Iditarod. SLED DOG RACER inside Macular. Newsletter of PACIFIC CATARACT AND LASER INSTITUTE. Our Physicians Getting to know Dr.

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1 PROVIDED TO OVER 80,000 PATIENTS WE HAVE SERVED Newsletter of PACIFIC CATARACT AND LASER INSTITUTE Iditarod SLED DOG RACER inside Macular Degeneration Threatens Central Vision Our Physicians Getting to know Dr. Aaron Bronner Back Page We re moving our Bellevue Office Location

2 Iditarod SLED DOG RACER E ighty miles north of Anchorage, Alaska in the small town of Willow, it s the official start of Iditarod, the biggest sled dog race in the world. With over sixty teams and a thousand dogs, enthusiastic fans converge at the beginning of the Iditarod trail. Dogs are kept in their cubicles in dog trailers where they can relax until they are ready for takeoff. baseball. But he stayed in school, graduating college with a history degree in To celebrate, Bill and a few college chums drove a van from New Hampshire up the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks. After camping a few nights and enjoying the scenery, my buddies were ready to head back. But I decided to stay. Alaska was so beautiful and I liked the mountains. FALLING IN LOVE WITH ALASKA The first year, Bill did substitute teaching in Fairbanks and in spring traveled south to Homer to do some commercial fishing. Landing a job teaching school in Palmer, Bill got married and rented a house a few miles away in Knik a move that would change his life. Hearing dogs barking, I went to see what was going on and introduced myself to my new neighbor who was Joe Redington, Father of the Iditarod, recounts Bill. We hit it off and got well-acquainted. Joe owned a large kennel of Alaskan Huskies and gave me a puppy named Kwik. The little pup grew up to become Bill s first leader and the foundation for his own sled dog kennel. After 7 years in Knik, Bill went to work on the Alaska Pipeline. He learned that the small town of Nenana, south of Fairbanks, was a good place to raise and train sled dogs because it was colder there. COVER PHOTO: JUSTIN MASON As the 2:00 PM departure approaches, sleds are loaded, gang lines and harnesses stretched out on the snow, dogs fed a pre-start meal and harnessed up. The voice on the loudspeaker announces, One minute to go! Dogs jump up and down, barking and yelping excitedly. The first musher in line checks his gear and steps onto the runners behind his sled. The countdown begins, Five, four, three, two, one...go! The musher yanks out the snow hook and sixteen dogs excitedly lean into their harnesses pulling the loaded sled with the musher. Heading down the snowy chute, cheering fans slap high fives with the musher and each other. Every two minutes another team is launched until the last musher and his dogs have disappeared down the trail. The Iditarod is off and running. Mushers and dogs quickly head into some of the most isolated, extreme wilderness in North America. If they don t encounter major setbacks in the grueling 1000 mile race, these incredible dogs and their drivers will reach Nome on the Bering Sea in a little over a week. Veteran musher Bill Cotter has called Alaska home for 50 years. He s completed 25 races of 1000 miles each. Over his 40-year mushing career, he s survived long sleepless nights, treacherous river overflow and jumble ice, blizzards with hurricane force winds, exposure to bone-chilling temperatures, perilous mountain passes, losing the trail in dense fog, wild animal attacks, sled mishaps, and debilitating injuries. But Bill s tough, smart, careful, well-organized and knows how to stay alive. GROWING UP IN NEW ENGLAND The son of Irish parents, Bill grew up in New Hampshire. My two sisters and I walked to school every day and made do with whatever we had. I practically lived outside riding my bike all around town, going fishing with my dad and sliding down the hill in wintertime. I had good parents and a great childhood. Bill s father was the strong, silent type. He got things done, possessed strength of character and worked in the sheet metal industry. His mother was lively, vocal and managed the household. She was deaf but could hear some sounds with a hearing aid. However, she felt safer with a couple of hearing dogs she trained herself. The dogs barked when the phone rang or the mailman came to the door. If they saw fire, they were taught to stomp it out. My dad smoked a pipe so every time he lit a match, the dogs would bark and go get my mother. It was pretty funny. Young Bill grew up training dogs to do tricks. I didn t care much for school, laughs Bill. What kept me interested was playing soccer, basketball and A STAY-AT-HOME GUY Bill moved to Nenana in For most of my career, I did electrical work, was a building contractor, and raised sled dogs. He built everything on his compound a home, cabin for his dog handlers, and countless kennels small houses for each of his dogs. These little huts allow them to stay outside and sleep under cover so they develop thick coats of fur. Bill s a laidback, soft-spoken man and a good listener with a dry sense of humor. While he is kind, patient and a natural with dogs, Bill s also a savvy professional who understands the value of good planning and hard work. He likes 1990 Iditarod big challenges, yet makes sure he knows the risks, calculates the odds and stays focused on his goal. Bill runs a tight ship, laughs easily and takes life in stride. At 72, Bill s semi-retired from racing and doesn t run the famous Iditarod and Yukon Quest races anymore, just shorter ones. He operates Bill Cotter Kennel offering sled dog rides and a school for training mushers. Bill no longer sells dogs, but he keeps PHOTO: JEFF SCHULTZ/SCHULTZPHOTO.COM A lone team traverses the rugged Alaska Range on the Iditarod.

