About Us

Dr. Eric Schmidt is the President of Omni Eye Specialists, a multispecialty practice headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina. Dr. Schmidt completed his undergraduate studies form the University of Illinois and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from The Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He completed a Residency in Ocular Disease from The Eye Institute of PCO and a fellowship in Glaucoma form the Scheie Eye Institute in Philadelphia.

Dr. Schmidt is an adjunct professor at various schools of optometry and is a frequent contributor to optometric journals. He is the author of the text book Clinical Procedures of the Lids and Nasolacrimal System and lectures internationally on glaucoma and other ocular diseases. He is the President of the Optometric Glaucoma Society and was recently named one of the Top 250 Innovators in Optometry by Primary Care Optometric News.

Danica Marrelli received her doctor of optometry degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry (UHCO), and completed a residency in hospital-based optometry at the Baltimore VA Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. She is currently a clinical professor at UHCO, where she staffs the glaucoma, retina, and general eye disease clinics and serves as the director of the ocular disease residency program. In the classroom, Dr. Marrelli teaches in the ocular pharmacology, glaucoma and case-based learning courses. Dr. Marrelli became a diplomate in the ocular disease section of the American Academy of Optometry in November 2009 and is the Vice President of the Optometric Glaucoma Society.

Sarah Dougherty Wood is a clinical assistant professor in the department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science at Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan where she specializes in glaucoma, dry eye, and research. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and served as the first chairperson for the Glaucoma Section. Sarah received a doctorate degree from Indiana University School of Optometry and a masters in vision science from NECO. Her residency in ocular disease/low vision was completed at the Kansas City VAMC. She also completed a 2 year research fellowship at the Boston VAMC. Dr. Wood is a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. In addition, Sarah is a co-author of the KMK Educational Services optometry board review guides.

Dr. Justin Schweitzer specializes in advanced glaucoma, refractive surgical clinical care, and anterior segment pathology at Vance Thompson Vision. He received his professional training and Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, OR.

In 2012 he pursued his dream to focus on glaucoma, advanced anterior segment surgery care and pathology, joining Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He earned Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry in 2013, is the Optometric Externship Director at Vance Thompson Vision, and Adjunct Clinical Professor of the Illinois College of Optometry and Kentucky College of Optometry.

Dr. Schweitzer regularly lectures on glaucoma, anterior segment pathology, refractive surgical clinical care, and surgical management at state, regional, and national meetings. He is currently the Chief Medical Editor for Modern Optometry and has contributed book chapters, journal articles, and case studies in peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed journals including Review of Optometry, Optometry Times, Primary Care Optometry News, Optometric Management, The Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Clinical Ophthalmology, and The Journal of Glaucoma. He has research interests in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and biomechanical properties of the cornea as it relates to glaucoma.

Dr. Schweitzer is an advocate of an integrated eye care delivery model and is currently serving as President-Elect for the South Dakota Optometric Society.

Dr. Michael Chaglasian is an associate professor at ICO and chief of staff of the Illinois Eye Institute. He is a graduate of State University of New York College of Optometry and completed a residency in primary eye care/ocular disease at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Dr. Chaglasian is in charge of the Glaucoma Service at the Illinois Eye Institute, providing patient care while instructing residents and students. He is a founding member and treasurer of the Optometric Glaucoma Society and has a number of published articles and has contributed chapters to several popular textbooks on the topics of glaucoma and visual fields.

Murray Fingeret is a graduate of the New England College of Optometry, and is Chief of the Optometry section, Dept of Veterans Affairs, New York Harbor Health Care System, Brooklyn/St. Albans, NY. Dr. Fingeret is a clinical professor at SUNY College of Optometry and is a founding member and past-president of the Optometric Glaucoma Society and is currently the president of the Optometric Glaucoma Foundation. Dr. Fingeret is a member of the board of directors of the Glaucoma Foundation and sits on the editorial boards of Journal of Glaucoma and International Glaucoma Review.

John G. Flanagan is the Dean and Professor at School of Optometry and Vision Science Program, University of California, Berkeley. He was previously Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo and in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto.

He graduated in Optometry and Vision Sciences from Aston University, Birmingham, UK in 1980, where he later earned his PhD in 1985. He has held continuous federal research funding for over 28 years with additional research funding from the American Health Assistance Foundation, the Glaucoma Research Society of Canada and the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

He has supervised 45 graduate students and has authored over 170 peer-reviewed publications. In addition, he has 10 book chapters, 4 books and given numerous invited lectures to both professional and academic audiences around the world. His research interests include basic mechanisms of human glaucoma (glial cell activation, neuroprotection), ocular imaging, clinical psychophysics, ocular blood flow and studies of vascular reactivity.

Dr. Flanagan was a founding member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society; Program Chair from 2002 to 2007, and President from 2007 to 2012. He is also a member of the American Glaucoma Society, Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and American Academy of Optometry. In 2015 he was awarded a life fellowship of the British College of Optometrists and in 2016 he received a DSc honoris causa from his alma mater.

Dr. Ben Gaddie earned his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry. Dr. Gaddie then completed a Residency in Ocular Disease through Northeastern State University College of Optometry at the Triad Eye Medical Clinic and Cataract Institute in Tulsa, OK. Currently he is the owner and director of the Gaddie Eye Centers, a multi-location full service practice in Louisville that was started by his father over 40 years ago. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and President of the Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS). Dr. Gaddie is currently the Co-Chairman of the International Vision Expo Meetings, the largest provider of continuing education for eye doctors. He is also a Past President of the Kentucky Optometric Association.

Having published extensively in the ophthalmic literature, Dr. Gaddie serves on the editorial boards of Review of Optometry, Optometric Management, Primary Care Optometry News and Optometry Times. In 2011, Dr. Gaddie was inducted into the Oklahoma Pioneers in Optometry Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was selected as one of the Most Influential Doctors in the last 50 Years by the industry publication Optometric Management and was awarded the Kentucky Optometric Association Optometrist of The Year Award.