News Listing

February 4, 2011

A change of name, only!

DR. MARCELLA BIRK IS NOW DR. MARCELLA LABELLE

On January  15, 2011, our Gimbel Eye Centre Optometrist Dr. Marcella Birk was married to John LaBelle in a small ceremony in Banff, Alberta.  Dr. Birk has officially changed her name to Dr. Marcella LaBelle.

_{May 21, 2010}

GIMBEL EYE CENTRE VIEWS ADDITIONAL CATARACT SURGERIES AS POSITIVE STEP

Calgary – Gimbel Eye Centre believes the Alberta Health Services (AHS) decision to fund an additional 1,400 cataract surgeries over the next four months, and up to an additional 120 corneal transplants this year, is positive news for Albertans.

“We, along with many others, have been encouraging the Minister to focus funding where wait lists are the longest.  Patients waiting for their surgeon-of-choice will benefit from this announcement,” says Dr. Howard Gimbel, Executive Medical Director of Gimbel Eye Centre, and one of it’s four surgeons.  “This is an important step toward an interim solution addressing long waiting lists for cataract surgery.”

The new surgical blitz is aimed at reducing long wait times for cataract surgeries, with 1000 surgeries designated for Calgary and 400 surgeries assigned to Edmonton.

Cataract service providers have two weeks to respond to an Expression of Interest document distributed on May 20, 2010. According to the AHS news release, contracts will be awarded to all approved, accredited facilities interested in providing the service within the guidelines stipulated and with the understanding that the surgeries will be completed by September 30, 2010.

Gimbel Eye Centre will be responding positively to the Expression of Interest document and hopes that at least some of their patients will be able to have their cataract surgeries in both its Calgary and Edmonton surgical centres.  Gimbel Eye Centre patients have been having their cataract surgeries  at another surgical facility in Calgary and Edmonton since AHS began limiting the facilities that could perform surgeries as of April 1, 2010.

“We will continue to participate in the consultation process that the Minister has initiated. We believe that patients deserve the freedom to choose their surgeon as well as the surgical facility where it is provided,” adds Dr. Gimbel.

Family owned and operated, Gimbel Eye Centre offers patients the full range of options for vision correction surgery available today. Trusted by Canadians since 1964, Gimbel Eye Centre has performed over 200,000 procedures and is one of the most experienced vision correction centres in the world, with locations in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.

Alberta Government decision impacts ONLY Alberta CATARACT Surgery patients 

(For further clarification, see our FAQ)

April 1, 2010

• On Friday, March 26, 2010, Alberta Health Services informed us of their decision to limit the number of facilities able to provide cataract surgery services to Alberta patients. Instead of several non-hospital surgical facilities contracted to provide cataract surgery in both Calgary and Edmonton, there will now be only  two in Calgary and two in Edmonton.

• What that means is that physicians from various surgical centres will only be allowed to provide surgical services in those specified centres, requiring re-routing of hundreds of patients and doctors from several clinics.

• The decision is to be effective April 1. However, because of the very short notice (4 business days), we are extremely concerned about the impact on our patients, many of whom have been booked for surgery for months. Our priority has been on making the transition as seamless as possible for our patients. 

• There are many questions about the ability of these contracted providers to accommodate this demand in such a short time frame. We are concerned about the serious logistical issues that are presented as a result of this decision.

• We are shocked and saddened by this decision, which was made on the basis of who could provide services at the lowest cost to Alberta Health Services. 

• We have been working with various levels of government to express our concerns and advocate for the best possible outcomes for our patients.

• We will work in every way possible to minimize the impact on our patients. Alberta cataract patients will continue to receive pre- and post-op care  at Gimbel Eye Centre (both Calgary and Edmonton), the only change will be the location of the CATARACT surgery. This decision does not affect our refractive surgery in any way.

• The decision also only affects ALBERTA patients. We will continue to provide cataract surgery to out-of-province and out-of-country patients at Gimbel Eye Centre in Calgary and Edmonton.

This decision saddens us deeply.  If you have concerns or an opinion about this decision, here are some options for you.  You can call or email your MLA, and/or the health minister, and/or the premier.  

Use this online tool to find your MLA contact info.

Use this online feedback form to contact the Health Minister or the Premier.  

You can also

• Call the toll-free province-wide feedback/comment line at 310-4455.
• Fax a letter to Government of Alberta at 780-422-2852. To fax toll-free within Alberta, dial 310-0000 then 780-422-2852.
• Mail a letter to:
  Government of Alberta
  PO Box 1333
  Edmonton, Alberta
  T5J 2N2

Dr. John van Westenbrugge introduces Dr. Gimbel (transcript)

CALGARY, ALBERTA — Dr. Howard Gimbel is presented with the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) Lifetime Achievement Award for 2009

At its 72nd Annual Meeting & Exhibition on Sunday, June 21st, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society recognized Dr. Gimbel for his "sustained impact nationally and internationally on the growth of the profession" and for maintaining the "highest standard of patient care" in his practice. Dr. Gimbel has been selected as 2009's award recipient for a lifelong dedication to his community as a positive role model, mentor and educator.

"I am honoured the Canadian Ophthalmological Society considers my life's work to be worthy of this distinguished award. As a southern Alberta farm boy, I knew I wanted to serve others, and wondered about how I could do so more directly than growing grain for them to eat. I had no idea I would be so blessed to have the opportunity to improve quality of life through the gift of sight. Any success I've been able to accomplish I owe to God first, and then to the support and encouragement of my wife, Judy. Also, I couldn't do anything without my able team of surgeons, fellows, colleagues and support staff in both Alberta and in Loma Linda. It is my honour to be able to serve," said Dr. Howard Gimbel.