3 Nome Fairbanks YUKON QUEST PHOTO: JEFF SCHULTZ/SCHULTZPHOTO.COM 30 adults and 12 puppies for his sled tours and mushing school. His other interests include fishing and riding bike. Bill enjoys being home with his dogs and family wife Marlyn and son Marwin. I m a homebody, he grins. I don t want to be anywhere else. Bill admires his wife and her wonderful skills. Marlyn s a special person, very patient, gentle and a good cook. She provides meals and special touches for our kennel guests. People come from all over the world to take his sled dog tours, camp in heated tents overnight in the wilderness, and learn how to mush. RAISING AND TRAINING DOGS Alaskan Huskies are the core dogs of native Alaskans and the dogs that hauled mail, people and supplies during the gold rush in the 1890s, says Bill. They are friendly and known for their thick, fluffy fur and energy. But for the last 100 years, people moving to Alaska have brought their own dogs with them. So now the Alaskan Husky is pretty much a mongrel dog, but still look like a Husky with peaked ears and good coats of fur. Bill Cotter Sled Dog Kennel To learn more about Bill s sled dog rides and musher school, visit billcotterkennel. com, bckennel@mtaonline.net or call Good sled dogs are athletic, hardworking, dedicated, have the instinct to run and pull and a big desire to please. notes Bill. They re eager to see what s over the hill, so they like to run. All our pups are trained to be sled dogs and about 90% make the cut. I find good homes for those that don t. Training starts as soon as the puppies are born. Every day, we hold them in the palm of our hand, Bill explains. When they re 3-4 days old, I rub their nose on my face to imprint the smell in their DNA so they recognize me forever. We want them to feel like every time they see a human, good things happen, so we feed them, take them on walks and runs things that are fun for them. Dogs start racing at 1½ to 2 year s old. When they reach 8 or 9, they begin to slow down. Although Bill retires them from racing, they continue to run his tourist sleds and often live to be 15 or 16 years old. However, these amazing animals are not cheap to maintain. Each dog costs about $1000 a year for food, shelter, veterinary checkups and vaccinations, he reveals. With a kennel of 40 dogs, the investment is substantial. Working with dogs is challenging and the time commitment demanding. It s your whole life, smiles Bill. It takes a special talent to train dogs. But when they re performing well and all in sync and rhythm on the trail, it s like artwork it s my way of painting. LONG-DISTANCE RACING Sled dogs have tremendous endurance and are the world s greatest athletes. No other animal can run 1000 miles in 9 or 10 days. When racing, they consume 10,000 to 12,000 calories a day the equivalent of 25 Big Macs, chuckles Bill. Although the dogs can run over 20 miles an hour, when they re racing in the Iditarod or Yukon Quest, they go half speed, averaging about 9-10 miles per hour. Bill s long distance race strategy was to race around the clock in 6-hour sections followed by 6-hour rest stops for food, water and sleep before his dogs got too tired. Then halfway through the 6 hours of racing they got a snack break. During a race, feeding and watering the dogs is a lot of work for the musher, points out Bill. He carried a big cooler of frozen meat cut into small pieces and a portable stove to melt the snow. I watered the dogs, poured hot water over pieces of salmon, pork, lamb and canned meat to thaw and soak them, added some commercial dog food and fed them a warm meal. The dogs slept for most of their 6-hour rest. Then before taking off, I watered and fed them again. The PHOTO: JUSTIN MASON The Cotters Marlyn, Marwin and Bill. musher is constantly melting snow for water and cooking up frozen meat to give each dog their portion before it freezes. Mushers might get 2 hours of sleep a day. As soon as the dogs get in the harness, they know it s time to run. That s what they live for and they bark like crazy, laughs Bill. Dogs wear waterproof booties, but still suffer ailments on the trail mostly sore muscles, a sore shoulder or wrist injury near the paw. I gave them massages and kept them warm and dry. The goal is to have a strong team at the finish. After a race, the dogs bounce back quickly. IDITAROD AND YUKON QUEST RACES A veteran of two of the world s most grueling sled dog races, Bill completed 20 Iditarod and 5 Yukon Quest competitions. These 1000 mile races zigzag through some of the most treacherous landscape in Alaska and Canada s Yukon Territory. Both are challenging in different