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New Vision has two ophthalmologists and three optometrists who offer a wide range of eye healthcare services to the Rockford community. Our eye clinic began more than 20 years ago by Dr. Frederick Brightbill who retired in 2011, and Dr. Eric Ericson who retired in 2020.
Mitul Vakharia, MD
Natalya Romaniv, MD
Paul Hahn, OD
Douglas Shumaker, OD
Brian Parrett, OD
Frederick S. Brightbill, MD
Eric S. Ericson, MD
Dr. Mitul Vakharia
A distinguished cornea specialist and owner of New Vision, Dr. Vakharia is renowned for his expertise in a range of cutting-edge eye procedures including advanced cataract surgery, corneal surgery and LASIK surgery.
Dr. Vakharia is a native of suburban Chicago and holds an undergraduate degree from Stanford University and a medical degree from Cornell University. He completed his internal medicine internship at Evanston Northwestern Hospital and underwent ophthalmology residency training at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Dr. Vakharia further honed his expertise through a prestigious cornea fellowship at the University of California Davis under the guidance of Dr. Mark Mannis.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Vakharia serves as an instructor for a microsurgical course at the American Academy of Ophthalmology's annual meeting and is a clinical professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford.
Dr. Vakharia is also a contributing author to the fourth edition of Dr. Fred Brightbill's renowned textbook, "Corneal Surgery: Theory, Techniques, and Tissue." His commitment to international ophthalmology is evident through his philanthropic work, providing free sight-restoring eye surgery for underserved patients in India, Haiti and Honduras.
Dr. Natalya Romaniv
A dedicated comprehensive ophthalmologist, Dr. Romaniv specializes in cataract surgery. Born in Ukraine and raised in Chicago, Dr. Romaniv holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and an M.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. During a research fellowship at the University of Utah, she garnered numerous awards for her work on innovative intraocular lens designs for cataract surgery. She completed her ophthalmology residency at Louisiana State University in New Orleans.
Driven by her passion for international ophthalmology, Dr. Romaniv has joined International Vision Volunteers on a mission to Zambia in Africa, providing free eye care and surgery. Fluent in English and Ukrainian, she's also conversational in Russian and Spanish.
Dr. Paul Hahn
A seasoned optometrist at New Vision, Dr. Hahn has over three decades of expertise in eye care. Dr. Hahn's educational journey includes degrees from Western Illinois University and Rockford College, followed by his optometry training at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. As a senior research optometrist at Wesley-Jessen Schering in Chicago he played a pivotal role in FDA clinical studies contributing to the development of groundbreaking contact lens designs. He has received multiple U.S. and foreign patents in contact lens design and delivered international lectures on contact lens technology.
Dr. Hahn offers comprehensive eye care encompassing routine exams, evaluations for glaucoma and cataracts, and diabetic retinal eye disease monitoring. He specializes in advanced contact lens services, catering to dry eye, high near-sightedness and far-sightedness correction, astigmatism, and post-surgical fitting.
Dr. Douglas Shumaker
A veteran optometrist at New Vision, Dr. Shumaker boasts over two decades of experience in Rockford, Illinois, offering comprehensive eye care and expert contact lens services. Dr. Shumaker earned his undergraduate degree at Monmouth College in Illinois, and his Doctor of Optometry degree at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. His qualifications include advanced studies in therapeutic disease management and corneal refractive surgery patient care.
His services encompass routine eye exams, glaucoma and cataract assessments, diabetic retinal exams, and contact lens fittings. Dr. Shumaker is equipped with cutting-edge computerized refraction technology for precise prescriptions, an especially valuable asset for pediatric eye examinations.
Dr. Brian Parrett
A native of Rockford, Dr. Parrett serves as an optometrist at New Vision, offering comprehensive eye care to patients of all ages. With a degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois and a Doctor of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry, Dr. Parrett's clinical journey included valuable experiences through four diverse externships across the Midwest. He began practicing as a primary care optometrist in Rockford in 2009 and is an esteemed member of both the American Optometric Association and the Illinois Optometric Association.
Dr. Parrett's expertise encompasses comprehensive eye examinations for conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and strabismus. He also offers routine eye exams for glasses and contact lens fittings, addressing needs related to near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism correction.
