Newswise — Boston (Dec. 10, 2012) -- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Longwood, a new outpatient surgical center at 800 Huntington Avenue in the Longwood/Mission Hill area of Boston, opened today to patients.

The site provides easy access to Mass. Eye and Ear’s world-class physicians and surgeons, and outpatient services for those who are cared for by medical professionals in the Longwood Medical Area and other locations.

The 90,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art center houses four operating rooms and the most advanced clinical spaces for ophthalmology (eye care), plus physician offices. The new center is home to an expanded Mass. Eye and Ear Department of Ophthalmology, whose physicians provide eye care services for patients of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Mass. Eye and Ear also has an alliance with the Joslin Diabetes Center’s Beetham Eye Institute. Joslin physicians will also practice at Mass. Eye and Ear, Longwood. Mass. Eye and Ear otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) care will be added at a later date.

The building includes an optical shop on the first floor staffed by Mass. Eye and Ear opticians. Inventory includes eyeglasses for both adults and children. Patients will have access to a full spectrum of eye care at the new location.

Mass. Eye and Ear, Longwood provides easy and comfortable access for patients with convenient parking located in a covered garage near the back of the building. The location is also easily accessible by public transportation.

Special considerations have been made for those with visual impairment. The building’s interior includes high-contrast colors on walls and furnishings to facilitate way-finding for visually impaired patients and visitors. The floor plan also maximizes access to daylight by locating public waiting rooms, corridors and staff lounges near exterior windows.

The building is owned and was developed by The Beal Companies, and was designed by architects at Tsoi/Kobus & Associates.

Mass. Eye and Ear held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the location in October.

For a list of physicians, to make an appointment, or for other information about the location, visit www.MassEyeandEar.org/Longwood, or call 617-936-6100 (main number) or 617-573-3202 (ophthalmology appointments).

About Massachusetts Eye and EarFounded in 1824, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is an independent specialty hospital providing patient care for disorders of the eye, ear, nose, throat, head and neck. Mass. Eye and Ear is an international leader in Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology research and a teaching partner of Harvard Medical School. Under the direction of Mass. Eye and Ear’s board of directors, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Schepens Eye Research Institute recently formed the world’s largest and most robust private basic and clinical ophthalmology research enterprise. The hospital is also home to the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, a multi-disciplinary group of 24 investigators within 11 research units dedicated to the study of hearing and deafness. For more information, call 617-523-7900 or visit http://www.masseyeandear.org/.