Complete EyeCare Center » Dr. Christopher Olson

Dr. Olson in Cast of Upcoming Theatre Production

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:09:48 +0000

An 1881 political cartoon depicts Guiteau, assassin of President Garfield.

An upcoming theatre production will feature Mt. Pleasant performers, including Complete EyeCare Center’s Dr. Christopher Olson, portraying a historic court trial with Mt. Pleasant ties. The prosecutor in the case was George B. Corkhill of Mt. Pleasant, who graduated from Iowa Wesleyan in 1859 and was District Attorney for the District of Columbia at the time of the trial.

The real-life drama entitled The Trial of the Assassin Guiteau is about the man who shot President James Garfield in 1881 and draws comparisons between the political and legal climate then and now. Images of the times and people will be projected behind the actors and readers. Cast members are Jim Beasley, David Edwards, John Hemsworth, Terry Hemsworth, Mark Kimzey, Christopher Olson, Lon Pugh, Angie Thomas, Kevin Wiley, Rick Williamson, and Brad Workman. The Director is David File.

Performances will be on April 23 and 24, 2010 at 7 PM at the Heatilator Center for the Performing Arts in Mt. Pleasant. Sponsored by the Harlan-Lincoln House, the shows are being offered to the public free of charge.

(If you would like more information about the play the Executive Director of Friends of the Harlan-Lincoln House, Lynn Ellsworth, can be reached by calling 319.385.6320.)

Sports Eyewear Protects and Performs

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:08:51 +0000

Did you know?

Eye protection should be a major concern to all athletes

Approximately 72 percent of sports-related eye injuries occur in people younger than 25 years and approximately 43 percent occur in children younger than 15 years. (Source American Optometric Association.)

Nearly all of these injuries could have been avoided with proper eye protection. At age 23 I learned this lesson first-hand during a game of racquetball. After a trip to the emergency room and several stitches, we purchased sport goggles and have been advocates for protective eyewear ever since.

In outdoor sports, a laceration or poke to the eye isn’t the only thing we need protection from. Ultraviolet light exposure can also cause damage.

When properly prescribed, protective sports eyewear can actually enhance your athletic performance! So if you or a family member would like to return that volley better, improve a golf score, bag illusive fish & game, and be protected whatever the sport, talk to Dr. Olson about sports eyewear. Spring is here, along with a host of sports activities, so call Complete EyeCare Center today to schedule an appointment (319.385.9534).

Dr. Olson Appointed to 11-member Accreditation Council

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:57 +0000

Christopher P. Olson, OD, FAAO

Christopher Olson, OD, FAAO, of Complete EyeCare Center in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, has been appointed to the national Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). Dr. Olson serves the public as part of this 11-member Council “…to establish, maintain and apply standards to ensure the academic quality and continuous improvement of optometric education that reflect the evolving practice of optometry.”

The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) is the only accrediting body for professional optometric degree (O.D.) programs, optometric residency programs and optometric technician programs in the United States and Canada.

Both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation recognize the ACOE as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education of the programs the Council accredits.

Dr. Olson will soon be making his first ACOE site visit to the New England College of Optometry, where they have a Residency program in Pediatric Optometry.

Optomap Featured on “The Doctors” TV

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:00:47 +0000

Many eye problems can develop without you knowing. You may not even notice any change in your eyesight. But, diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal tears or detachments, and other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure can be seen with a thorough exam of the retina. Until the optomap®, the only way to evaluate the retina for these abnormalities was to dilate the eyes–which can be time consuming and uncomfortable. Now a wide retinal image can be captured quickly and painlessly. Convenient for patients, while providing critical eye health information–that’s why we were the first in Iowa to introduce the technology! That’s also why optomap® technology was featured on an episode of the popular TV show “The Doctors.” (You can see the TV clip by clicking here.)

An optomap® Retinal Exam provides:

A scan to show a healthy eye or detect disease.
A view of the retina, giving Dr. Olson a more detailed view than he can get by other means.
The opportunity for you to view and discuss the optomap® image of your eye with Dr. Olson at the time of your exam.
A permanent record for your file, which allows the doctor to view your images each year to look for changes.

The optomap® Retinal Exam is fast, easy, and comfortable for all ages. To have the exam, you simply look into the device one eye at a time and you will see a comfortable flash of light to let you know the image of your retina has been taken. Your optomap® is immediately captured so Dr. Olson can evaluate and review it with you on a computer screen during your exam. Click here to see a video demonstration of the optomap experience.

Please schedule your annual optomap® Retinal Exam today by calling our office at 319.385.9534 .

Here Comes the Sunwear

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:45:26 +0000

It’s a sunny day in Mt. Pleasant, at least for now! During this spring’s activities I’ve been thankful for a good pair of sunglasses, whether I’m driving, doing yard work, or watching a high school tennis match. What a difference it makes in my comfort and enjoyment! If you are a contact lens wearer you especially know what I mean. We keep hearing more and more about the necessity of proper sun protection, for your skin and your eyes.

