Vision Source announces that Laura Maloney, O.D. has joined its network of local optometrists. Dr. Maloney, whose practice is located at 10170 West Tropicana, has been practicing optometry in Las Vegas for 13 years. "I always had an interest in eye care growing up," says said Dr. Maloney. "When I was a child, my aunt was blind due to glaucoma and my grandfather was blind due to diabetic retinopathy, so from the very beginning vision had a very strong and personal impact on my life. Once I chose this profession, I decided to be a primary care optometrist because I love helping and treating different people, young and old, from all walks of life. "We are happy to welcome Dr. Maloney into the Vision Source Group and know she will be a valuable asset to the team," says Dr. James Beckwith of Vision Source Summerlin/Lakes. "She is a skilled and dedicated optometrist who understands the value of quality patient care, much like the other doctors at Vision Source."
Dr. Maloney enjoys the challenges that come along with being an optometrist, such as preventing a patient from losing their vision by finding and coordinating treatment for a retinal tumor or tear. "I had a young man in his early forties come in for a routine eye exam with no complaints. He had a blind spot in one eye on his visual field test and during his exam we discovered a retinal tumor, which often times can turn into a brain tumor," said Dr. Maloney. "The patient went on to receive radiation at UCLA and although he has a small amount of vision loss, his life was saved. "A major health concern I have is the rise in chronic disease, such as diabetes and circulatory problems, in patients here in Las Vegas,"says Dr. Maloney. "These diseases are caused by genetics and controllable lifestyle factors. I want to work with the other Vision Source doctors to help teach patients to take better care of themselves so they can live a long healthy life while maintaining their vision."
Dr. Maloney attended Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., where she received her bachelor's degree in Biology and Society, and later moved to California where she received her doctor of optometry (O.D.) at Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton. She completed her residency at Veterans Administration Hospital in Sepulveda, Calif., then moved to Las Vegas in 1997, where she began practicing optometry. Apart from practicing optometry, Dr. Maloney enjoys spending time with her husband and supporting local animal rescue organizations.