Appreciating the value of leading-edge information

Dea Stanuszek has always appreciated the value of up-to-date information and leading-edge technology. Throughout her 30-year career with AT&T, she ensured that Orange County’s largest companies had the tools and equipment to efficiently transfer data needed to run their daily operations.

As a retiree living in Newport Beach, she still keeps up to date on the latest technologies for her own life — regularly upgrading to the newest model iPhone, for example. For her vision care, she relies on the doctors at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute because they offer the latest ophthalmic information, imaging tools and treatments.

“At UCI Health, you have access to the latest eye treatments and discoveries because of the research and clinical trials that are done there,” Stanuszek says. “A regular ophthalmologist just isn’t going to have access to the same level of information.”

Stanuszek was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in her forties and immediately sought out a specialist at UCI. In those early days, she was treated by Baruch Kuppermann, MD, PhD, who is now chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and director of the eye institute. He prescribed a daily mix of vitamin and mineral supplements that National Eye Institute scientists found helped slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration. She now sees retina specialist Andrew Browne, MD, PhD, several times a year — and even helps to fund his AMD research.

Although Stanuszek no longer drives, she appreciates the eye institute’s convenient location on the university campus in Irvine — a short 10-minute jaunt from her home. “I feel very fortunate to live so close to such a prestigious and well-run organization,” she says.

As an active community volunteer, she often sings the praises of the eye institute and regularly refers friends and acquaintances to UCI Health ophthalmologists.

“Anybody who lives in our area needs to be aware of this treasure in our own backyard,” Stanuszek says. “You’re getting an entirely different caliber of eye doctor at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute than anywhere else in Orange County.”