Cataract Surgery
A cataract is formed when the lens in the eye becomes cloudy with age. This can cause blurred vision, difficulty seeing street signs or fine print, glare from lights at night, and frequent changes in your glasses prescription. Cataract surgery is a quick and safe outpatient procedure where the cloudy cataract is removed and replaced with a clear intra-ocular lens (IOL). It is the most common surgery in the US. Most daily activities can be resumed within a day or two with full healing in a few weeks. There are exciting new IOL options with cataract surgery that can eliminate your need for glasses after surgery, which your ophthalmologist at New Vision will discuss with you.
Corneal Transplantation
Some patients with abnormal corneas require corneal transplantation, which is the replacement of the abnormal cornea with a healthy donor cornea. Corneal transplants, the most common and successful among all transplant surgeries, can address various conditions, including corneal scarring or swelling from injury or infection, Fuchs dystrophy and other dystrophies, keratoconus, and rejection of a prior corneal transplant. For certain conditions like Fuchs dystrophy, a partial corneal transplant known as Descemet’s Stripping with Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK) replaces only the abnormal cells in a patient's cornea with donor cells. DSEK offers quicker healing and less astigmatism compared to a standard corneal transplant. Dr. Vakharia performs full and partial corneal transplantation.
Glaucoma Treatment
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve due to high pressure inside the eye. There are no symptoms at first, which is why it is important to have your eyes examined regularly. Advanced glaucoma can lead to loss of peripheral vision loss or even blindness. While there's no cure for glaucoma, early detection and treatment can often preserve vision. Treatment involves reducing intraocular pressure using eye drops, laser procedures or surgery. The ophthalmologists and optometrists at New Vision can identify early signs of glaucoma with state-of-the-art technology and offer various treatments. If you're over 40 and haven't had a recent glaucoma check, call to schedule an examination.
Contact Lens Specialists
Contact lenses can be a safe and effective alternative to glasses, depending on your lifestyle and eye health. The optometrists at New Vision are all experienced contact lens specialists, offering various contact lenses to match your needs. They will discuss your options and work with you to maintain your eye health and optimal vision.
Retina Specialist
Common retinal diseases include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, retinal artery and vein occlusions, and various infectious and inflammatory retinal diseases. Patients with these conditions require the expertise of a retina specialist who can perform diagnostic tests and provide medical or surgical treatments. Our patients can consult with a retina specialist from Retina Consultants in suburban Chicago who sees patients in our Rockford office. Please note that Retina Consultants is an independent practitioner and is not affiliated with New Vision.
Eye Plastic Surgery
Common eyelid issues like excess skin, drooping, inward or outward turning, and wrinkles around the eyelids can lead to eye discomfort, vision limitations, and aesthetic concerns. Thankfully these problems can often be resolved through outpatient eyelid plastic surgery, yielding significant improvements in vision, comfort, and appearance. Patients have access to an eye plastic surgeon at our Rockford office during a weekly clinic. It's important to note that the eye plastic surgeon is an independent practitioner and is not affiliated with New Vision.
LATISSE for Longer Eyelashes
LATISSE is the first FDA-approved treatment for sparse eyelashes. It is applied to the eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker. Our ophthalmologists and optometrists can perform your initial evaluation and follow-up evaluation to ensure you are using it properly and getting the results you desire. LATISSE can be purchased in our Optical Shop, so please contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
EVO ICL Implantation
The EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is a thin flexible lens that is implanted in the eye to correct your vision so you don’t need glasses or contact lenses. It works in harmony with the natural lens in your eye to maintain a full range of vision. It can treat a much wider range of prescriptions than laser vision correction, up to 20 diopters of near-sightedness, as well as astigmatism, and is removable. It provides excellent visual quality and is a great option for patients who are not candidates for LASIK.
PRK Vision Correction
While LASIK involves the creation of a thin corneal flap under which the reshaping is done, no corneal flap is made for PRK as the laser is applied closer to the corneal surface. Following PRK, initial recovery is slower than LASIK with discomfort for a few days. Most PRK patients notice immediate vision improvement after surgery, however the vision continues to sharpen gradually over several weeks. The final outcome is the same as LASIK. PRK allows treatment of higher near-sightedness than LASIK and may also be suitable for patients with thinner corneas or specific vocational or sports-related reasons where a corneal flap would be unadvisable.
