by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
During its grand open house June 18, the doctors and staff at PineCone Vision Center were all smiles of pride as they greeted visitors.
And with good reason. The new facility, which has that “brand-new” smell, is something to be proud of. It’s a very attractive, state-of-the-art building three times the size of the previous center, which was one block south of the new center. The new place is at 2190 Troop Drive.
During the June 18 open house, visitors sauntered into the center from 3-7 p.m. They were given small-group tours of the center, during which lots of demonstrations were given, questions asked and questions answered. After completing their tours, visitors were treated to free catered taco dinners outdoors. Prizes were also given away via drawings.
During and after their tours, visitors expressed their wholehearted approval of the attractive building, inside and out, as well as the amazing new developments in eye care, many of which new visitors said they’d been unaware.
The staff and doctors showed how state-of-the-art their vision profession has become. They showed visitors how eyeglasses are made, how exams using complex technology can instantly diagnose eye problems such as macular degeneration or cataracts; they showed various fashion-colored contact lenses, specialty frames for eyeglasses and many other processes.
Thanks to the new building, the PineCone Vision Center and the PineCone Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Center are now housed under one roof. There are 10 exam rooms for use by four doctors and 15 staff for personalized, professional care, all using the most advanced medical technology.
“This is an exciting time in PineCone Vision Center history,” said PineCone owner/medical director Dr. Nicholas Colatrella. “We are delighted to share it with our family, friends, staff and all of our wonderful patients who have made it such a success.”
PineCone Vision Center offers a complete range of eye-care exams, treatments and services, including eyeglasses, contact lenses (both hard and soft), sunglasses, specialty frames, bifocals and trifocals (including progressive, line-less lenses), onsite iLASIK surgery, evaluations and treatments for dry eye and red eye, urgent care, blood-pressure screening, corneal refractive therapy, treatments for corneal abrasions and corneal ulcers, remedies for cataracts and glaucoma, and much more.
For years, PineCone Vision has been a community-active force in the Sartell area, contributing money, volunteer staff time and free screenings to events in the city.
Its owner, Colatrella, is a nationally recognized lecturer and published author on the subjects of iLASIK surgery, cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye and corneal diseases. The recipient of many awards, Colatrella was honored, twice, as “Young Optometrist of the Year.” He was also named as one of the “Best and Brightest Forty under 40” in the eye-care field by Monday Vision magazine in 2004.
The other doctors at PineCone Vision Center are Drs. Sara Bierworth, Kelly Freese and Stacy Hinkemeyer, Colatrella’s wife.
During the recent open house at PineCone Vision Center, technician Angie Metteer gives a diagnostic test to a visitor. The instant diagnostic machine can spot any troubles in the eyes, such as macular degeneration or cataracts.
Jess Casey, a technician at PineCone Vision Center, greeted guests during the company’s recent open house. In the background, visitors try on the many frames available.
Open-house visitors listen to technician Gail Grundman (left) at PineCone Vision Center, which recently opened its new facility, three times bigger than the previous one.
