Messenger - Vol. 4, No. 4, Page 4 1995 Photographer keeps watchful eye Jane Timmons Stein's resume overflows with words that can't be found in a standard dictionary. As the senior ophthalmic photographer at Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia, Stein, Delaware '71, takes pictures of the human eye. She's photographed some of the world's rarest eye conditions, and nationally known eye doctors rely on her work to help determine how to treat their patients. Stein uses $50,000 cameras- equipment as intricate as the human eye itself-to perform five types of photography, each pertaining to a different part of the eye. One of only 600 senior ophthalmic photographers nationwide, she combines expert photography skills with a comprehensive understanding of the eye and an ability to remain cool under stress. Ophthalmic photography is high-pressure work. The clarity of each photograph is essential, and after patients receive eyedrops, there's only a short window of opportunity during which photographs can be taken. Because an intravenous dye injection given during one of the procedures can make a patient sick, ophthalmic photographers also must be ready to handle nursing situations. Stein's resume includes administering drops, patient contact, history taking and CPR certification. "You have to keep a cool head and make it look easy. It's my job to keep the whole room calm. There is so much to remember, and in some cases, I have only two minutes to take the photograph," says Stein, who majored in art and minored in photography at Delaware. "And, there are no second takes. Either you get the picture or you don't. If you don't get it, you have to put the patient through it again." In most cases, Stein works without eye doctors in the room. But, for some procedures, including one called fluoroscein angiography, a doctor injects dye into a patient's vein and then Stein captures the dye's movement through the eye. After working in hospitals for two summers during college, Stein knew she wanted a career that married her love of photography with her interest in medicine and patient care. A counselor at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia steered her toward the hospital's photography unit, which hired her immediately. Over a seven-year span, Stein rose from darkroom technician to ophthalmic assistant to senior ophthalmic photographer. Stein also worked as a medical illustrator and a teaching assistant at Jefferson. In 1980, she joined the staff of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, which is affiliated with Hahnemann University and The Eye Institute. As the senior ophthalmic photographer at one of the leading optometry schools in the country, Stein has taught continuing education courses to eye-care specialists from around the world. She also instructs residents, who will use ophthalmic cameras after graduation. The Pennsylvania College of Optometry is also one of the nation's primary research facilities. Working closely with renowned eye-care specialists, Stein documents rare eye diseases and pathologies for publication in medical journals. Her work has been published in Duane's Ophthalmology, a 12-book reference for eye-care specialists, and her photographs appear in two new books on neurological/eye and optic-nerve diseases. When Stein isn't working, she spends time with her husband, Robert, and their son, Andrew. The Steins first met in her freshman year when he was one of her professors. He left after that year, but the two bumped into each other three years later at an art show. Robert Stein now teaches at the University of the Arts in downtown Philadelphia, and the family lives outside Philadelphia in Melrose Park, Pa. Stein credits Delaware and Prof. Byron Shurtleff in the Department of Art with heightening her love of photography. "At Delaware, I learned a lot of the basics about the camera and darkroom procedures. I also learned how to handle criticism, because if you can't handle criticism, you shouldn't be in this profession," she says. A seasoned professional with 24 years of experience, Stein is enthusiastic about her work. "I certainly love the patients," she says. "When it comes to taking the photographs, it's rare that I will see something that I've never seen before. But, if it's very dramatic, then I still get excited." -Marylee Sauder, Delaware '83