on his vision and training with Dr. Kellen Kashiwa bi-weekly in Hilo on Hawaii's Big Island. Prior to receiving the telescope implant, Smith was nearly blind. His vision has improved remarkably from 20/200 to 20/80 and his quality of life has increased dramatically. Where he was once unable to see faces and could barely read, Mr. Smith can now decipher faces, read with glasses, see movement and watch television. His vision began improving immediately after surgery and with continued training with Dr. Kashiwa, his complete treatment time is anticipated to be about three months. Watch IMT segment on KHON

Patient Receives Hawaii’s First Telescope Implant for Macular Degeneration by Retina Institute of Hawaii

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

HONOLULU, January 18, 2012 – A team of surgeons from Hawaii, Dr. Michael Bennett of Retina Institute of Hawaii and Dr. Michael McMann of McMann Institute, has successfully implanted the FDA-approved eye telescope, a first in Hawaii, at one of the leading medical centers in Honolulu. The first-of-kind telescope implant is integral to CentraSight™, a new patient care program for treating patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most advanced form of AMD and the leading cause of blindness in older Americans. It is the only medical/surgical option that improves visual acuity by reducing the impact of the central vision blind spot caused by end-stage AMD. READ MORE

Retina Institute of Hawaii Hires Dr. Kellen Kashiwa as Low Vision Specialist

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Retina Institute of Hawaii has hired Kellen Kashiwa, O.D., as a low-vision specialist. As a licensed doctor of optometry, he is trained in the examination and management of patients with visual impairments that cannot be corrected with pharmaceutical or surgical interventions, conventional prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. READ MORE

Retina Institute of Hawaii is Proud to Announce Its Partnership with World Champion Paddleboarder, Jamie Mitchell and Continued Support of Project Vision Hawaii

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Retina Institute of Hawaii (RIH) teams up with Paddleboard Race winner, Jamie Mitchell and Project VISION Hawaii. The partnerships are a tribute to passion and vision. Jamie celebrates his personal victory as 10th consecutive winner of the Molokai 2 Oahu Ocean competition and Retina Institute of Hawaii celebrates 10 years of treating macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and raising awareness of eye protection. READ MORE

Retina Institute building new eye clinic on Maui

Friday, May 27, 2011

The Center for Sight Maui is relocating to a new facility under construction at 23 Paa St. in Kahului.

The building, which was designed by Honolulu architecture firm Sueda & Associates, has a permitted value of $1.5 million, according to a building permit filed with Maui County. Lyle Hamasaki Construction is the general contractor for the project.

The ophthalmology clinic, which conducts treatments and surgeries for eye diseases, is growing and hoping to hire more people with the move, according to Debbie Shimabukuro, chief operating officer of the Retina Institute of Hawaii, the Maui center's parent company. READ MORE

Van Rolls Around Island With Free Eye Screenings

February 20, 2011 by Dennis Fujimoto - The Garden Island

LIHU‘E — Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness, said Paul Steinfort of the East Kaua‘i Lions Club.

Information on diabetes was just an incidental offering at the Project Vision Hawai‘i Van which opened its doors to a battery of free eye screenings, Friday, at Kukui Grove Center.

The van will be in ‘Ele‘ele today before heading around the island to other sites through Thursday.

The screenings can detect diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and high blood pressure changes before vision loss occurs, states a flier from the Lions Club. READ MORE