Pasadena Eye Care Allows Patients To See Anew

For Martin Blake, working with patients has been an eye-opening experience. The owner of Pasadena Eye Care, Blake remembers one instance where a woman came to him for help after hopping from specialist to specialist in search of an answer to her vision problems.

“I brought her in for a free exam and said, ‘What do you have to lose?’” Blake recalled. “She had prism, which is when the brain doesn’t put images on top of each other … We were able to get her a prescription, which changes the way light refracts to the retina.”

That is just one example of how Pasadena Eye Care helped someone in need. In addition to comprehensive eye exams, medical optometrists Dr. Nish Patel and Dr. Kevin Iskandar handle care before and after LASIK and cataract surgeries, treat dry eye disease, and identify and manage macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.

The boutique-style facility also boats a variety of eyeglasses, contact lenses, designer frames and sunglasses made from materials like titanium, stainless steel and plastic.

Scheduling an appointment to check for eye conditions and ensure clear vision is important, Blake said, because problems can sometimes go unnoticed.

“I tell people all of the time, ‘You don’t know what you don’t know until you know you didn’t know it,’” he said. “We spend so much time looking at computers and devices, and all that’s doing is cooking our eyes.”

While one misconception about eye health is that not everyone needs routine exams, another is that people have to wait until a certain age to get checked.

“People always ask how young children can be. As long as you know letters, shapes and animals, I can see you,” Blake said. “So usually around age 3. We can refer them to a pediatric eye doctor if they are younger.”

Blake and his team work with kids by offering special discounts. Throughout September, the center has offered $10 routine eye exams for kids. In October, they will offer a new discount or promotion for customers.

They also have a VIP plan for those without insurance. “We want to make it so everyone can get eye care,” Blake said.

Though he enjoys helping kids, Blake also contributes his time to Pasadena Senior Center, where, one Monday each month, he cleans and adjusts glasses. He also gives lectures on eye health.

“My goal is not just to sell you a pair of glasses,” Blake said of his philosophy. “I want to be there when you graduate. I want to be there when you get married, maybe not in person but in spirit. I want to be involved in my patients’ lives.”

In fact, getting involved is one of Blake’s favorite aspects of the job. When he runs into a customer in a parking lot or another staff member sees someone in a grocery store, they are happy to answer questions or fix glasses. “Nobody else is doing that … we want to do everything differently,” he said, noting that Pasadena Eye Care helps people “experience the difference,” which has become their slogan.

Looking toward the future, Blake is satisfied with his decision to plant his roots in Pasadena six months ago instead of opening in Germantown, where another building was available. “The location in Germantown was fantastic, and it was right by a Wegmans,” Blake said. “But my wife grew up in Glen Burnie and I wanted to be in Pasadena. I’m not looking back. The future is bright, and it feels more like family here. I value those interactions, and I hope that manifests in what we do.”

Learn more about Pasadena Eye Care by stopping by the practice at 33 Magothy Beach Road, Suite 104, in Pasadena. Hours are 9:00am-7:00pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 9:00am-5:00pm Wednesday and Friday; and 9:00am-4:00pm Saturday. More information is also available by calling 410-437-6000 or visiting www.pasadenaeyes.com.