Background

Dr. Gimbel is Executive Medical Director of Gimbel Eye Centre, specializing in Cataract and Refractive surgery, with locations in both Calgary and Edmonton. Gimbel Eye Centre has been a leader in quality patient care since 1964. Gimbel Eye Centre surgeons have performed over 180,000 procedures and are some of the most experienced vision correction surgeons in the world. Dr. Gimbel also serves as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, California. He travels regularly to California from his Alberta home and is active in surgery and teaching in both Alberta and California.

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society was established in 1937 as a certifying body for its ophthalmologist members. In 1943, when ophthalmology became recognized as a specialization in medicine, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons became the governing body with the COS for the ophthalmologist certification process. Since then, twelve major Canadian universities have developed graduate programs in Ophthalmology. The Canadian Ophthalmological Society is considered the leading authority on eye care in Canada.

Dr. Howard Gimbel honoured as Alumnus of the Year

CALGARY, ALBERTA — Dr. Howard Gimbel, receives distinguished award from Loma Linda University as University Alumnus of the Year

At graduation commencement exercises on Sunday, May 24th, Loma Linda University President, Dr. Richard H. Hart, celebrated Dr. Gimbel's pioneering innovations and support for research, education and service that exert a far-reaching and ongoing influence in the international ophthalmic community. Acknowledging over four decades of dedication to enhancing "the art and science of eye care" and establishing "standards of excellence that have impacted patient care around the world," Dr. Gimbel was named University Alumnus of the Year.

"I am pleased to receive this great honour and recognition for my work. Starting my life on a farm in southern Alberta, I never could have dreamed of the life I'm living that is filled with opportunities to serve others, especially being able to give the gift of sight. Any success I've been able to accomplish I owe to God first, and then to the support and encouragement of my wife, Judy. Also, I couldn't do anything without my able teams of surgeons, fellows, and colleagues — both in Alberta and in Loma Linda.  It is my honour to be able to serve," said Dr. Howard Gimbel.

Background

Dr. Gimbel is Executive Medical Director of Gimbel Eye Centre, specializing in Cataract and Refractive surgery, with locations in both Calgary and Edmonton. Gimbel Eye Centre has been a leader in quality patient care since 1964. Gimbel Eye Centre surgeons have performed over 180,000 procedures and are some of the most experienced vision correction surgeons in the world. Dr. Gimbel also serves as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, California. He travels regularly to California from his Alberta home and is active in surgery and teaching in both Alberta and California.

Loma Linda University is a post-secondary, health-sciences institution with more than 4,000 students located in Southern California. Eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies comprise the University organization. The schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Allied Health Professions, Pharmacy, Public Health, Religion and Science and Technology offer more than 55 programs. Curricula offered range from certificates of completion and associate in science degrees to doctor 
of philosophy and professional doctoral degrees. Students from more than 80 countries around 
the world and virtually every state in the nation are represented in Loma Linda University's 
student body.

Eye's Natural lens Replaced with Accommodative Lens Implant — A First in Alberta
Freedom from reading glasses is now an option

CALGARY, ALBERTA — A revolutionary technology in ophthalmology is now approved and available in Alberta: an accommodative lens implant that replaces the eye's natural lens to provide many individuals with freedom from reading glasses, bifocals and trifocals. Dr. Howard Gimbel performed the first procedure in Alberta using this new technology on March 11, 2008.

The Tetraflex™ Presbyopic Intraocular Lens (IOL) is designed to be a solution for presbyopia — a natural condition that diminishes near vision after the age of 40. When presbyopia occurs, the natural lens of the eye loses flexibility, causing difficulty to change focus to perform activities such as reading or working on a computer.

Unlike the most commonly manufactured lens implants that offer a single focus only, the Tetraflex IOL provides greater range of focused vision by using the eye's natural forces to change the position of the implant lens, which enables many patients to enjoy their favourite near vision activities without complete dependence on glasses or contact lenses after surgery.

"Results have been impressive. With this new lens, 100% of patients achieved 20/40 vision or better in the FDA's clinical data — with 98% of patients able to read newspaper print without reading glasses," said Dr. Howard Gimbel, Executive Medical Director of Gimbel Eye Centre.

Background

This new lens is called the Tetraflex™ Presbyopic Intraocular Lens (IOL).

The Tetraflex IOL is a solution for presbyopia — a natural condition that diminishes near vision after the age of 40.

When presbyopia occurs, the natural lens of the eye loses flexibility, causing an inability to fine-tune vision for near tasks such as reading, sewing or computer work.

Unlike the most commonly manufactured lens implants that offer a single focus only, the Tetraflex IOL provides a fuller range of vision by using the eye's natural forces to move the centre of the lens forward and/or backward in position, which enables many patients to enjoy multiple ranges of vision without spectacle or contact lens dependence after surgery.

The Tetraflex lens design reduces halo and glare and is available in 0.20 diopter increments — allowing for greater accuracy in predicting post-operative results.

To achieve optimal post-operative vision, patients choosing the Tetraflex IOL are advised to perform daily focusing exercises to strengthen and tone an eye's mature and naturally loosened inner muscle tissues after surgery. Some examples of focusing exercises are reading newspapers as well as doing crossword puzzles and word searches for 10-30 minutes at a time.