Dr. Nicholas Gidosh has been a busy man since walking the halls of Whitehall High School. Gidosh, who was featured in a previous Whitehall-Coplay Press article in October 2016, is an optometry professional at Lehigh Valley Eye Care Associates in Allentown. Gidosh has broadened his area of care in recent months after spending time in Philadelphia, Las Vegas and China to help spread knowledge and treatment for those in need.

Apart from Gidosh’s job at Lehigh Valley Eye Care Associates (LVECA), located at 2030 W. Tilghman St., Allentown, Gidosh began a part-time position as a clinical instructor at The Eye Institute in Philadelphia. The institute is a clinic associated with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, of which Gidosh is an alumnus.

“There, my role is resident support in the contact lens clinic,” Gidosh said. “I assist the residents with questions they may have or to consult on a case. I have also assisted with a couple contact lens workshops for students.”

Gidosh travels to Philly once a week for a few hours every Wednesday night.

“In the clinic, I have the opportunity to work on some particularly challenging cases. One reason contact lenses are a passion of mine is because of their critical role in restoring clear, quality vision in people with corneal conditions, such as keratoconus (where corneas become misshapen due to thinning), or people who have had corneal transplants,” Gidosh explained. “This clinic has many patients in need of this service, and I can deliver that care along with the residents who also share my passion.”

Gidosh traveled to Las Vegas in January to attend both the annual Global Specialty Lens Symposium meeting and the Contact Lens Manufacturer’s Association meeting. There, Gidosh presented research on the use of computer software technology for the design of orthokeratology lenses.

“The contact lens arena is one of vast technology and is constantly moving forward. By using advanced instruments to measure the corneal surface and a computer program, we hope to more accurately reshape patients’ corneas for better visual outcomes.”

In Vegas, Gidosh met with practitioners and researchers within the industry who support the findings and work Gidosh is involved in.

“It was fascinating to see all the technology - from the machines and instruments that go into making these amazing little pieces of plastic,” he said.

While there, he also was given the opportunity to speak to some former students.

“It was nice to hear how their educational experience has been progressing and hear how they are excitedly awaiting to begin their careers,” Gidosh said.

Shortly after Las Vegas, Gidosh again was on the move, this time joining a group of consultants. For two weeks, Gidosh traveled to three cities located in China to help children in need. In the cities of Beijing, Changchun and Harbin, Gidosh estimated he performed evaluations to more than 300 children while also educating Chinese doctors in orthokeratology clinics, discussing the use of corneal topography in improving lens design and educating parents on safety and efficacy of lenses.

“It was a truly unique experience,” Gidosh said. “It was very interesting to see how an individual’s ocular health varies between different environments. For example, in China, many more children had signs of ocular allergies as well as in-turned eyelashes. There was also a difference in how the Chinese doctors practiced in terms of prescribing and fitting contact lenses.”

The group travels to China every six months, and Gidosh has been invited to take part in the experience again in August.

Now that Gidosh is back in the Lehigh Valley, he is currently working on a feature article focused around orthokeratology and astigmatism.

“I am hoping to get published in a journal in addition to a lecture on myopia control in the next few months. I am also writing a couple case reports as I work to finish earning some fellowships I have been working toward,” he said.

Gidosh’s passion is what drives him in staying so busy in the optometry field.

“I am blessed to have the profession that I do,” Gidosh said. “Every day I enjoy spending time with people who need help, and it is an honor to be able to provide that care. The exciting and dynamic nature of the field is a bonus as it helps keep the passion alive as things continue to progress. Knowing that tomorrow’s standard of care will be better than today’s is truly incredible.”

If interested in making an appointment with Gidosh or another LVECA staff member, they are available Monday through Saturday and can be reached at 610-486-3285.