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<p>When describing Eye Care Specialists, marketing director Cheryl Summa says it best.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a little different than your grandmother&#8217;s eye doctor.&#8221;</p><p>The company has nine locations across Northeastern Pennsylvania. Last month, the group expanded its headquarters on Rutter Avenue in Kingston, adding a Retina Center, a retina specialist, and a new wing in the office to provide more options to patients.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a specialty this area needs,&#8221; Summa said.</p><p>Eye Care Specialists has had its headquarters on Rutter Avenue for about 15 years, Summa said, adding that the practice outgrew the office at 601 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, and expanded into the Rutter Avenue space.</p><p>From general optometry to complex eye issues such as macular degeneration &#8212; conditions that are addressed by doctors on site &#8212; the practice is a one-stop shop for eye care, Summa said.</p><p>It&#8217;s not just eye care and surgery, though, Summa said. Eye Care Specialists have been a leader in participating in clinical trials and research, and has new areas designated to studies of new treatments and medications.</p><p>Erik F. Kruger, M.D., a retina specialist at the company, said Eye Care Specialists participates in several FDA-monitored clinical trials of medications and devices, and some trials have helped bring new medications to the market.</p><p>&#8220;They tend to be done at large institutions in big cities,&#8221; Kruger said.</p><p>In Kingston, however, Kruger said Eye Care Specialists has built the infrastructure as well as the track record to continue to be a pillar in the community.</p><p>&#8220;Our clinical research unit has earned itself a really great reputation internationally,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Kruger said because of this reputation, the group has been able to choose which trials to bring to the company. Those usually are &#8220;pivotal trials,&#8221; through the FDA, he said, meaning the trials will determine if the medication will hit the market.</p><p>Being able to do these trials locally means the company can bring the newest methods to patients without requiring them to travel outside of the area, Kruger said.</p><p>And while running clinical trials gives the practice a competitive edge in the community, Richard E. Roth, D.O., a managing partner, said the dedication of the company&#8217;s employees drives the business.</p><p>&#8220;To see that people have been here for 25 and 30 years is pretty rewarding,&#8221; Roth said.</p><p>He said the commitment to patient care and providing &#8220;the best eye care&#8221; sets Eye Care Specialists apart. He said six fellowship-trained doctors specialize in specific areas of the eye.</p><p>&#8220;I want Eye Care to be seen as the premiere place in NEPA for you to come and be comfortable, knowing you&#8217;re going to get the highest level of quality and care,&#8221; Roth said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Richard Roth, D.O., addresses a group of doctors at the opening of the new Retina Center in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_2950A6D0-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Richard Roth, D.O., addresses a group of doctors at the opening of the new Retina Center in Kingston. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_E8C7D00F-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Erik F. Kruger, M.D., right, says Eye Care Specialists participates in several FDA-monitored clinical trials of medications and devices. Also pictured are other doctors in the group &#8212; Joshua Hedaya, M.D., left, and Donald Savage, M.D. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_E8C7D00F-.jpg</photo1><caption1>Erik F. Kruger, M.D., right, says Eye Care Specialists participates in several FDA-monitored clinical trials of medications and devices. Also pictured are other doctors in the group &#8212; Joshua Hedaya, M.D., left, and Donald Savage, M.D. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Brigid Edmunds</p><p>bedmunds@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>EYE CARE SPECIALISTS</strong></p><p>&#8226; <strong>Time in business:</strong> More than 50 years</p><p>&#8226; <strong>Managing partners:</strong> Harvey J. Reiser, M.D., Erik F. Kruger, M.D., Richard E. Roth, D.O.</p><p>&#8226; <strong>Locations:</strong> Nine in Northeastern Pennsylvania</p><p>&#8226; <strong>Main office: </strong>703 Rutter Ave., Kingston</p><p><strong>&#8226; Other Luzerne County locations:</strong>; 40 Dallas Shopping Center, Dallas; 1720 E. Broad St., Hazleton; 9 N. Market St., Nanticoke; 170 Boston Ave., West Pittston; Surgical Specialty Center, 190 Welles St., Forty Fort</p><p>&#8226; <strong>Phone:</strong> 800-322-4733</p><p>&#8226; <strong>Website:</strong> <a href="https://www.icarespecialists.com/" target="_blank">www.icarespecialists.com</a></p><p>&#8226; <strong>Notable:</strong> The company employs over 200 people, and its surgeons collectively have more than 500 years of experience.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Brigid Edmunds at 570-991-6119 or on Twitter @brigidedmunds</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Kingston Eye Care Specialists watch over patients’ health