ways, contends Bill. There are so many variables, you can t say one s better or tougher than the other. Bill preferred the Iditarod because the landscape was more varied and it had 20 checkpoints compared to 9 on the Quest. The Iditarod trail crosses the Alaska Range, goes deep into the interior and on to the Bering Sea, following the windy, barren coast to Nome. Going over the Alaska Range and down the other side is probably the most dangerous part of the Iditarod and demands the most technical sledding, ponders Bill. It takes almost a day and a half to reach the top of Rainy Pass, but only 4 hours to get down the other side, which can get a little wild. Sleds have brakes and mushers use a snow hook for anchoring the sled and dogs when they stop. But in a split second, anything can go wrong and throw the musher out of control or off the sled into a desperate situation. Bill and his excited dogs head out at the official start of the Iditarod. PHOTO: JUSTIN MASON The Quest is known for some of the toughest terrain and a risky trail that follows the Yukon and Alaska Gold Rush path over frozen rivers and across 4 rugged mountain ranges. Temperatures can plunge 40 to 60 degrees below zero with 50 to 100 mph winds, making it a frozen nightmare for mushers and dogs. With only 9 checkpoints, the long stretches between them are often solitary and mushers can travel a couple hundred miles without seeing another human. SURVIVING ON THE TRAIL It s quiet in the wilderness with the dogs running. We often see small animals, as well as moose and sometimes wolves, shares Bill. Moose don t know the difference between a dog team and a pack of wolves and have charged my team several times. One year on the second day of the Iditarod, I was going down through the mountains when the sled tipped over on ice and I went down hard, says Bill matter-of-factly. I was pretty sore the rest of the race, but managed to finish fifth. Then I found out I had broken three ribs. A couple times, Bill got his shoulder pulled out of joint. The first time, he set the snow hook to hold the dogs and sled while moving a dog around. The team was excited and barking and suddenly pulled the hook out of the snow, he recalls. All I could do was grab the sled with one hand as it went by and hang on. I got pulled down the trail so hard my shoulder dislocated. Alone and 60 miles from home, I had to put it back Bill holds one of his treasured Humanitarian Awards for the excellent care of his dogs. in by myself. It was so unbelievably painful I just about fainted, but I got it back in the socket. On his first Iditarod race in 1975, Bill was sledding up a frozen river at night when he got into a life-threatening situation known as overflow. In severe cold, ice on the river can get so thick that the water underneath has no place to go. As pressure builds, the water can push up over the ice and be several feet deep. When a thin layer of ice forms on top of the overflow water, it becomes extremely hazardous to cross. Without warning, Bill, his dogs and sled broke through the thin ice. Standing knee-deep in frigid water, Bill struggled to get his leader back on top of the thin ice when it gave way, tumbling them into 4 feet of water. Calculating that it was a quarter mile to shore, Bill knew their situation was grave. Then he spotted a little island about 400 feet up the river. As he and his team stumbled toward the snowy islet, he fought to keep his dogs heads above water. Upon reaching the small land mass, the dogs burrowed deep into the snow to dry out and sleep. But Bill was soaked and freezing without anything to IDITAROD build a fire. Bill knew he had to keep moving to stay alive, so he walked around the tiny island 4 hours until morning in his waterproof boots. His clothes were frozen stiff making it difficult to walk and he had nothing to eat since the sled was encased in ice. Luckily, the temperature had plummeted to minus 50 in the night and the dangerous overflow was frozen solid. After chopping ice off the sled with his axe, Bill s team was soon back on the trail. During the ordeal, he lost 30 pounds, but cheated death and completed the race. On the Yukon Quest race in 1986, Bill suffered another painful accident at 50 below zero. While putting booties on one of his dogs, the animal jumped up to lick his face. The dog s canine tooth struck Bills two front teeth, snapping them off at the gum line and bloodying his mouth. The frigid air felt like a knife on the exposed nerves, yet Bill finished the race in sixth place. The next year, Bill won the Yukon Quest, but not without a heart-thumping finish. Leaving the starting