JOPLIN, Mo. —
After months of post-tornado rebuilding and borrowing office space from local doctors, the Missouri Eye Institute of Joplin has reopened in its original office in the Thousand Oaks Medical Building, 1905 W. 32nd St.
The institute has expanded services by adding a retina specialist.
“We are thrilled to be back in our same, but now improved location,” said Dr. Ernest Bhend, an ophthalmologist and Joplin native. “My staff and I thank all the optometrist offices, and Dr. Sherrod of Regional Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, for lending us temporary space so that we could continue to care for patients during our rebuilding phase.”
After nearly nine months of seeing patients at various temporary locations, Bhend and the other surgeons and staff of Missouri Eye Institute celebrated being back at Thousand Oaks with a grand re-opening event on March 29. Local optometrists, referring physicians and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce were attended.
With the re-opening comes an expansion of services.
“We know there are many patients in the area who have needs for more specialized care for the retina, vitreous and macula areas of the eye,” said Bhend. “That’s why we’ve added Dr. Robert Benedett, a board-certified ophthalmologist with additional training as a retina specialist, to our Joplin team. We can now provide even more specialized care for this community we love.”
A community in which Missouri Eye Institute plans to continue to help rebuild.
“Our No. 1 priority is taking care of our local-area patients. We are proud to remain in Joplin and look forward to many more years of enhancing the vision and lives of those all around us,” said Bhend.
The institute specializes in the progressive eye care, including all types of bladeless laser vision correction surgeries, corneal transplants, no-stitch cataract removal, glaucoma treatment, diseases of the retina, and cosmetic procedures.
For more information about the institute, visit www.missourieye.com.
May 2011 Joplin tornado
Missouri Eye Institute of Joplin reopens
- May 2011 Joplin tornado
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Storms cause damage throughout the Four States
Four-State Area residents hunkered down twice Monday to ride out tornadoes and powerful spring storms, then went to work cleaning up. The worst damage from Monday night’s storm was being reported in Ottawa County, Okla., near Wyandotte. That followed a report of an EF-1 tornado early Monday morning near Carthage.
- More May 2011 Joplin tornado Headlines
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