Following A Tradition Of Community Eye Care

By Jan Howard

Dr Joseph Young’s desire to follow in his father’s footsteps by helping people in a community setting was answered when he found exactly what he was looking for in Newtown.

Dr Young took over the practice of Dr Sal Abriola at Village Eye Care on Queen Street on August 7.

 “My father was an eye doctor. I wanted to find a community to take care of like he did. I wanted to move into a community, and be able to see kids when they were little and when they grow up,” Dr Young said.

“I got lucky. I can say I got just what I wanted,” he said of his move to Newtown. “Dr Abriola had the same philosophy I do. This seemed perfect. I like New England values.”

Dr Young came to Newtown via Florida where he had practiced for several years following an ocular disease internship at the veterans’ hospital in West Palm Beach.

Despite his years practicing in Florida, Dr Young is much happier in Newtown, he said. “I get more satisfaction in this practice in a week than I did in a year in Florida.”

Dr Young grew up in Westchester County in New York, then moved to Connecticut. He lived in Florida for six years where he received a bachelor of science in vision science and his doctoral degree with honors from Nova Southeastern in Davie, Fla. Previously, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y.

During his years in Florida, Dr Young practiced at a surgical center, and did pro bono work at several clinics. “It was good experience. There is a lot more disease there than here. It was a fine training period,” he said.

He is advanced board certified, but does not do surgery.

Dr Young did not go directly into optometry. Instead, he tried other things, such as being a general manager of Lenscrafters, teaching at the college level, and working as an optician.

“I was getting into areas where I was gaining knowledge,” Dr Young said. “Optometrists are now able to treat patients. What drew me is that I can heal people.”

It was only a house sale away for Dr Young to again be a student. He and his wife, Lynn, then moved to Florida, and he went back to school.

Dr Young is planning some changes for the practice located in the Newtown Shopping Center on Queen Street near the Big Y. Evening and Saturday hours will be expanded for the convenience of commuters. “I would be remiss if I didn’t keep hours for all,” he said.

Currently, Village Eye Care is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; 8:30 am to 1 pm on Saturday; and closed Sunday and Wednesday. However, Dr Young emphasized, he is on call 24 hours a day. He lives nearby, and can be in the office in just minutes.

Changes in the office include going online for insurance coverage and increasing the staff. “Pat Sniffen, the office manager, is still here,” Dr Young said. He has hired an apprentice optician to help with eyeglasses, and an assistant office manager.

He has also outfitted the second examination room with new equipment to handle a larger patient load, since he is accepting new patients.

Dr Young said he would also do house calls when necessary. “There are people who can’t get out to come to the office. They shouldn’t go without eye care because of that.”

Dr Abriola, who retired in August to have more time to enjoy his family and his hobbies, and to do some traveling, still helps out with consultations and exams once a week.

Dr Young is pleased with their arrangement. “I’d be foolish to turn someone down with that experience. He has an incredible wealth of experience, and the patients like him.”

Dr Young and his wife, Lynn, have two daughters, Crystal, 12, who attends Newtown Middle School, and Chelsea, 8, who attends Hawley School. Lynn Young, a computer expert, works out of their home.

 Dr Young has been riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles for 30 years. “I built a bike years ago,” he said. He also likes to camp and fish, but admits he doesn’t have much time to enjoy those activities.

Dr Young emphasizes the need for annual eye exams. Optometrists are often able to discover other diseases through eye exams, he said. “We’re looking at the entire health of a patient.”