The Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Surgery Center opened in 1988 with E. Ronald Salvitti, M.D. serving as Medical Director. This fully accredited, state-licensed facility offers Cataract, LASIK, Vitreo-Retinal, and Oculoplastic surgeries on an outpatient basis. A surgery, depending on the scope and nature, can take anywhere from ten minutes to two hours. The center is equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology. However, the equipment only tells part of the story. The center is staffed with some of the region's finest surgeons and a highly skilled, dedicated group of support personnel including registered nurses and anesthesiologists. The center is supported by a full service recovery room for complete postoperative care. While the patient is being well cared for, the families and loved ones are not ignored. The unique and relaxing waiting room allows visitors to watch the surgery through a viewing window, with close-up views on overhead monitors. Not only can those close to the patient be comforted with the knowledge that their loved one's are getting the best care possible, but they can actually watch the procedure taking place!

Cataract | New Cataract Lens Technology | Vitreo-Retinal | Oculoplastic



Do you have poor night vision, suffer from blurred vision, or have difficulty watching television? If these symptoms are interfering with your daily life, you might be developing cataracts. The only method to treat a cataract problem is through surgery. If you are experiencing symptoms common to cataracts, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center offers an effective and innovative solution, SELF-SEALING CATARACT SURGERY.

Dr. E. Ronald Salvitti has been perfecting this advanced technique for more than 2 decades. What is Self-Sealing Cataract Surgery? In essence, the procedure is Small Incision Cataract Surgery, a common and proven cataract surgery technique.

In Small Incision surgery, the clouded natural lens is removed by inserting a tiny ultrasonic probe through a small incision in the eye. The ultrasound breaks up the lens, the pieces are then removed, and a special lens implant is inserted, restoring normal vision. One stitch closes the incision.

In Self-Sealing Cataract Surgery, there is no stitch! How is this possible? Dr. Salvitti makes his incision further away from the cornea, reducing the possibility of astigmatism (distortion of the cornea causing blurred vision), and allowing the eye's lid to completely cover and protect the incision after surgery. The eyelid acts as a natural bandage! With no stitches, there is less chance of blurred vision, and no worry about potential irritation from the stitch or the concern of having the stitch removed or cut after surgery.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center offers a full service, state licensed surgery center, along with the latest technology and a fully trained support staff, which includes registered nurses and anesthesiologists for your surgical needs. For more information, call the Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center at 724-228-2982 and consult with the area's finest cataract surgeon.

< top >

CATARACT SURGERY?
YOU NOW HAVE A CHOICE.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO CHOOSE LIFE WITHOUT READING GLASSES OR BIFOCALS. 

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. This lens, located behind the iris (or colored part of the eye) works just like the lens of a camera - focusing light images on the retina, which sends the images to your brain.

The human lens, made mostly of protein and water, can become clouded - so clouded it keeps light and images from reaching the retina. Eye injury, certain diseases, or even some medications can cause the clouding. But, in over 90% of cases, clouding is caused by the aging process. A cataract is not a "film" over the eye, and neither diet nor lasers will make it go away. The best way to treat a cataract is to remove the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial lens (IOL). The time to have your cataracts removed is when the quality of your vision begins to put limits on your activities and enjoyment of life.

The good news is that you've encountered cataracts at a time when intraocular lens technology has taken a giant leap forward. No longer is the objective simply to restore your distance vision with a conventional, single vision intraocular lens. Today, the goal is to enhance your vision with an intraocular lens implant that may provide you with a full range of vision, thus minimizing your dependence on glasses, including reading glasses or bifocals.

At Southwestern PA Eye Center, we offer the most advanced options to customize your vision after cataract surgery, based on your individual lifestyle needs. Based on our findings during your upcoming examination, we will inform you of which lens is the best option for you. On the following page, you will find information that helps you understand three different options:

  • Basic monofocal lens implant
  • Multifocal premium lens implant
  • Toric premium lens implant

Basic Monofocal Lens Implant
With single-vision lens implants, there is a very high likelihood that you will need glasses for most near-vision glasses before surgery, even if you do no wear near-vision glasses before surgery. These activities include such things as reading, applying makeup, shaving, sewing, reading your watch, dialing a cell phone, and baiting fishhooks. Medicare and most private insurance carriers will pay 80% of your cataract surgery and the monofocal lens. This is considered basic coverage.