point at Whitehorse in the Yukon, he grabbed an early lead and held onto it through brutal 60 below temperatures. When Bill was 30 miles from the finish line in Fairbanks, he relaxed the pace a little for his dogs. However, when a helicopter camera crew hovered behind him, he realized the 2nd place team was gaining on him. Bill pedaled with his foot alongside the sled to help his dogs, but the rival musher chased him hard. Bill crossed the finish line in first place just minutes ahead of the challenger. CROSSING THE FINISH LINE Highly regarded in the sled dog world, Bill is considered an excellent dog trainer and rated one of the fastest mushers in his day. In addition to winning the Yukon Quest in 1987, Bill s highest Iditarod achievement was winning 3rd place in But his greatest pride is winning the Humanitarian Award four times selected by the veterinarian team for outstanding care and treatment of his dogs. The best part of the race is about 6 days out on the trail when it s just you and your dogs, reflects Bill. You feel very close and understand what the meaning of team is one unit. When you raise your dogs, race with them and finish a 1000 mile race together, there s a pretty special bond. So crossing the finish line is always bittersweet. It s great to be there, but at the same time it s over. You know you ll never race with these same dogs again, so it s a very touching moment. Bill had that same feeling when he finished his racing career. He was happy for a long, successful run, but sad that it ended sooner than he wanted. Bill retired from sled dog racing in 2006 after suffering a stroke. But with his iron determination and rigorous physical therapy, he made a full recovery. To prove to himself that he could still finish a 1000 mile race, the veteran musher prepared for one last run. At 63, Bill inspired the sled dog world by running his final Iditarod, finishing 38th. Yet with a lifetime of memories and awards, what Bill Cotter misses most is being alone on the Iditarod trail with his dogs relishing their joy, excitement, love of running and feeling that bond of oneness with them. Willow Anchorage BILL S CATARACT SURGERY EXPERIENCE I had very good vision all my life until age 50 when I needed reading glasses. But at 69, I couldn t see clearly at night and oncoming car lights bothered me. I went to Dr. Riley for an eye exam and learned I had cataracts. When Dr. Riley recommended several places for surgery, I chose Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute (PCLI) in Anchorage. Before scheduling, PCLI sent detailed paperwork that explained everything. I didn t have any concerns and just wanted to get it done, so I flew to Anchorage. The surgery was excellent and everyone was very polite, accommodating and professional. My eyes were a little sore the evening after surgery, but I never had to take any pain medication. They healed really fast. I feel confident driving again and can see clearly at a distance. Everything s a lot brighter, so I wear sunglasses more, but I don t need glasses at the computer and only rarely use them when I read a book. I d tell anyone needing cataract surgery to have it done at PCLI because they make it so easy. I really appreciate Dr. Riley s excellent care. He s a good guy, makes people feel comfortable, and is very professional and honest he doesn t prescribe anything you don t need. Bill s Family Eye Doctor Dr. Matthew Riley received a bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University and his doctor of optometry degree from Southern California College of Optometry. After serving 3 years on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, he helped a friend by driving his truck up to Fairbanks. Dr. Riley thought he might stay for a year that was 11 years ago. A Fairbanks local, he enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, surfing on vacation and acrylic painting. With his two sons and daughter attending local ALASKA YUKON Toughest sled dog races in the world Dr. Matthew Riley Whitehorse schools, he is very involved in after-school activities. Dr. Riley along with Dr. Personett and the Clear Vision Optometry staff offer complete family eye care in Fairbanks. I send patients to Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute (PCLI) because I see the quality of their work and hear from patients how they are treated and it's always been stellar. Bill Cotter s a very gracious, kind, soft-spoken man. He s humble, intelligent, and asks good questions. When his vision affected his driving, he had cataract surgery at PCLI in Anchorage. Bill sees 20/20 and uses reading glasses on occasion.

