The eye is one of the most important organs in the body and is responsible for one of our most vital senses. Several thousand times a day, your eyes move and focus on images near and far, providing you with a highly detailed chain of three-dimensional pictures of the world around you. Your eyes have helped you accumulate a lifetime of memories in visual form, making it a precious gift that is unlike any other. Because of this, you should never compromise when it comes to your eye care. Here at Clarke EyeCare Center, our doctors understand the important role your eyes play in your life, and they’re dedicated to helping you protect and preserve your sight. We offer comprehensive, leading-edge vision care for your whole family, backed by many years of combined experience. Their capabilities include state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of vision problems and eye disease, LASIK and PRK assessment and co-management, corneal refractive therapy (CRT) and prescribing glasses and contact lenses and dry eye treatment. We are now proudly providing non-invasive anti-aging & aesthetic services.
Dr. Daniel B. Clarke
Dr. Danny Clarke was born in Houston, Texas while his father, Dr. Calvin Clarke, was attending optometry school. He moved to Wichita Falls at an early age when his dad started his optometric practice and graduated from Rider High School in 1987. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991, he moved to Houston to pursue his optometry degree to follow in his dad’s footsteps. He graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1995 and he and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Clarke, moved back to Wichita Falls to join his dad in practice.
Dr. Danny has a special interest in diagnosing and treating dry eye disease, as well as educating patients on preventative measures to decrease the risk of macular degeneration. He has lectured across the US and is an advisor for various companies. He is also a member of the American Optometric Association and Texas Optometric Association.
Outside of patient care, Dr. Danny has spent his career working to develop people and systems to best serve our patients and is proud of the culture we have built at Clarke EyeCare. Through his consulting business and as a licensed coach through the Great Game of Business, he has traveled extensively around the US and Canada helping hundreds of his optometric colleagues improve the culture of their practices.
Dr. Danny enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Clarke, and their two college kids, Caroline and Drew, who both attend UT Austin. He has been an usher at First United Methodist Church since they joined in 1995.
“The joy of seeing someone else accomplish something that they didn’t even realize that they were capable of is the joy of leadership.”
-Simon Sinek
Dr. Elizabeth B. Clarke
Dr. Elizabeth Clarke was born and raised in Manhattan, Kansas. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Kansas in 1991, she attended the University of Houston College of Optometry, graduating in 1995. While in optometry school, she became interested in diagnosing and treating eye conditions in children and completed an internship in pediatric eye care at Houston Eye Associates. She met Dr. Danny Clarke in Houston while they were attending optometry school and they married in 1994 before moving to Wichita Falls to join Danny’s dad in practice in 1995.
Dr. Elizabeth has a special interest in vision care for children and sees kids for eye exams at any age. Her goal is to get them on the right track for learning. She also performs a specialty exam for people with the slight eye misalignment. Binocular vision disorders can cause mild to severe symptoms from headaches, dizziness, and skipping lines when reading. She is a member of the American Optometric Association and Texas Optometric Association.
Dr. Elizabeth is passionate about family and enjoys spending time with her husband, Dr. Danny Clarke, and their two kids, Caroline and Drew, who both attend the University of Texas at Austin. She cheers for Texas with her family but will forever be a Jayhawk! She is a member of First United Methodist Church, loves cooking and gardening, and taking walks with their two dogs.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dr. Thomas J. Schell
Dr. Tom Schell grew up in North Carolina. After studying Biology at UNC-Greensboro, he attended the UAB School of Optometry on a 4-year Military Health Professions Scholarship. Upon graduating with honors in 2006, he served as an active duty army optometrist until 2013, at which point he joined the staff at Clarke EyeCare Center.
Prior to joining Clarke, Dr. Schell served as the clinic chief of two different optometry clinics. During this time, he was formally recognized by the hospital command for excellence in patient care and received a Meritorious Service Medal for his service during the Iraq Campaign, where he provided eye care to over 20,000 Iraqi detainees. In addition to his military duties, he served as a Clinical Adjunct Professor for the Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio, TX.
Dr. Schell brings with him a broad range of clinical experience in primary care optometry and in managing ocular disease/trauma. As a member of the National Glaucoma Society, he has a principal interest in treating glaucoma patients to the highest standards of ophthalmologic care. He is also a member of the American Optometric Association and Texas Optometric Association.
On a personal level, Dr. Schell enjoys reading, serving and spending time with his kids. He is married to Jane VanLeeuwen Schell, who is the driving force behind everything. With six kids at home, they both stay busy with band, swim, volleyball, piano, and church activities. They have grown to love Wichita Falls and the sense of community here, and they look forward to living here for
many years to come!
