Dr. Elaine Happ | Dr. Mary Gregory | Our Great Staff | News
Dr. Elaine Happ
Dr. Happ has been practicing in the Monticello area since 1990 and started her own practice in 1997. At Uptown Eye Care, we now have two doctors and seventeen staff members.
Dr. Elaine Happ graduated from St. Michael-Albertville High School. She attended the University of Minnesota and received a bachelor's degree in Biology. She took two years off from school to work and spend some time with her daughters; then Dr. Happ and her family moved to Oregon where she went to Pacific University College of Optometry. After graduation, she and her family moved to Monticello and she has been practicing in the area ever since.
Dr. Happ is involved in the Monticello Area Chamber of Commerce and has served on the board for 3 years. She is also active in the Monticello school system, participating as a guest speaker on Career Days and to second graders during eye education week.
She is a member of Vision Source. This is an organized, nation wide group of private optometrists who meet to share ideas and gain buying power.Dr. Happ was elected and served for 2 years on the Minnesota Optometric Association's board starting in 2002.
She received Ciba's Award for Contact Lens Excellence and is one of only two doctors in the state of Minnesota to receive the Helen Keller Sight Award from the Minnesota Lion's Eye Bank for her community involvement. She is also a member of Vision USA through the American Optometric Association and has received a letter of congratulations from former President Bill Clinton.
Dr. Happ is a strong believer in giving back, which is why she put her specialty to work for the underprivileged by joining Dr. Robert Herrick on a mission trip to Baja, Mexico to treat dry eyes. She has been on two mission trips to Antigua, Guatemala.
Dr. Mary Gregory
Dr. Mary Gregory was raised in Hutchinson, Minnesota, where she graduated from high school. She received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Chemistry from Southwest State University. From there, she moved to St. Louis, where she received her optometry degree from the University of Missouri School of Optometry. While in Optometry school, Dr. Gregory served as a national officer for the American Optometric Students Association. After graduation, she served for three years on a committee with the American Optometric Association.
Returning to Minnesota, Dr. Gregory moved to the St. Cloud area and worked as a consultant for the St. Cloud Veteran's Administration Hospital, the St. Cloud Children's Home, and the Mid Minnesota Health Care Clinic. She also served on the advisory board for the Optometric Assistant's Program at the St. Cloud Technical School.
Dr. Mary Gregory joined Uptown Eye Care in 2003 with an emphasis in pediatric eye care.
The Minnesota Optometric Association named Dr. Gregory "2007 Young OD of the Year" for her achievements in the optometric field on local state and national levels.
She is on the Diabetic Advisory Committee at the Monticello/Big Lake Hospital and the Minnesota Optometric Association's Membership Committee, Children's Vision Committee, and Speaker Committee.
Because she recognizes the importance of eye health care for children she is a member OD of InfantSEE, a public health program providing comprehensive infant eye health assessments for children between the ages of 6 to 12 months at no cost.
Dr. Gregory now lives in the Becker area with her husband and children.
Dr. Gregory also has a special interest in serving the underprivileged outside of the United States. She has been on two VOSH missions and is hoping to continue this in the future.
Our Great Staff
Our staff are experienced, specially trained and certified in their field. They are extremely knowledgeable about eye care, the selection of the proper frames and lenses to fit your lifestyle.
Reception: Our friendly and efficient front desk staff if always ready to assist you in making your appointments and to answer any questions about your visit to our office.
Insurance Specialist: Joni A. and her administrative assistants work diligently with your insurance company and are ready to help you to understand your insurance benefits.
Technicians: All of our technicians are CPOA certified and receive on-going training in order to provide you with the best possible eye care. They are contact lens specialists and will gladly answer any questions you have on contact lens fitting and care.
Opticians: Every optician in our clinic is skilled at helping you choose the best frame and lenses for your lifestyle. They are knowledgeable on the latest technology and are able to clearly explain all your options. Please come in to browse though our large selection of popular frames and let our frame consultant, Karen J., help you choose the most complementary frame for your face.
News
Only Clinic in Minnesota able to predict risk factors for the Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of legal blindness in the world.
Uptown Eye Care is now able to provide proactive detection of one of the main risk factors of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of legal blindness in the world today. With the help of MacuScope, Uptown Eye Care can now identify those patients who are at risk for developing AMD.
“Uptown Eye Care will be the first within the state of Minnesota to offer MacuScope,” says Dr. Elaine Happ of Uptown Eye Care. “We are able to offer something truly innovational to the people of Minnesota.”
AMD currently affects more than 30 million people worldwide. According to the National Eye Institute, the figure could soon approach epidemic proportions, easily doubling in the next 20 to 30 years. It severely affects a person’s central vision making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to read, drive or perform other activities that require fine, detailed vision.
“Early detection of this Age-related disease is critical to preserving one’s vision,” said Dr. Elaine Happ.
Upon evaluation and detection of those at high risk, Uptown Eye Care will develop a treatment program using specific supplements to manage the deficiency. Research had proven that treatment with specific supplements can increase macular protective pigment density within six months.
“A medical device such as MacuScope is a beneficial addition to Uptown Eye Care. We are pleased to be able to offer testing to our patients which could help save their eyesight,” said Dr. Happ.
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Uptown Eye Care & MacuScope featured on KARE-11
http://www.kare11.com/video/player.aspx?aid=46786&bw=
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Women Are Three Times More Likely To Suffer Dry Eye Syndrome Than Men
Everyone experiences the symptoms from time to time: burning, irritable eyes. The sensation that something is actually scratching the eye. But for some three million American women the symptoms are chronic, according to Dr. Elaine Happ, Optometrist. These women suffer from Dry Eye Syndrome
“Tears are essential for good eye health,” Dr. Elaine Happ said. “They lubricate the eye, protect it from infections and wash away allergens. With Dry Eye Syndrome, the eyes produce too few tears or tears of such poor quality that they don’t stay on the eye. Ironically, some people with Dry Eye Syndrome may actually experience tears running down their cheeks.”
Everyone experiences reduced tear production as they age, but women are more prone to Dry Eye Syndrome than men by a 3 to 1 margin. Studies have shown that hormone therapy may increase the incidence of Dry Eye Syndrome, as can birth control pills, blood pressure medicines, antihistamines and certain anti-depressants.
“April is Women’s Eye Health Awareness Month and we want women to know there are several options for managing Dry Eye Syndrome,” Dr. Elaine Happ said.
Those options include lubricating drops that can minimize the dry, scratchy sensation and prescription eye drops that can actually increase tear production.
“Through a procedure called lacrimal occlusion, we can also temporarily or permanently close the tear ducts to prevent tears from draining away to quickly Dr. Elaine Happ said.
Dr. Elaine Happ practices at Uptown Eye Care located at 560 Cedar Street Mall in Monticello and is a member of Vision Source, the nation’s number one network of private practice optometrists. Founded in 1991, The Vision Source network includes more than 1,500 offices in all 50 states and in Canada.
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