Virginia Montanez recently discovered the one-stop-shop ophthalmology jewel in Pittsburgh that is the Vision Institute at UPMC Mercy.
Montanez is a familiar name in these parts. Known for her former PittGirl blog, the humorist now writes about life in Pittsburgh on Substack and published her first novel. She pens essays and columns when she’s not working on her forthcoming Pittsburgh history app, PastFinders, or studying for her master’s in history.
So when she posted on Bluesky, “For a few weeks I’ve been dealing with some scary vision issues. I got good news today, but I wanted to tell you, Pittsburgh, how lucky we are to have the UPMC Vision Institute at the new Pavilion at Mercy. Incredibly sincere, thorough care by every doc I saw right up until 4 pm today, Christmas Eve,” we wanted to find out more.
Remarkably candid about her experience, Montanez shared that she has worn eyeglasses or contacts for nearsightedness since she was a preteen. About five years ago at age 45, she started noticing vision issues and “floaters,” at which time it was noted that her optic nerves were pale and “huge.” Tests ruled out brain tumors and other more serious ailments. Her ophthalmologist determined that they could just keep an eye on her vision to see if any new issues popped up, as there was no real concern.
That is, until last October, when Montanez began struggling with computer work. It was so bad that by December, she was barely able to finish her penultimate semester of graduate school. She could tell her vision had changed. She was starting to see hints of blotchy shadows when she looked at pale surfaces like the sky and walls. If she worked at the computer for a few hours, she had trouble focusing and then would start to see double.
Though she had her yearly appointment coming up in late January with her regular ophthalmologist, she realized she first needed to see an optometrist to gauge if and how her vision had changed.
“I did a bit of research to see if there was a way I could combine all of my vision care into one place, and that’s how I learned of the Vision Institute at UPMC Mercy,” Montanez said.
First Visit to the VI
For her first visit to the Optical Center at the Vision Institute, Montanez used the online chat feature, where she and the representative went through her eye health history and current symptoms. The representative eventually said that due to her complex case, the best course of action would be for Montanez to speak with the Vision Institute staff and let them determine where at the VI to start her care.
The next day, she received a phone call informing her to start with an optometrist at the Optical Center. An appointment was set up with Dr. Chanin Funair-Woods for the following week. Then the automated system that moves patients up if there are cancellations kicked in, and she was able to be seen five days earlier.
Montanez brought all her eye health paperwork with her to the appointment with Dr. Woods, so she could see the complexity of her case. “Compounding the issue was a rare double carotid dissection I’d suffered 10 years ago that was never explained, but was thankfully treated without catastrophe,” Montanez said. “Additionally, I’m profoundly hearing impaired, so my vision is exceptionally precious to me. Dr. Woods spent quite a bit of time with me, putting me through a variety of tests and was able to determine that my color perception in my right eye had diminished while the vision in my left eye had worsened by two full steps since just February.”
Montanez was fitted for computer glasses with blue light blocking and referred to the Neuro-Ophthalmology Department for additional evaluation. A few days later, an appointment was set for early January, but once again cancellations led to her being seen just a week and a half later, the same day her new computer glasses were ready in the Optical Center. “They’ve changed my life, and I can work at the computer for long stretches again,” she said.
Diagnosis
The next visit was with Dr. Islam Zaydan, who diagnosed Montanez with optic nerve disease. He screened her for other ailments that might be affecting her optic nerves. A brain MRI was ordered, which will occur in February, to rule out more serious issues like brain tumors. He wanted her to hold off on getting new daily eyeglasses until they could understand what was going on, what was causing it, and if it could be slowed, stopped, or possibly improved. She was sent to the lower floor for bloodwork; the results started rolling into the MyUPMC app within the hour. Dr. Zaydan referred Montanez to Dr. Asad Durrani, also at the Vision Institute. He was able to see her the next week on Christmas Eve.
As Montanez awaited the visit with Dr. Durrani, fear set in. “I cannot hear without my eyes, is the plainest way I can state it,” she explained. “My eyes serve as 75 percent of my ears, and a future where they couldn’t be relied on was suddenly a very real concern. I did my freaking out on the inside and via text with my four sisters and watched a lot of Psych episodes to keep myself distracted. I baked cookies and did all the usual Christmas prep until Christmas Eve.”
Dr. Durrani ran a few additional tests to look at Montanez’s retinas. The results popped into the MyUPMC app before he came into the room to review them. He explained exactly what was happening to her optic nerves, how it was slowing the dilation speed of her pupils, impacting her color perception and vision. She asked a lot of questions, which were answered completely. Dr. Durrani told her he does not believe she is in any danger of losing her eyesight in the immediate future, and that he suspected a genetic issue was at play, much like her hearing loss. He told her she could stop worrying, and to get the brain MRI just to make sure everything was ok there. He suggested referring her to the genetic team for testing, since they can investigate if the issue is genetic, if it is related to her genetic hearing loss, and whether or not her children – who hear well – are at risk for optic nerve issues.
“He was incredibly patient answering my questions and I was the last patient out of that Department on Christmas Eve at 4 pm,” Montanez said. Just a few days later, a scheduler called, and the following week, Montanez had a virtual visit with Hannah Scanga, a genetic counselor at the Vision Institute. They spent an hour reviewing Montanez’s entire family health history and Scanga explained how the process worked. She told Montanez that there has been some success with supplements for optic nerve disease. “Additionally, once you’re in their genetic protocol, they are always keeping an eye on the science to see if new research pops up that could help,” Montanez said.
Dr. Durrani reassured Montanez that she cannot overwork her eyes and to continue with her work. The best thing she can do, he said, is to eat healthy, including lots of leafy greens and fish oils. Montanez already had a pretty healthy diet but has upped her intake of those foods.
One-Stop-Shop
As she awaits the brain scan and genetic testing results, Montanez is grateful for the care she has received thus far. “I honestly only transferred my care to the Vision Institute because it seemed to be the only one-stop-shop in the city where I could have all of my eye doctors working as a team, sharing information with each other about my care,” she shared. “I wasn’t expecting the speed with which they were able to schedule me and the extent to which they listened to me and didn’t discount what I was saying. It felt like it had been a long while since an eye doctor was really hearing me instead of just trying to fit me for glasses and sending me on my way.
So, it was such a relief to know I had been heard, was being taken seriously and that they wouldn’t stop until they understood what is happening with my eyes and how we can make sure my children have the information they need regarding their own eyes. The way the Vision Center incorporates technology into every aspect of their building and their care is so effective but doesn’t in any way reduce interaction with human staff members. I was so grateful to have been given such thorough and meaningful care by the entire team at the Vision Institute that I wanted to share with the rest of the city what a valuable resource it is for anyone with vision issues, and that’s when I decided to share my experience on my social media accounts.
Regardless of what all these upcoming tests reveal, I’m fully confident I’m getting the best possible vision care in Pittsburgh.”