“Forget yourself and go to work.”
-Gordon B. Hinckley
Dr. Colton M. Heinrich
Dr. Colton Heinrich was born and raised in Carlsbad, New Mexico. He attended Friends University of Wichita Kansas on a Tennis Scholarship where he received his Bachelor of Science in Health Science. After graduation, he married his wife Logan Heinrich and they moved to Houston, Texas to pursue a career in Optometry at the University of Houston College of Optometry.
During his four years, Dr. Heinrich became very passionate about specialty contact lens designs. After graduating in 2015, Dr. Heinrich completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at the Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton, California. During his residency, Dr. Heinrich became proficient in a variety of forms of contact lenses including, gas permeable contacts, multifocal contacts, CRT lenses, scleral gas permeable lenses, and myopia control. After his residency, he returned to Texas to join Clarke EyeCare Center. While seeing patients at Clarke EyeCare, he is performing care in a primary eye care setting with an emphasis on specialty contact lenses and ocular surface disease.
Outside of private practice, Dr. Heinrich is very active in academia. At Clarke EyeCare he is active in a variety of clinical research projects. He has received his Fellowship in the Scleral Lens Education Society and the American Academy of Optometry. He is an Education Consultant for Valley Contax and is active on the lecture circuit lecturing in Optometry Schools and National Meetings. He is also a member of the American Optometric Association and Texas Optometric Association.
Outside of the optometric world, Dr. Heinrich can be found on the tennis court and on the bike trail. He is a member of Floral Heights UMC and the Wichita Falls Rotary Club. However, the thing Dr. Heinrich enjoys most is spending time with his wife, Logan, and keeping up with his two children, Cambria and Hosmer.
“Passion in action is compassion.”
-August Burns Red
Dr. Maranda McGonigle
Dr. Maranda K. McGonigle is a Texan through and through. She was born in DFW, and grew up in rural Springtown, Texas. After high school, she attended Tarleton State University where she graduated with an honors degree in Biomedical Science with a Chemistry Minor. After her undergraduate career, she went on to attend the University of Houston College of Optometry, graduating in 2019.
While at the University of Houston College of Optometry, Dr. McGonigle had a variety of interests; however, she spent most of her time volunteering with organizations that provide eyecare to disadvantaged populations. Vision screenings at the Texas Special Olympics, refugee health fairs, and an optometric mission trip to a remote area of Honduras are just a few of the ways she developed as both a doctor and a humanitarian. She also had the opportunity to provide eye exams to those displaced by Hurricane Harvey which left many homes flooded. In her last year of optometry school, she worked as a teaching assistant in a low vision lab, instructing students in a branch of optometry that aids visually impaired patients. During her externship, she worked in Houston’s Hope Clinic, a multidisciplinary community health clinic that provides healthcare to an international population of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
After graduating the University of Houston College of Optometry, she moved from Houston to begin practicing in Wichita Falls with Texas Vision Associates. Shortly after, she found a home in Clarke EyeCare Center, where she continues serving the community to the highest standards.
Outside of practicing optometry, Dr. McGonigle spends most of her time with her husband, Clint, and their three kitties, Theia, Ollie, and Miso. She enjoys painting and knitting in her free time, and looks forward to her life in Wichita Falls."Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude."
- Zig Ziglar
FAQs
What is the best kind of eye doctor to see? ›
Visit your medical optometrist for primary medical eye care, including eye medication prescriptions, monitoring and managing eye diseases, or emergency eye care services. Visit an ophthalmologist for interventions like surgical treatments for serious eye diseases, advanced ocular problems, or refractive eye surgery.
What is the difference between an eye doctor and an ophthalmologist? ›Optometrists are the first line of care for your eye health. They perform routine eye exams, prescribe corrective lenses, and know when a person needs to see an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors that specialize in the care of more complex eye disorders and perform eye surgery if required.
What are the 3 types of eye doctors near Texas? ›Ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians all play an important role in offering complete eye care.
Who do I see for a problem with my eyes? ›Optometrists. An optometrist is trained to recognise abnormalities in your eyes. They examine the internal and external structure of your eyes to detect conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. They may also test your ability to focus and coordinate your eyes and see depth and colours accurately ...
What is the most accurate eye exam? ›Digital eye exams typically provide the most accurate optical measurements. A thoroughly performed traditional eye exam can still be just as accurate for all intents and purposes. However, this takes a lot more time and effort on the part of the optometrist.
What causes eye floaters? ›What causes floaters? Floaters usually happen because of normal changes in your eyes. As you age, tiny strands of your vitreous (the gel-like fluid that fills your eye) stick together and cast shadows on your retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye). Those shadows appear as floaters.
