10 Questions With Dr. Kerline Marcelin Of Hudson Ophthalmology

Hudson Ophthalmology, a Hudson Valley-based ophthalmology office, has everything for your comprehensive eye care needs. From state-of the-art laser cataract surgery and premium lens implants to eye glass prescriptions and contact lens fittings, they provide patients with the highest level of experience and advanced surgical techniques.

Dr. Kerline Marcelin of Hudson Ophthalmology has more than 15 years of experience in the business and is a member of several professional organizations. Together with her friendly staff, Dr. Marcelin places patient safety, health and comfort among her top priorities, striving to provide a calm and welcoming environment during all office visits. Get the scoop on all things ophthalmology in this exclusive Patch one-on-one with Dr. Marcelin:

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Dr. Marcelin: Like most caring physicians today, it becomes increasingly challenging to provide the same excellent and holistic patient care in today’s ever more complicated healthcare environment. Patients struggle with more limiting medical insurance coverage and higher deductible plans, and we need to adapt yet continue to provide what is best for the patient.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Dr. Marcelin: I truly enjoy spending time in getting to know and understand my patients and their individual needs. I love teaching them and providing them with the information they need in order to better understand their disease and become an active participant in managing it.

The best part of every day is when you look back and realize that you have done something in order to make a true difference. By restoring a patient back to visual health and seeing the progress they have made over time – you know you have made a difference in someone’s life for the better.

I also am thrilled when I can provide my patients with the very latest in ocular eye health and treatments. Today we can remove cataracts with small sutureless cataract surgery. I perform the latest in state of the art cataract surgery, including Femto Second Laser Cataract Surgery, premium astigmatism, and multifocal or visual correcting lens implants. For those patients who have advanced visually threatening glaucoma, I perform glaucoma surgery such as Trabeculectomy and place Glaucoma Drainage Devices, such as Ahmed’s and Baerveldt tunes and drains. In less severe cases I am interested in performing MIGS (Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery), Istents, Cypass, and other less invasive procedures.

For those interested in minimizing eye medication use or are unable to take eye drops, I am able to provide less invasive glaucoma treatments like Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. There is also Laser Iridotomy for those threatened with Narrow Angles and risk of sudden loss of vision from glaucoma attacks.

When there is a threat of glaucoma, I am fascinated by detecting and analyzing every case with cutting edge diagnostic equipment. Then I can customize an individualized therapy to optimize the effectiveness and minimize the dosage or number of medications if possible. I strive to tailor a patient’s therapy in order to fit their needs. In this way I partner with them in their own eye care therapeutic plan.

Patch: Do you have any new projects that you are working on?

Dr. Marcelin: Routine diabetic eye exams to prevent diabetic related eye diseases and many new therapies for those patients with diabetic eye diseases, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. It is important to have a “quarterback” for your eye care, diagnosing, organizing and coordinating your treatment plan with the best retina specialist for their needs.

The first big issue for patients at risk for macular degeneration, diabetic eye diseases or other retinal potential disorders is that they don’t seek routine care until they have symptoms. This thinking is flawed, especially for many vision-threatening diseases because oftentimes the retinal disease manifests prior to the symptoms. By delaying their regular eye exams, major retinal problems including retinal holes, tears, bleeding and swelling present signs that the diseases is in full swing. It then may be more difficult to treat or may involve more advanced treatment then would have been necessary. By maintaining a schedule of routine medical eye exams a patient can be directed to some of top retinal specialist that we have in our area.

The second big issue is the corollary. Many patients believe that the retinal specialist is the only eye professional they need to see. Unfortunately, while the retinal specialist is spending their time preventing them from going blind from their retinal disease, the patients still need a primary medical ophthalmologist to check the overall health of their eyes for other sight threatening diseases, like glaucoma, cataracts, diseases related to eye pain and visual losses.

For me, the eyes are a precious gift that enhance one’s life every day. We must be vigilant to treat them with the utmost care. I always say to my the patients, “Your eyes take care of you, so you must take care of them.” The eyes have it! I am so lucky and grateful to have the opportunity to take care of the special gift that my patients entrust me with.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Dr. Marcelin:

· Office Move and Expansion - The expansion of my practice to a brand new state-of-the-art office in a 3,000-square-foot location right here in Cortlandt Manor

· Medical Missions - I’ve donated my time and money to medical ophthalmic missions to Haiti, providing cataract and glaucoma care and surgeries while teaching local ophthalmologists the latest surgical techniques in order to better serve the people long after.

· Teaching - I'm entering my 20th year donating time teaching cataracts and glaucoma to ophthalmology medical residents as an assistant professor at the New York Eye and Ear infirmary of Mount Sinai.

· Community Lectures - I have been donating my time to the mission of directly educating the local community, churches and libraries on eye diseases. These talks are directed to seniors and their families on eye diseases (especially cataracts, glaucoma and diabetes) and current therapies so that patients can be empowered to better understand their disease and disease risks thus making their medical eye exam encounters more productive.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Dr. Marcelin: Do what you love and the rest will follow. I am truly humbled by the opportunity to do what I love every day. Taking care of people -- and their eyes -- makes it even better!

This Patch article is sponsored by Hudson Ophthalmology

Image Credit: Hudson Ophthalmology