November 2015 | Vol 12 Issue 3 | www.aventuradigest.com

Lovers’ Soiree For Your Valentine At VK Dance Center PAGE 12

This Was Meant To Be

John Norris III, MD, Stanley Braverman MD and John Norris II, MD. A certificate of Geriatric Ophthalmology for Dr Braverman was signed years ago by John Norris II, MD President of the Society.  Now Dr Braverman has performed eye surgery on his son John Norris III, MD.

The Braverman Eye Center is located at: 1935 East Hallandale Beach Boulevard, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. www.bravermaneyecenter.com

After a lifetime with poor eye-sight, a Key West physician makes an important decision.

Growing up in New Jersey, Dr. John Norris III, MD, recalled a childhood that was filled with fun, but also living with eyesight that required wearing glasses from the very beginning.

Through the years, like many who grow up having to wear some kind of vision enhancement, Dr. Norris did well. The fact that he was nearsighted and had astigmatism was not a major obstacle.

“The fact was I couldn’t see three feet in front of me without my glasses,” he said. “Also, having a father who was an ophthalmologist, you always knew where you stood with your vision.”

ÊToday, Dr. Norris, 51, is living in Key West, specializing in Internal Medicine. His love for the outdoors and the water is what brought him south, and he is into everything that this paradise destination offers.

ÊIn addition, he runs a successful and popular practice that many in this “Conch Republic” rely on.Ê

ÊBecause of his eyesight and the natural slow regression with age, it seemed that whatever he did, he needed to have a special pair of eyewear. That’s when he talked with his Optometrist, Dr. Daren Oppenheimer.

ÊWhat Dr. Norris and Dr. Oppenheimer discussed was what could be done to correct the sight to a level where glasses or contacts were not the crutch to spend the rest of his life on.

Ê“We talked about options and what would be next,” Dr. Norris recalled the 2014 meeting. “We talked about Lasik surgery, and what doctors in Miami-Dade or Broward were among the best.”

ÊWhile there were several who did this procedure, very few had the reputation that Dr. Stanley Braverman in Hallandale Beach had. In fact, while there were many names that were suggested, Dr. Oppenheimer knew which one was the best.

ÊWhile Dr. Norris was not a can-didate for the Lasik procedure - because of his nearsightedness and a thin cornea - he was suitable for ASA PRK (Advanced Surface Ablation Photorefractive Keratectomy).

Ê“We set things up for a consul-tation and I drove to Hallandale Beach,” Dr. Martin recalled. “I was sold on this being able to enhance the way I was living.”

ÊWhile the meeting with Dr. Braverman and his staff went “better than he could have imagined”, some-thing happened during the consul-tation that really gave Dr. Norris a signal that this was meant to be.

Ê“When Dr. Braverman told me everything that had to be done, he paused for a moment and asked if I was related to Dr. John Norris (II). I was floored when he asked that ques-tion.”

ÊWhen Norris answered that he was, Dr. Braverman showed him a glass-enclosed certificate from the Society of Geriatric Ophthalmology. The signature on that certificate was indeed Dr. John Norris II, who signed the certificate as the president of the society at that time. He imme-diately called his father who is now living in Vero Beach.

Ê“As soon as I saw that signature, I called and put my father on the phone with Dr. Braverman,” Dr. Norris said. “We agreed to do the procedure the next day and my father drove down.”

ÊHaving his father on hand for the procedure, coupled with the fact that everything went so well, it was truly a positive experience.

Ê“It’s really outstanding how things work out,” Dr. Norris explained. “Dr. Braverman is a great doctor and a tremendous person. His staff was really first class all the way. And, then having my father there, made the experience extra special.”

ÊAs he reflects back on the deci-sion and total experience at Braverman Eye Center, Dr. Norris is pleased at the way he can now live his life without barriers. While he does wear reading glasses, his vision is better than ever - and no longer does he have to reach for his glasses in the morning.ÊWhat to Expect:

ÊIn ASA PRK (advanced surface ablation photorefractive keratec-tomy), the surgeon carefully removes the outer epithelial (skin) covering of the cornea, and then uses the excimer laser to reshape the corneal surface. A flap, which is cut when Lasik is done, is not necessary. A special “bandage” contact lens is placed onto the eye for comfort while the epithelium is healing and is removed 3-4 days later. Visual recovery takes longer than with LASIK, and there are more post-operative office visits and medication, which is why LASIK has become more common.Ê However, there are patients who have dry eyes or corneas that are too thin to perform LASIK safely, and for these patients, ASA PRK is a great alternative. When the eye is fully healed after ASA PRK, the results are every bit as good as with LASIK.ABOUT DR. STANLEY BRAVERMAN

Dr. Stanley Braverman is a Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital/Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He is also an Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor at the Nova Southeastern School of Optometry. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Braverman, a board cer-tified ophthalmologist, has been a medical researcher, and is the inven-tor of several eye surgical instru-ments, and author of many articles for medical journals.Ê Dr. Braverman’sÊnewly trademarked LACE™Êprocedure (Laser Assisted

Cataract Extraction) provides the best possible cataract surgical results. He has lectured at profes-sional meetings about upgraded lens implants, advanced cataract surgery and LASIK, both nationally and internationally. He has recently been recognized by Newsweek Magazine as one of the Fifteen Leaders in Laser Eye Surgery in 2011, and recently co-authored a book on Z-Lasik that is being distributed inter-nationally.Ê You can find it on Amazon.com.

ÊAn initial cataract or LASIK consultation can be scheduled by calling the Braverman Eye Center at:Ê (954) 458-2112 or (305) 374-

8694.Ê For additional information please contact Regina Vasquez, Surgery Coordinator for cataract sur-gery, or Rosemary Hartford, LASIK Coordinator for LASIK surgery, or visit the Braverman Eye Center web-site at www.bravermaneyecenter.com where you can watch a video of cata-ract or LASIK surgery and learn more about all of the latest advances in cataract surgery and upgraded lens implants, as well as LASIK Surgery, including Near-Far Multifocal PresbyLASIK, for patients over 40 years old who require glasses for both distance and near vision.

ÊIn addition to Dr. Stanley Braverman, a Refractive Cataract

andÊ LASIK Laser Vision Correction surgeon, your other sub-specialty eye care needs can also be evaluated and treated.Ê On staff at the Braverman Eye Center are Rashid Taher MD FACS and Tirso Lara MD FACS, Vitreo-Retinal surgeons; Andre Sarraga MD FACS, Ophthalmic Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgeon; Aarup Kubal MD FACS, Complex Glaucoma Specialist; Jesse Pelletier MD FACS, Corneal Surgeon; and, Eric Ciliberti MD, Neuro-Ophthalmologist; Ryan Y. Hargreaves OD and Shalonda McCallum OD.Ê All sub-specialist surgeons at the Braverman Eye Center are Board Certified.