CT Society of Eye Physicians

10/30/2026

Dear CSEP Members,

It is with great sadness that the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians shares the passing of Jerry Neuwirth, MD, at the age of 73.
A founding partner of Retina Consultants, P.C., and longtime Chief of the Ophthalmology Service at Hartford Hospital, Jerry devoted his career to preserving sight and caring for patients throughout Connecticut. His leadership, warmth, and dedication to his patients and colleagues leave a lasting legacy in our ophthalmic community.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Naomi, their family, and the many friends, colleagues, and patients whose lives he touched.
Jerry’s obituary is shared below, along with his family’s request that memorial donations be directed to the National Brain Tumor Society through “An Eye Toward a Cure: In Memory of Dr. Jerry Neuwirth.”

With sympathy,

Scott D. Walter, MD, MSc, FASRS
President, Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians

Obituary: https://www.courant.com/obituaries/jerry-neuwirth-west-hartford-ct/

Memorial Donations: https://nbtsevents.braintumor.org/fundraiser/7684560

10/20/2026

Access to pediatric eye care is becoming increasingly difficult for children across Connecticut, especially those covered by HUSKY (Medicaid).

In a recent article by Katy Golvala for CT Mirror, republished in the Hartford Courant, CSEP members Dr. Caroline DeBenedictis, Dr. Janine Collinge, and Dr. Martha Howard share their perspectives on the growing challenges facing pediatric ophthalmology in our state.

With only a handful of pediatric ophthalmologists accepting new Medicaid patients, families face long wait times and limited options for care. Inadequate Medicaid reimbursement makes it financially difficult for practices to accept these patients, placing additional pressure on the few physicians who continue to provide care. The result is longer wait times for everyone and children at risk of missing timely, potentially vision-saving treatment.

The message is clear that Medicaid reimbursement is not just a physician issue. It is a patient access issue.

CSEP remains committed to advocating for policies that protect access to quality eye care for all Connecticut children, regardless of insurance coverage.

📰 Read the full article by Katy Golvala in CT Mirror or the Hartford Courant.

https://ctmirror.org/2026/10/18/ct-medicaid-pediatric-eye-care/

10/17/2026

Committee is in session!

This week, our executive committee met to discuss goals for the year ahead, including legislative updates and priorities, challenges facing our members and patients, educational plans for our 2027 annual meeting, and how we can make CSEP work for you.

We’ll keep you updated along the way! Members, keep an eye out for an update from our president coming soon.

10/11/2026

Meet Dr. Scott Walter, current CSEP President!

👁️ Practice Focus
I practice with Retina Consultants, P.C., the largest retina specialty practice in Connecticut, serving patients across the central and northern regions of the state. I see patients in our Hartford, Farmington, and Cromwell offices and operate four to six days each month at Hartford Hospital and Rocky Hill Surgery Center.

🔬 Clinical Specialties
I am a board-certified ophthalmologist with fellowship training in both vitreoretinal surgery and ocular oncology. As a retina specialist, I focus on the medical and surgical treatment of retinal and vitreous diseases, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and other sight-threatening conditions.

As an ocular oncologist, I also specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of rare eye cancers, including choroidal melanoma and vitreoretinal lymphoma.

Stay tuned as we highlight more about Dr. Walter and his work over the coming months.

10/03/2026

The Connecticut Insurance Department approved average 2027 rate increases of 11.3% for state regulated individual health plans and 15.1% for small group plans, while patients continue to face high deductibles and coverage denials. At the same time, physicians continue to navigate increasing administrative barriers, prior authorization requirements, and insurance denials that can delay or limit patient care.

What physicians and patients can do:

1. Patients and physicians can contact the Connecticut Insurance Department with questions or complaints regarding coverage, denials, or reimbursement. Encourage your patients to contact the CT Insurance Department for assistance:

portal.ct.gov/cid/file-a-complaint?language=en_US

2. Contact your state legislators. Share how rising insurance costs, increasing deductibles, and coverage denials affect patient care. Let them know how administrative burdens and prior authorization requirements create barriers to timely access to care. Find your legislators here:

www.cga.ct.gov/webapps/cgafyl.asp?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Ensuring these challenges are documented and heard is an important part of advocating for better access to care in Connecticut.

