WVU Expanding Eye Care Services to Rural Areas

The Charleston Gazette

January 21, 2010

By Veronica Nett

West Virginians have fairly convenient access to eye care services, but the issue in rural areas is providing specialized care that is generally centralized in Charleston and Morgantown, said Judie Charlton, chairwoman of WVU’s Department of Ophthalmology.

West Virginians face a “pending epidemic” when it comes to their eyesight, the chairwomen of West Virginia University’s Department of Ophthalmology says.

This rate of state residents with glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy is on the rise, Dr Judie Charlton, said Wednesday in an interview with the Gazette.

Both conditions can cause blindness if not treated early, and occur in conjunction with the aging population, smoking and diabetes, Charlton said. West Virginia has one of the oldest populations in the nation and also has some of the highest rates of diabetes and smoking.

State Journal

Section: 55 Good Things About West Virginia

July 3, 2009

By Pam Kasey

Morgantown – Something Fairmont native Judie Charlton saw as a medical student at West Virginia University affected her profoundly.

It was on a rotation through ophthalmology.

“One day you’d see a patient who couldn’t see and, with some of the procedures we do, they see better within 24 hours,” she said. “It was such a wow factor to watch these patients have instantaneous happiness. That grabbed me more than long chronic care for high blood pressure.”

Charlton went on to complete her residency and glaucoma fellowship at WVU and, later, to join the faculty.

West Virginia Gazette

Section: Perspective

22 March 2009

By: Phil Kabler

March Madness: Some of the most contentious bills over the years have dealt with health-care professions protecting their turf when it comes to authority to perform various procedures. Most recently , there was a tug-of-war among dentists, dental hygienists and dentist assistants over what procedures the latter two could perform without a dentist present.

This year, the fight is between ophthalmologists and optometrists over proposed legislation to allow optometrists (who receive four years of vocational training) to perform certain surgical procedures (primarily, laser surgery) currently restricted to ophthalmologists (who are physicians).

Depending on who you talk to, the disagreement literally got physical last week, following a House Health and Human Resources subcommittee meeting on the legislation (HB2978).

Following the meeting, there was an altercation in the East Wing hallway between Charleston ophthalmologist Dr Lawrence Minardi and Nelson Robinson, who lobbies for the state Optometric Association.

According to those siding with the ophthalmologists, Robinson shoved Minardi.

State Journal

Section: Government

By Walt Williams

Charleston – Eye-care specialists are at odds over a proposed law that would give the state’s optometrists more authority to prescribe medications and perhaps perform some minor surgeries.

The proposal has pitted the West Virginia’s optometrists against nearly the rest of the state’s medical community, which has lined up in opposition to the legislation. However, optometrists said they are seeking what already is available to their counterparts in a majority of states. The legislation’s opponents are mischaracterizing the bill by claiming it would give them the authority to perform eye surgery.

“This bill is not about optometrists doing surgery,” Bill Radcliff, a Huntington optometrist, said. “It’s about changing an antiquated (law) that tries to specifically outline what medication may be provided only now but in the future.”