Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, the Illinois Eye Institute (IEI), under the leadership of Dr. Dominick L. Opitz, associate professor of optometry, will conduct a weekly eye clinic at Loretto Hospital to provide specialized eye care diagnosis and treatment to patients with mild-to-serious eye conditions.

Dr. Opitz’s arrival could not be timelier with the recent accomplishment of Loretto’s Senior Ophthalmologist Dr. Mark J. Benjamin, who advanced to the forefront in cataract surgery when he performed the hospital’s first dropless cataract procedure on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, and was the first to utilize the new dropless cataract technology in Illinois, according to Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, the San Diego, CA, company that formulated the medication.

When asked about bringing his expertise to Loretto, Dr. Opitz said: “I’m really excited about this [partnership]. There is definitely a need for these types of eye care services in underserved communities like Austin. So, it’s really about providing excellent care and access to quality health care regardless of one’s ability to pay.” For more information about Loretto Hospital’s Eye Clinic call 773-854-5306.