Clear Lens Exchange
This procedure may be preferable to laser vision correction for individuals over 40, especially those with high corrections, thin corneas, or early cataracts. Clear Lens Exchange uses the techniques of modern cataract surgery which has been refined over the last 40 years. It prevents future cataract formation and allows for the use of multifocal lens implants, reducing dependence on glasses for both distance and near vision.
Astigmatism Correcting Lens Implants
Astigmatism is an irregularly shaped cornea that distorts vision, typically requiring corrective glasses or contact lenses. For patients with astigmatism undergoing cataract surgery or Clear Lens Exchange, the astigmatism can be corrected with a Toric Intra-Ocular Lens (Toric IOL). This allows for optimization of distance vision after surgery.
Multifocal Lens Implants
Around age 40, the eye's natural lens loses its close-up focusing ability, leading to a reliance on reading glasses or bifocals for near tasks. For patients undergoing cataract surgery or Clear Lens Exchange, a multifocal intra-ocular lens (IOL) implant can provide a full range of vision from distance to near without the need for glasses. Not all patients are good candidates for multifocal IOLs so your surgeon will discuss if this is an option for you.
Dr. Vakharia and a group of surgeons travelled to Haiti in May of 2016 to perform surgeries on indigent patients.
The group of surgeons performed over 100 surgeries in just 4 days! 60 of these surgeries were ophthalmic surgeries that were performed by Dr. Vakharia and his colleague.
Pictured below is a 9 year old girl who was blind as a result of having a cataract in her right eye.
Dr. Vakharia successfully removed that cataract. In the picture below (taken one day after her surgery) you can see how joyful she is to have her vision restored!
Dr. Vakharia found this surgical mission trip to be so fulfilling that he made it a yearly occurrence.
Sachelle is a local news personality who could not tolerate the nuisance of contacts and glasses.She chose to have PRK surgery with Dr. Vakharia at New Vision Laser Center and was thrilled with her results. “I had surgery on Thursday, and was back at work on Monday! It was like a miracle! I am so thankful for my new vision" said Sachelle. Click below to watch her video testimonial and click here to schedule your free LASIK consultation.
Derek Dimke is the most accurate placekicker in University of Illinois history and is currently under contract with the New Orleans Saints in the NFL. He’s a Rockford native and he chose Dr. Vakharia at New Vision for his LASIK surgery when he was home from training camp. “New Vision did an excellent job of sitting me down and touched in great detail about every possible scenario... I had the surgery done, went home, slept for a few hours, woke up, and I could see!” said Derek. Click below to see Derek’s video testimonial and schedule your free LASIK consultation today. We wish Derek luck this season and hope he splits the uprights with every field goal kick!
Tyler Suess is a local model who could never tolerate contact lenses and didn’t like the look of her glasses, so she would usually go without them. She chose to have LASIK surgery with Dr. Vakharia at New Vision Laser Center and was thrilled with her results. “Now I can see things perfectly and I’m ready to go when the lights go on,” said Tyler. Click below to watch her video testimonial and click here to schedule your free LASIK consultation. We wish Tyler all the best with her modeling career!
We had a drawing for many prizes including the grand prize trip for two to the Riviera Maya! Every LASIK patient who attended the party had their name entered in the drawing, and every time the patient “shared the vision” and referred someone else who had LASIK, their name was entered again. Tina H., pictured with her husband, had referred six other patients, and won the grand prize!
We are very excited to now offer LATISSE at Brightbill/Ericson Eye Associates New Vision Laser Center. LATISSE is the first FDA-approved treatment for inadequate eyelashes. It is applied to the eyelashes growing them longer, fuller and darker.
Our ophthalmologists and optometrists can perform your initial evaluation and follow-up evaluation to insure that you are using it properly and are getting the results you desire, and LATISSE can be purchased in our optical shop.
Contact our office today to schedule an appointment, and visit www.latisse.com for more information.
Larry English was a star football player at Northern Illinois University and the number one draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in the NFL. 
Before reporting to pre-season camp Larry wanted to optimize his vision on the field to improve his game, so he chose Dr. Vakharia at New Vision Laser Center for his LASIK Vision Correction. “Dr. Vakharia explained everything so thoroughly that it made me real comfortable,” said Larry, who was very happy with his results. “Now my vision is corrected so I don’t need to worry about it.” We wish Larry all the best this season in the NFL.