Why choose ophthalmologist over optometrist? ›Ophthalmologists can provide all the services optometrists can—they can treat eye diseases, prescribe medication, and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems. In addition, ophthalmologists are licensed to practice medicine and perform surgery.
Do ophthalmologist write prescriptions differently? ›They may also be involved in eye research. An Optometrists prescription is written in minus (-) cylinder and an Ophthalmologists prescription is written in plus (+) cylinder. The following prescriptions have the same result but look different because of the way they were written.
What does OD mean after an eye doctor's name? ›An optometrist receives a doctor of optometry (OD) degree after completing four years of optometry school, preceded by three years or more years of college.
What does astigmatism do to your vision? ›Astigmatism is a common eye problem that can make your vision blurry or distorted. It happens when your cornea (the clear front layer of your eye) or lens (an inner part of your eye that helps the eye focus) has a different shape than normal. The only way to find out if you have astigmatism is to get an eye exam.
Can an optometrist prescribe medication? ›
Consequently, optometrists will be authorized to administer and prescribe medications such as anti-allergic agents and anti-infectives for conditions that do not require an invasive procedure.
How long after having eyes dilated can you drive? ›Typically, vision is back to normal within an hour. There is no specific period of time that a person must wait before driving after having their eyes dilated; the decision to drive after an eye exam is a personal choice.
What are the 4 most common eye problems? ›The leading causes of blindness and low vision in the United States are primarily age-related eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
What's the worst eye disease? ›1. Glaucoma. Abrupt and severe pain in your eyes and seeing halos can be signs of glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye condition caused by elevated levels of fluid pressure in the eyes, which can potentially damage the fragile fibers of the optic nerve.
Do all eye doctors use the same chart? ›Are All Eye Charts The Same? There are a number of variations to the standard Snellen eye chart. The one an eye doctor uses depends on the personal needs and abilities of the patient.
Can a vision test be wrong? ›Errors can occur during your eye examination, where the optometrist interpretes your answers about what you can and can't see. If you scheduled your eye exam after work, when your eyes are tired and strained, it could skew the results of the exam.
What is the newest technology for eye exams? ›An Optical Coherence Tomography scan (commonly referred to as an OCT scan) is the latest advancement in imaging technology. Similar to ultrasound, this diagnostic technique employs light rather than sound waves to achieve higher resolution pictures of the structural layers of the back of the eye.
What is the cure to eye floaters? ›Options may include surgery to remove the vitreous or a laser to disrupt the floaters, although both procedures are rarely done. Surgery to remove the vitreous. An ophthalmologist who is a specialist in retina and vitreous surgery removes the vitreous through a small incision (vitrectomy).
Can you get rid of floaters in your eyes? ›Yes. Eye floaters can be treated in many cases without surgery. You do not necessarily have to live with them. The in-office procedure is called “Laser Floater Treatment” (LFT) or Laser Vitreolysis.
What are common reasons to see an ophthalmologist? ›Ophthalmologists specialize in treating eye health problems, such as dry eye syndrome, eyelid conditions such as blepharitis and styes, cataracts, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma or macular degeneration.
What are the cons of optometrist? ›
- Educational requirements. To become an optometrist, earn a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. ...
- Licensing requirements. ...
- Repetitive daily routine. ...
- Individual work. ...
- Limited opportunities for career advancement.
People with diabetes should see an optometrist at least once a year for a complete dilated eye exam to detect the earliest stages of any diabetes-related eye complications and prevent them from worsening.
What makes eye prescription worse? ›Your age and eye diseases are two common causes of frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions. If you fear getting older has affected your vision or if a specific eye disease runs in your family, we recommend seeing an optometrist as soon as you can.
Is astigmatism plus or minus? ›The minus sign is for nearsighted astigmatism and a plus sign for farsighted astigmatism. Axis: Indicates the direction of astigmatism. For example, if the axis is 180 degrees the astigmatism is horizontal.
What prescription is astigmatism? ›Astigmatism is measured in diopters. A perfect eye with no astigmatism has 0 diopters. Most people have between 0.5 to 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. People with a measurement of 1.5 or more typically need contacts or eyeglasses to have clear vision.
Which is better MD or OD? ›In the United States, an MD degree is typically more well-respected than a DO. That does not mean a physician with either degree is actually better or worse than the other. There are more MDs than DOs, and because of this standardized acceptance of MDs, they often are considered slightly more reputable.
What does cyl mean? ›CYL. The abbreviation stands for Cylinder. It represents the amount of lens power you need for astigmatism. If you do not have astigmatism, you may not have anything indicated in this column.