4 A DISEASE THAT CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CENTRAL VISION Macular Degeneration SUZY KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON WITH HER EYES. ROAD SIGNS SUDDENLY HAD BECOME HARD TO READ. STRAIGHT LINES WERE WAVY. SHE GAVE UP TRYING TO DECIPHER ITEMS WITH SMALL PRINT. AFTER TESTS AND AN EYE EXAM, SUZY S OPTOMETRIST TOLD HER SHE HAD MACULAR DEGENERATION. THIS DISEASE, A LEADING CAUSE OF VISION LOSS, AFFECTS NEARLY 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES. WHAT GOES WRONG? When you look at something, your eyes focus the scene onto the eye s inner layer the retina. Light-sensing cells react and send signals to the brain. The brain translates those signals into the images you see. Part of the retina the macula takes care of central vision. That s the vision in your direct line of sight. The macula provides the sharpest focus and best rendering of color. If disease harms the macula, central vision suffers. Macular degeneration doesn t lead to complete blindness, since side vision remains. But the loss of central vision can make it hard to drive, read, write, cook or do other work. The disease has two main types: dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration is most common about 90 percent of cases. It doesn t develop as quickly, and usually is not as severe as the wet type. However, with time it can cause major loss of vision. As the disease progresses, the layer of photoreceptor cells in the retina breaks down and thins. Yellow deposits called drusen also form within the macula. Wet macular degeneration is much less common approximately 10 percent of cases. But it causes about 90 percent of the severe vision loss associated with macular degeneration. As the disease advances, the tissue under the retina thickens and breaks. This limits how much oxygen can reach the macula. The body tries to fix the problem by growing new blood vessels. But they are fragile and often leak or bleed, which can rapidly damage the macula. The loss of central vision is permanent. Macula Retina Drusen AMSLER GRID TEST Optic Nerve If you are at risk for developing macular degeneration, your optometrist may provide you with an Amsler Grid to daily check your vision. This involves covering one eye at a time while looking at the dot in the center. If any of the lines appear faded, wavy or have missing sections, see your optometrist right away. There are several other ways your eye doctor can determine if you are at risk for or have macular degeneration. WHO S MOST AT RISK Even young people can have the disease, but it s most likely to occur after age 60. Other factors also increase risk: Race The disease is more common among Caucasians than African-Americans, Hispanics and Latinos. Smoking Compared to nonsmokers, smokers are twice as likely to develop macular degeneration. Family history If someone in your family has macular degeneration, you have a higher-than-average risk of developing the disease. POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS Early symptoms are easy to miss. That s why regular eye exams are important. If you have any of the following, talk to your family optometrist: Straight lines look faded, broken or wavy Central vision is blurry, fuzzy or has dark or empty areas Colors don t seem as bright Seek help right away if symptoms get worse quickly. You may need prompt treatment. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT Regular comprehensive eye health exams save vision and are a great investment in your future. To improve eye health and lower the risk of macular degeneration, your optometrist may recommend: Regular exercise Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables No smoking Macular degeneration can t be cured yet, but it can be treated. Anti-VEGF injections: High levels of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) occur with wet macular degeneration. This protein stimulates growth of new abnormal blood vessels. Anti-VEGF injections in the eye may improve vision by reducing new vessel growth. Laser surgery: If you have the wet type of the disease, laser surgery may be advised to seal the leaky blood vessels. Supplements: For dry macular degeneration, your optometrist may recommend a special daily multivitamin for eyes that can help prevent or slow down the disease. But this does not replace nutrients obtained in a healthy diet. UV protection: Protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light. FIND A FAMILY EYE DOCTOR If you or those you love do not have a family optometrist, go to our website at and click on Find a Family Eye Doctor. This search tool includes most of the 2600 optometric physicians who practice in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. Amsler Grid with normal vision This disease can destroy central vision Possible vision with macular degeneration Dear PCLI... Thank you for changing my life! I had recent cataract surgery and the improvement in my vision along with the added color and clarity has truly been life changing. Oh my, how the sky has changed something a 40 year amateur photographer really appreciates! Thank you again for the wonderful treatment and service! Cataract surgery patient from Kennewick, WA Although tests revealed I was a medically appropriate candidate for LASIK, the doctor at your office had a meaningful discussion with me about unrealistic expectations and the trade-offs