Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Ophthalmology >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Ginny Chomanics
Ophthalmology
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Optical Shop
Services
Your Appointment
Our Experts
Patient Stories
Contact Us
Donate
Locations & Directions
News and Events
Ophthalmology
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Optical Shop
Services
Your Appointment
Our Experts
Patient Stories
Contact Us
Donate
Locations & Directions
News and Events

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Ginny Chomanics

Learn more about Ginny Chomanics experiences with macular degeneration treatment at UPMC

Ginny Chomanics knew about macular degeneration long before her own diagnosis. Her mom had the condition, which causes central vision loss over time. 

Ginny graduated from Elizabeth Forward High School in Elizabeth, Pa., and attended art school before marrying and having her two daughters. While the girls were in school, she began a career in the cosmetics industry, working for 40 years in a job that allowed her to be creative and interact with people — two things she loved. Ginny also continued painting and interior design to create her own works of art.

After the loss of her first husband, Paul, in 2005, Ginny noticed vision changes in her left eye. She sought care from Thomas Friberg, MD, FACS, an ophthalmologist and professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He confirmed that Ginny had the beginnings of wet macular degeneration.

The macula is the center part of the retina — the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It’s responsible for central vision, or what you see when you look straight ahead.

There are two types of macular degeneration:

  • Dry macular degeneration occurs when the macula becomes thinner and small protein deposits form.
  • Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, causing fluid and blood to leak.

While macular degeneration doesn’t usually lead to total vision loss, it does make it hard to read and drive or to distinguish fine details and colors.

“It is life-changing,” Ginny says.

After many years of care and eye injections from Dr. Friberg, Ginny became comfortable and dependent on his support, guidance, and devoted treatment. When he took a leave of absence to recover from an accident, Ginny sought care from another practice outside of the UPMC system based on a friend’s recommendation.

But after a bad experience with cataract surgery, she realized she needed to hurry her return to UPMC. She now receives care at the headquarters of the UPMC Vision Institute in the new UPMC Mercy Pavilion.

Ginny sees retina specialist Jay Chhablani, MD, for injections to manage her condition and takes part in occupational therapy with low vision specialist Holly Stants, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, CLVT. She’s also received care from low vision optometrists William Smith, OD, and Jennifer Liu, OD, at the Vision Institute’s Low Vision Clinic.

“Dr. Chhablani is fabulous, always upbeat and smiling when I see him,” Ginny says. "He has the ability to perform my injections painlessly. And Holly does so much homework before my appointments to prepare. She assesses my functional vision and also checks in with me about how I’m feeling emotionally.”

As an artist, losing her ability to distinguish colors has caused Ginny anxiety. But her team’s attention to both her physical and mental health has been extraordinary, she says.

Not only has Ginny received treatment in the new Mercy Pavilion, but her husband Bill, whom she married in 2011, underwent surgery there and is also under the care of Dr. Chhablani.

“I tell everyone, go only to a UPMC doctor,” Ginny says. Today, she and Bill are making the most of life with their family and beloved dog, Andray Oliver.

Ginny’s treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login