Shannon with Brady (right) and Colin (left).
Virginia Eye Institute is a great place to find updated, stylish eyewear that offers style, affordability, and high customer satisfaction.
But they offer a lot more to those who need it.
Shannon Stepp and her husband Kirk were overwhelmed to learn that their then 10-month old son, Brady, had problems with his eyes. His diagnosis of congenital ptosis caused an astigmatism in his eye and the next year was challenging for parents and child.
They spent almost a year patching his “good” eye to try and strengthen the eye with a lower, drooping lid, but it didn’t work. Shannon was devastated to know that surgery was inevitable, but she was comforted in knowing that Dr. Donna Brown of VEI understood how she felt. “Luckily we had VEI and Dr. Brown to stay on top of the situation and give us the very best treatment possible.” Shannon recalls.
Finally just after Brady turned 3 years old, Dr. Brown told Shannon and Kirk that it was time for Brady to undergo surgery to correct his problem. That’s when they began working with Dr. Polly Purgason who also made it much easier for Shannon and Kirk to understand what was about to happen.
Shannon’s first concerns were about the anesthesia and Brady “going under”. “Any time your child has surgery of any type, it’s so scary. They let me know what to expect and how long he would be under, providing reassurance and giving me confidence in their abilities to take care of Brady,” explains Shannon.
Brady was too young to really know what was happening, but they tried to explain to him what to expect. Shannon was amazed at how well the staff communicated with her 3-year old son and made him comfortable. When the time came for the surgery, Brady actually took the hands of the nurses and walked down the hallway – waving goodbye to his parents. Shannon said she felt confident knowing that Dr. Purgason would be taking care of Brady.
“Dr. Brown and Dr. Purgason were amazing! The thing I loved most about them is that they explained what sounded like a scary diagn
osis, in simple terms for us to understand. Honestly, they are so amazing with children. They make getting an eye check up extremely fun—whether it’s the fun toys they have them look at while checking their vision or the stickers/lollipops on the way out…it’s so kid friendly, which always made it a lot easier to go for appointments and checkups. Brady still loves going to see Dr. Brown for regular check-ups now,” Shannon laughs.
The experience with VEI made Shannon realize how so many people take their eyesight for granted. They don’t understand the importance of eye exams for children from a young age. With Brady’s condition, early intervention was key to a successful outcome. Shannon has referred 8 or 9 people to Dr. Brown at VEI because of her confidence in her and VEI. She also talks about how grateful she is that Dr. Purgason was able to perform the needed surgery and there were no complications or issues.
Donna Brown, M.D., F.A.C.S. - VEI
Polly Purgason, M.D. - VEI
The surgery was a success and Dr. Purgason was able to lift Brady’s eyelid so it was symmetrical with his other eye. The doctors followed up with Shannon by phone once she was home with Brady. Two days later they called to see how they all were doing which was reassuring, and made Shannon feel like they treated Brady as an individual and not just another patient.
Brady still wears glasses to correct vision and will for the rest of his life, but that’s a small concern based on what could have been the outcome without early intervention and experienced eye specialists.
“VEI was so kid-friendly with colorful surroundings, a play area, toys, and fun things for kids. It made the experience fun for Brady and we take him back for annual check-ups. As a mother, VEI gives me peace of mind because they are so thorough and professional. It’s the only place I would take any of my 3 boys!” emphasizes Shannon.
Note: Be sure and use your Savvy Saver Card for savings on eyewear at VEI. Virginia Eye Institute offers 30% off eyeglasses, sunglasses and accessories and 10% off contact lenses when you use your Savvy Saver card.
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