Multifocal / Accommodating Premium Lens Implant
New technology implants, such as multifocal / accommodating premium lens implants, are designed to provide a full range of vision -- near, far and everything in between. Medicare and private insurance profile basic coverage allow you to pay for the upgrade, if you choose to do so . Based on FDA clinical data, 80% of patients never need glasses again for any activities. Those who do need glasses need them only for very specific tasks. The goal of the multifocal accommodating premium lens is to allow you to live a spectacle-free life, to see things near and far without glasses. There is ana additional cost for this techonlogy. If it is determined that you are a candidate for multifocal accommodating premium lens implant, we can discuss payment plans that make this option affordable for our patients.

Toric Premium Lens Implant
The Toric premium lens implant lens is specifically designed to address those who have a significant amount of astigmatism. In years past, cataract surgery removed the cataract, but a patient with high astigmatism still required glasses for near and distance vision. The design of the Toric premium lens implant makes it possible to reduce or eliminate astigmatism and significantly improve uncorrected distance vision. There is an additional cost for this lens implant. Again, we strive to make the Toric premium lens implant affordable for our patients by offering payment options here in our office.

< top >


For problems involving the vitreous and retina, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center has a dedicated professional staff. Thierry C. Verstraeten, M.D. is a specialist in vitreoretinal diseases, and performs various procedures at the eye center.

What are some specific vitreoretinal problems? The most serious one is a detached retina. Retinal detachments will affect one of every 10,000 Americans annually. How do you know if you are that one? Most eye problems usually occur in middle-aged or older adults but a person of any age can be at risk. Myopia or nearsightedness is also a risk factor. Most retinal problems manifest in floating black spots known as floaters. Though, some people may see sudden flashes of light which could indicate substantial detachment or separation of the vitreous (clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye) and tears in the retina.

How are vitreoretinal problems corrected? The normal treatments include laser photocoagulation (an outpatient treatment where laser light is used to seal small retinal tears with no surgical incision), freezing (a procedure requiring local anesthesia where the back wall of the eye behind the retinal tear is frozen to stimulate scar formation), and surgical repair. Surgeries vary depending on the extent of the damage. The good news is that over 90% of all retinal detachments can be successfully treated through these modern technical procedures. Laser photocoagulation is used to seal leaky or bleeding blood vessels in diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration.

Dr. Verstraeten can also perform vitrectomy surgery, where the cloudy vitreous is removed because of a hemorrhage (as in diabetic retinopathy) as well as scar tissue that might pull on the retina. The surgery takes one hour depending on the severity of the problem. There may be some discomfort after the procedure, but surgery does improve and stabilize vision.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center offers a full service, state licensed surgery center, along with the latest technology and a fully trained support staff, which includes registered nurses and an anesthesiologist for your surgical needs. For more information, call the Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center at 724-228-2982 and consult with the area's finest doctors and surgeons.

< top >


For diagnosis and management of a variety of neurologic eye conditions, (including dysfunction of the optic nerve, the eye muscles and the eyelid) visit Randall Beatty, MD a board-certified ophthalmologist with subspecialty training in Neuro-ophthalmology, orbital disease, and ophthalmic plastic reconstruction. Dr. Beatty is particularly interested in the treatment of Grave's disease, a thyroid condition that affects the eye, but also manages orbital fractures, tumors, inflammations, and other common abnormalities.

As an ophthalmic plastic reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Beatty provides surgical correction for a variety of conditions and has performed over 1000 blepharoplasties (eye lifts). Dr. Beatty is active in academic medicine, training fellows at Allegheny General Hospital and has lectured both nationally and internationally. His co-authored book, The Practical Diagnosis and Management of Orbital Disease, is available online from Butterworth-Heineman publishers.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center offers a full service, state licensed surgery center, along with the latest technology and a fully trained support staff, which includes registered nurses and anesthesiologists for your surgical needs. For more information, call the Southwestern Pennsylvania Eye Center at 724-228-2982 and consult with the area's finest surgeons.

< top >


750 East Beau Street | Washington, PA 15301 | Phone: 800.336.2020 |E-mail: info@swpaeyecenter.com
Click here to view HIPAA requirements