VSP Blog » Derek Fisher http://vspblog.com Daily peek at eyecare Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:14:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Message is Clear – Get Annual Eye Exams http://vspblog.com/2007/05/15/message-is-clear-%e2%80%93-get-annual-eye-exams/ http://vspblog.com/2007/05/15/message-is-clear-%e2%80%93-get-annual-eye-exams/#comments Wed, 16 May 2007 04:00:00 +0000 Rob L. http://vspvisioncareblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/15/message-is-clear-%e2%80%93-get-annual-eye-exams/ Every so often a story makes the news that hits home and causes us to pay attention. If you’re a basketball fan like me, you probably heard about the struggle Utah Jazz Guard Derek Fisher’s young 10-month-old daughter faces with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer, in her left eye. The disease causes a tumor in the retina and affects between 200 and 300 children in the U.S. each year, typically age 5 and under.

Thankfully, the tumor was detected early through a comprehensive eye exam. Even so, once diagnosed, the NBA star and his family had 30 minutes to make a difficult choice — remove the eye and try to get all the cancer, or treat it with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, and hope that she can keep her eye. They chose the latter, and she is recovering from a successful treatment. In the next few weeks, doctors will repeat the procedure or attempt to remove the tumor.

Immediately following the initial procedure, Fisher made a dramatic entrance to the second half of Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals and gave a stellar performance. After winning the game he had a clear and heart-felt message for the media and his fans. Fisher pleaded with all parents to make sure their kids receive a comprehensive eye exam every year. He said if they had waited any longer, his daughter could have lost her left eye, or much worse her life.

For each story like this in the media, there are hundreds, if not thousands out of the public eye. I hope you are all paying attention and spreading the word about the importance of annual eye exams.

–Rob

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