I would experience if I proceeded with the treatment. He explained that expected improvement in my distance vision was marginal and advised me that I would likely be disheartened by the loss of my near vision. He educated me in a manner that made me believe that his primary concern was my welfare and quality of life and he earned my unequivocal trust. Thank you for the professionalism of your practice and for your doctor s approach to my care. Laser vision correction candidate from Port Townsend, WA You did a wonderful job on my eye and the experience was nothing but heartwarming. My husband died 3 months ago and I don t drive. I could not believe you provided all my transportation. Your staff and everyone involved were exceptionally caring people. What a truly wonderful eye institute you are. Cataract surgery patient from Belen, NM The experience was phenomenal. Never experienced a doctor visit like this before it meant a great deal to me that the surgeon prayed with me before my surgery. I praise God for this company. Laser vision correction patient from Silverdale, WA Thank you for your efficient and wonderful caring staff when I was in for cataract surgery. I felt you honestly cared for me. My doctor was very pleased with my eyes yesterday and told me they look great. I feel blessed by having been at your facility for my surgery. Kudos and my sincere appreciation to all of you. Cataract surgery patient from Lincoln City, OR Had a wonderful experience getting LASIK done on both eyes! Staff was incredibly helpful and friendly, surgery was quick and totally painless. My vision was immediately and markedly improved. The follow-up the next day was equally quick and painless. All in all I had a great experience and highly recommend PCLI. Laser vision correction patient from Anchorage, AK These folks are friendly, professional and very knowledgeable about the rare condition that affects my entire body including my eyes. I have had a traumatic experience with previous eye surgery from a different group, but the doctors and staff here were able to address my concerns and perform successful cataract surgery despite the great challenges surrounding my case. I recommend them hands down and without reservations. Five stars isn t enough to express my gratitude for the wonderful treatment I received. Cataract surgery patient from Boise, ID LASIK was the best investment I ve ever made in myself! I had worn glasses since 3 years old and for the first time in many years I can see clearly on my own! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Laser vision correction patient from Great Falls, MT The caring doctors and staff made me very happy with my cataract surgeries. I was very worried but the outcome has exceeded my expectations! My vision is so good now. I am very pleased. Cataract surgery patient from Tualatin, OR

5 Aaron Bronner, OD YOUTH I was born and raised in Boise, Idaho on the edge of town where suburbia faded into rolling hills of rangeland, dairy farms and fields of cultivated crops. Summers were hot and dry and winters were cold with piles of snow. There were lots of kids to hang out with and our community was pretty quiet and trouble-free. I loved to spend hours just wandering the neighborhood and nearby fields, recalls Dr. Bronner. Aaron grew up with two older brothers and a younger sister. The Bronner name is German and Aaron s parents, aunts and uncles are all educators teachers, professors and administrators. His active, intellectual dad was a high school government and economics teacher and girls basketball and softball coach. Conscientious and humorous, he was not one to complain. My dad was happy to spend time with us after school and play sports when we were older. Aaron s kind, loving mom was a stabilizing force who ran an efficient household, and was always available. She was an elementary school teacher. My mom wanted us to grow up to be well-rounded, good, productive people. When Aaron was a toddler, a small, neighborhood pooch ferociously barked and chased him every time he went outside to play. The little tyke was so traumatized and frightened of dogs, his parents decided to bring home a small dog for him. Having his own puppy, Aaron soon got over his fear. He also had a pet chameleon, hamsters and other small animals. I grew physically really fast as a young kid and was bigger than most of my peers. That helped me be successful in sports and gave me a lot of confidence. But I could also be kind of ornery and a little cocky at times, laughs Dr. Bronner. So every Four-year-old Aaron. OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIAN IN OUR KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON OFFICE Friendly, lighthearted and single-minded, Dr. Bronner is thorough and takes one day at a time. Reserved and unpretentious, he is open, honest and has a positive attitude. Although he likes researching and sharing information with others, he also enjoys quiet time alone to think. His passion is helping people and expanding his own awareness and understanding. Always driven to do his best, Dr. Bronner is respectful, polite and a good sport with a sense of humor. now and then, my older brothers liked to take me down a couple notches. Aaron wasn t much interested in school, but it came easy for him and he never had to study for any classes. He made good grades all through middle and high school. But my first