What is the right eye prescription? ›Eye Prescription Abbreviations
OD: Your right eye. OD stands for oculus dexter, which is “right eye” in Latin. We get the words dextrous and dexterity from the same root!
Astigmatism frequently worsens with age. Your cornea can become more irregular due to pressure from your eyelids as they lose muscle tone. Astigmatism generally stays stable until your turn 50. After then, your lens curvature progressively worsens each decade.
What should you avoid if you have astigmatism? ›Avoid glare on TV and computer screens. Place your TV or computer screen where lights do not reflect on the screen. Some people find it easier to work on a computer in a dimly lit room. Special non-glare screens that fit over the computer screen also may help.
What symptoms does astigmatism cause? ›
Signs and symptoms of astigmatism may include: Blurred or distorted vision. Eyestrain or discomfort. Headaches.
What is the difference between an orthoptist and an optometrist? ›In summary, an orthoptist has the responsibility of seeing how the eyes work together and interact with the brain to create vision, whereas optometrists are more focused on the examination of the eye itself.
Can an optometrist diagnose macular degeneration? ›Macular degeneration is a significant risk to your eye health and vision, but your optometrist can help manage this disease. They can diagnose this disease as early as possible, recommend ways to lower your risk and provide a customized treatment plan to protect your vision.
Can an optometrist diagnose glaucoma? ›A series of tests in a comprehensive eye exam can help diagnose glaucoma. During your exam, your optometrist may perform several tests to diagnose any problems. These tests check 5 glaucoma-related factors: The inner eye pressure (tonometry)
What are two eye conditions that are treated by an orthoptist? ›An orthoptist is an eye specialist who focuses on eye movements and binocular vision. Orthoptists treat eye disorders such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus, muscle palsies, and visual field defects.
When should I see an orthoptist? ›Orthoptists evaluate and treat conditions such as strabismus (squint or crossed eye), amblyopia (lazy eye) and double vision. They can also care for people with eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, eye disease caused by diabetes, age-related macular degeneration, neurological vision disorders and low vision.
Why do I need to see an orthoptist? ›Orthoptists are the experts in diagnosing and treating defects in eye movement and problems with how the eyes work together, called binocular vision. These can be caused by issues with the muscles around the eyes or defects in the nerves enabling the brain to communicate with the eyes.
What are the early warning signs of macular degeneration? ›For example, early signs of macular degeneration include blurry vision, trouble seeing in dim lights, and faded-looking colors. Your eye doctor isn't the only one responsible for your eye health. It's important that you know about the early signs of eye diseases.
What foods should be avoided with macular degeneration? ›- Processed foods that contain trans fats.
- Tropical oils, like palm oil (use vitamin E–rich safflower and corn oil instead)
- Lard and vegetable shortening, and margarine.
- High-fat dairy foods (eggs in moderation are a good source of eye-healthy nutrients)
- Fatty beef, pork and lamb.
Vitamins A, C, and E are the most effective vitamins for reducing the risk of macular degeneration [13]. However, only vitamin A plays an essential role in the human retinal pigment epithelial cells, whereas vitamins C and E are known to act as antioxidants.
How can you tell if diabetes is affecting your eyes? ›
Your eyes may seem fine, but having a full, dilated eye exam is the only way to know for sure. Often, there are no warning signs of diabetic eye disease or vision loss when damage first develops. A full, dilated eye exam helps your doctor find and treat eye problems early—often before much vision loss can occur.
Is a diabetic eye exam the same as a regular eye exam? ›Diabetic eye exams are similar to regular eye exams in many ways. However, during a diabetic eye exam, your eye doctor will specifically focus on the health of your retina and integrity of the blood vessels in your eye.
What is a diabetic eye exam called? ›What is a diabetic retinal eye exam? A diabetic eye exam is part of a comprehensive eye exam performed by an eye care professional to check for signs of diabetic retinopathy. This condition can affect people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and can cause serious complications, including vision loss or blindness. 1.
How do you lower eye pressure? ›- Eat a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet can help you maintain your health, but it won't prevent glaucoma from worsening. ...
- Exercise safely. ...
- Limit your caffeine. ...
- Sip fluids carefully. ...
- Take prescribed medicine.
The Intraocular Pressure Measurement is another important eye assessment utilized by an optometrist. This test checks to see if there is any abnormal pressure in the eye. The presence of abnormal pressure in the eyes may be an early sign of glaucoma.
What is glaucoma caused by? ›Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive eye disease caused by damage to the optic nerve, which leads to visual field loss. One of the major risk factors is eye pressure. An abnormality in the eye's drainage system can cause fluid to build up, leading to excessive pressure that causes damage to the optic nerve.