CT Mirror Article link in bio

09/20/2026

We’re back!

After a summer recess, the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians is back and ready to hit the ground running for 2026–2028!

Our upcoming board meetings are being scheduled as we outline priorities for the year ahead and identify important legislative and advocacy issues affecting ophthalmologists and our patients across Connecticut.

We’re excited to introduce our 2026–2028 CSEP leadership team and get another year underway.
Follow along as we keep you updated on what’s happening in ophthalmology across our state, important legislative developments, advocacy efforts, and the work CSEP is doing on behalf of Connecticut’s eye physicians and their patients.

06/23/2026

Last week, the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians welcomed ophthalmologists, technicians, residents, and fellows from across Connecticut, along with colleagues from training programs in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, for another outstanding Annual Meeting!

The day featured high quality CME lectures covering the latest innovations in ophthalmology, a resident poster competition showcasing exciting research, and an exhibit hall filled with our industry partners. Attendees also enjoyed raffle prizes, a fascinating keynote lunch presentation from Michael Uslan, executive producer of the Batman film franchise, and a look at emerging technologies shaping the future of eye care.

The day concluded with our “sliders, tacos, and beers” Meet and Greet networking event, bringing together residents, fellows, and early career ophthalmologists to connect with colleagues, mentors, and future employers.

Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, and helped make this year’s meeting such a success. We look forward to seeing you next year!

06/12/2026

05/22/2026

🔬 Practice Focus
I am a pediatric ophthalmologist and strabismus surgeon with Refocus Eye Health practicing in Bloomfield and Waterbury, Connecticut. My practice includes pediatric ophthalmology, pediatric and adult strabismus surgery, and eye emergencies across all ages.

✨ Most Rewarding Part of the Job
Preserving and restoring vision in children for a lifetime is incredibly rewarding. Being able to provide answers, support, and reassurance to parents navigating their child’s medical condition is a privilege, and I am honored they put their trust in me.

🏛️ Why Advocacy Matters
Children cannot advocate for themselves. Pediatric care is often overlooked because there are stronger financial incentives elsewhere. Physicians have a responsibility to speak on behalf of children and ensure their needs remain a priority for legislators and health systems.

🚀 Fun Fact
My original career choice was to be an astronaut. I contacted NASA to apply, but was told I was too short to be considered. So instead, I am an eye surgeon here on Earth. 🌎

💡 Advice for Trainees
Choose the specialty you enjoy day to day, not just the rare or exciting cases. The everyday work is what will determine whether you enjoy your career.

05/17/2026

Less than a month away! We look forward to seeing everyone soon at the CSEP Annual Meeting: Physician CME Program on June 12, 2026.
Earn 7.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ while spending the day learning alongside colleagues, faculty, and industry leaders in ophthalmology.

Topics include:
• IOL formulas and choosing the right lens
• Corneal transplants today and tomorrow
• Fixing common iris problems
• Glaucoma in 2026
• Common mistakes in caring for the neuro-ophthalmology patient
• Macular degeneration cases and treatments
• Uveitis management and new findings
• Macular imaging
• Business and innovation in ophthalmology

✨ Special Guest Keynote Lunch Speaker:
Michael Uslan
Originator and executive producer of the Batman franchise

Featuring nationally recognized faculty including:
Kourtney Houser, MD; Dick Lindstrom, MD; Yasha Modi, MD; Robert Osher, MD; Vivek Patel, MD; Michael Snyder, MD; Sunil Srivastava, MD; James Tsai, MD; Liliana Warner, MD; Mitch Weikert, MD

🏆 David Parke Lifetime Achievement Lecture: Robert Osher, MD
📍 Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville, CT
🕗 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Register now at link in bio.

www.connecticutsocietyofeyephysicians.com