semester in college was a big wake-up call I got the lowest GPA of my life. However, once Aaron opened his books and started studying, he quickly became a 4.00 student. Over the years, Aaron s dream career changed. In 2nd grade, I was fascinated by dinosaurs and wanted to be a paleontologist. So our family packed into the station wagon and took a vacation to rural Utah to visit all the fossil digs. The long, hot drives bored everybody but me, he smiles. Later, when Aaron played football in junior high, he dreamed of being a quarterback for the 49ers like Joe Montana. In college, Aaron s professional ambitions continued to morph from physical therapy to medicine until his physician brother suggested he look into optometry. Taking off a year from college, Aaron went to work for a local optometrist and found his calling. Graduating university with a bachelor s degree in sport science, Aaron went on to optometry school. After earning his doctorate, Dr. Bronner completed a residency in surgical co-management and anterior segment disease. PERSONAL Respecting people is very important to Dr. Bronner. You have to be aware of how your actions will impact others. My parents taught us we could do most anything as long as we considered how our actions might impact others. Through the years, Dr. Bronner experienced several turning points that changed his life for the Fishing on the Columbia River. better. First, as a university freshman, I realized I had to get serious and start studying. Then, getting married made a huge, positive impact on my life. And having children changed my worldview to thinking about others more. Finally, becoming an optometrist opened up my real passion which is helping people. Dr. Bronner met his wife to be at a prephysical therapy class in university and they became friends. Becky has many talents. She was a child gymnast, plays violin, was concert master for University of Idaho s orchestra, and loves skiing and snowboarding, he says. Becky s a wonderful person, easy to get along with, likes to do things, go places and be around people. She practices as a physical therapist and is a great parent. The kids are so lucky to have her as their mom. The Bronners have a daughter and son Zoe, 8, in 2nd grade and 6-yearold Liam in kindergarten. People have taught me everything I know, since I was pretty naïve at birth, chuckles Dr. Bronner. Professionally, my strength is my attention to detail. But personally, my friends would say I have a good sense of humor. Not one to live in the future, Dr. Bronner tries to take one day at a time. Although open and friendly, he is also on the reserved, modest side and enjoys reading a good book when he can. I m driven, but I try to find a balance between doing enough and doing too much. When it starts getting too much, I try to dial back some extra things. Dr. Bronner relaxes by going to the gym, playing with his children and doing things with his family. His interests include cycling, playing guitar, reading and hanging out with family and friends. I love the idea of going places and seeing things, but sometimes I don t get too excited about traveling because of all the things involved in getting there. I m more of a homebody at heart, he grins. My wife is always drawing me out a little bit and I m trying to draw her home more. Up to this point, Dr. Bronner believes his life is a mix of lucky and planned. I was fortunate to be born to parents who value their children, value education and value moral growth and development. I m also lucky to have siblings who are supportive and very fortunate to have met my wife. My personal life has been one happy coincidence after the next. His professional life has been a more carefully planned progression. DOCTOR The eye is an amazing organ system. To think that there are millions of photo receptors in the eye processing light images into the brain so we can see everything in real time immediately and continuously without any lag time is unbelievable, explains Dr. Bronner. The eye is extremely complex and although it s small, no one can be an expert in the whole eye. There are at least 11 different medical sub-specialties that concentrate just on certain diseases or parts of the eye. I could focus my entire career on just the At Tumalo Falls, Bend, Oregon. front part of the eye and never run out of things to learn about it. Being an optometric physician hasn t changed Dr. Bronner much. When I m in the clinic, I feel like a doctor and try to be the best that I can be. But as soon as I leave the clinic, I just feel like Aaron, he observes. When Dr. Bronner goes home after a day at the office, he leaves his work behind. Dr. Bronner s primary mission is to provide the best possible eye care. It always feels good when I can solve a patient s problem, he admits. I also like being exposed to challenging cases, getting into the specifics of things, and sharing what I learn through teaching. Comfortable with complexity and details, Dr. Bronner has the ability to explain medical conditions in a way that patients understand. He also likes to investigate new ideas and knowledge, synthesize large amounts of information into concise summaries and write scientific materials on eye research. Dr. Bronner is interested in patients concerns and tries to listen, be empathetic and imagine what they are experiencing. I hope people feel that I am thoughtful and caring, that I give them a thorough exam and answer their questions. Also, I hope my patients understand the path we are taking to answer their concerns because it s not always possible to get to the bottom of a problem on the first visit. On a day-to-day basis, it s important to Dr. Bronner to manage the treatment of referred patients effectively with their family eye doctors. I try to make a difference to all those I interact The Bronner family Zoe, Dr. Bronner, Liam and Becky with, including patients, colleagues and staff. For patients I try to give them my full attention, provide an honest assessment and solve their concerns. For medical colleagues I try to resolve the specific problem their patients have been referred for us to examine. And for staff I try to show appreciation for the work they do by thanking our wonderful technicians before I leave the exam room. I couldn t do what I do without their help. PACIFIC CATARACT AND LASER INSTITUTE (PCLI) I first heard about PCLI when I was in college working for an optometrist. Then In optometry school, it always seemed like PCLI doctors were experts and just knew a lot, remembers Dr. Bronner. They were on the state boards of optometry, were presidents or past presidents of the state optometric associations and leaders in the eye field in their region. PCLI s system of care is different than most systems in America. It s a total partnership between family optometrists and eye surgeons. The referring optometrist trusts PCLI to provide good care, good surgery, good decisions, and to send patients back to their care when treatment is finished. On the other hand, PCLI depends on family optometrists to do primary eye care, make appropriate referrals, provide follow-up exams and share their results, and consult us when there is a question. PCLI s system creates greater responsibility for everyone. We want to make decisions that the family optometrist would support and that draws on their years of experience with their patient. This organization has built a high level of trust with family optometrists. Local doctors aren t referring their patients to me, they re referring them to PCLI and I want to be a good steward of that trust, states Dr. Bronner. Instead of being financially driven, this organization is motivated by their mission to optometry and a higher mission of trying to do the best good for patients. I couldn t begin to put in a book how much this organization has taught me. One of the great things about PCLI is the hearts of our surgeons. They are such good people. Some volunteer their time and surgical talents every year to go on missions, reveals Dr. Bronner. I m proud to work with a group of world-class surgeons who genuinely care about helping people. Every single one of them could get paid much more elsewhere, but they choose to practice in a way that is based on the patient s best interest and where they do not feel morally or ethically compromised. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE OPTOMETRY SCHOOL 2007 Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR RESIDENCY 2008 Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL and Davis Duehr Dean Surgery Center, Madison, WI MEDICAL PRACTICE 2008 to 2012 Hollingshead Eye Center, Boise, ID 2012 to present Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute

6 World Class Care 2517 NE Kresky Avenue, Chehalis, WA Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute (PCLI) specializes in cataract surgery and LASIK laser vision correction. Having performed over 500,000 micro surgeries, the organization is regarded as one of North America's most unique and experienced eyecare facilities. As a referral center, we do not advertise. Instead, patients are recommended and referred by family eye doctors optometric physicians. Our team of specialists is committed to working in close cooperation with your family eye doctor. Over 1700 doctors from Alaska to New Mexico have come to trust the organization's expertise and high caliber of service. Originally founded in the small town of Chehalis, Washington, halfway between Seattle and Portland, PCLI is made up of an exceptional group of physicians and warm, caring staff who bring a gentle touch to the sophistication of eye surgery. There is no simple way to gain your confidence we must earn it every day. ALASKA ANCHORAGE (907) We re Moving our Bellevue, Washington Office ater this year, our Bellevue surgery center will move to a two-story building we have purchased about a mile north of our current office. Located near the I-405/ SR-520 interchange, the facility offers easy access, is surrounded by trees and has ample parking. Construction of our beautiful, first-floor office space is underway. It has been designed for efficiency and maximum comfort of patients and guests. Visitors will continue to receive the same world-class care that has become the hallmark of Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute. OUR NEW ADDRESS WILL BE: Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute th Avenue NE, Suite 100 Bellevue, Washington IDAHO BOISE (208) MONTANA GREAT FALLS (406) OREGON PORTLAND (503) WASHINGTON BELLEVUE (425) BELLINGHAM (360) CHEHALIS (360) KENNEWICK (509) OLYMPIA (360) LEWISTON (208) NEW MEXICO ALBUQUERQUE (505) TUALATIN (503) SILVERDALE (360) SPOKANE (509) TACOMA (253) VANCOUVER (360) YAKIMA (509) Editor: Rose Fischer/rose.fischer@pcli.com Cover: Getty Images