I’ll let you in on a little known fact. We have an expanded selection of great sunwear right here in Mt. Pleasant, in our eyewear gallery. Why not stop in and try some on during your lunch break today? If you’re interested in prescription sunwear, we have that too. (In fact, this Saturday you can save $50 on a pair of prescription sunglasses, during our annual Fashion & Eyewear Event!)

Hope you can get outside and enjoy the weather!

12,000 Athletes Can’t Be Wrong

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:00:19 +0000

What do Jan Ulrich, Erik Zabel, Michellie Jones, Chris McCormack, Hot Wheels, the Subaru Factory Team, Prime Alliance, Jelly Belly, Team Rossignol and Telekom have in common? They are just a few of the 12,000 high profile athletes wearing Rudy Project products. Come in to Complete EyeCare Center to see what all the accolades are about. This is performance sunwear that is backed up by…

A Replacement Lens Guarantee– If you scratch them, Rudy Project will replace them. They know that when you’re playing hard, stuff happens. Whatever the reason, Rudy Project will replace your lenses for a handling fee. Read more about their replacement lens guarantee.

A 3 Year Limited Frame Warranty– Rudy Project sunglasses are warranted from defects in materials or workmanship for 3 years. Read more.

We’re An Authorized Dealer– If you don’t buy from an authorized dealer, you won’t get Rudy’s lens or frame guarantees. At Complete EyeCare Center, you can be assured that you are getting authentic Rudy Project eyewear, made in Italy. No imitations, no cheap look-alikes, just excellence.

We’re introducing Southeast Iowa to a new standard in performance sunglasses. Drop by our downtown Mt. Pleasant office to see them today!

Has it Really Been a Year?

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:00:36 +0000

You’ve broken out the new calendar, or at least turned the page to a new year. Are you wondering where 2008 went? None of us seems immune to this syndrome, perhaps a sign of the busyness of our culture. So, it should come as no surprise that you’ve probably underestimated how long it’s been since your last eye exam.

Not all people need a comprehensive eye health exam every year. Every two years can be adequate for people who are not considered “at risk”. Having said that, children and students may need more frequent care since their eyes are growing and changing quite rapidly. That’s why it’s important for parents and teachers be educated to recognize signs of vision problems in children.

So who needs to been seen at least annually? Those over age 60, contact lens wearers, anyone who has had eye surgery, people who take prescription or non-prescription drugs that can have ocular side effects, diabetics, anyone with high blood pressure, those who have a family history of ocular disease (such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.), those who work in occupations that are visually demanding or with eye hazards, children with a high refractive error, an eye turn, or eyes with unequal refractive power, children born prematurely, with low weight, or through difficult or assisted labor, children who received oxygen as newborns, children with family history of certain diseases, and people with other health concerns or conditions. (Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list, and some conditions require more frequent monitoring.)

After examining and talking with you, Dr. Olson will make a recommendation about how long it should be until you have your next eye health exam. Our first concern is your health, so we help you keep on track with convenient scheduling and reminders tailor-made to your situation. But we won’t be surprised if your response is, “Has it really been a year?”

Easier, More Convenient, Appointment Reminders by E-mail or Text!

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:02:42 +0000

Do you find that you are relying more on electronic communication and less on the telephone lately? I know I have noticed this trend in my own situation. It’s convenient, less intrusive, and fast. We recognized that our patients could easily benefit from streamlining our appointment confirmation process. If you prefer, we can now send appointment confirmation messages and reminders by email, text or pager! Simply click a button on the email to confirm or call back when it’s convenient for you, if that’s better for you.

You can also just click a button from the email if you want to add the appointment to your personal electronic calendar in Outlook, iCal, etc.

Of course, we need to know your email address, cell phone or pager number to provide this new service. We’ll ask about it at your next visit. Or, we can set it up now if you contact us.

Win Prizes Fast With Main Street Mt. Pleasant Promo at Complete EyeCare Center!

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:00:38 +0000

You can rack up holiday shopping savings very quickly by purchasing your eyewear at Complete EyeCare Center’s downtown Mt. Pleasant, Iowa office. Not only that, you could win a prize valued at $300 or more! We are participating in Main Street Mt. Pleasant’s “Get Punched” promotion, which starts November 3rd, 2008. For each $100 you spend at participating businesses, take your completed punch card to the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber office to receive a free gift certificate worth at least $5 to spend downtown, plus a chance to win the weekly prize. That’s an automatic reward of at least 5% on your purchase, perhaps more! Large weekly prizes will be awarded November 14th, 21st, December 5th, 12th, and 19th. You can have a new look for the holidays, and these added bonuses, by getting those new eyeglasses or contacts you’ve been wanting now!

Dr. Christopher Olson’s Awards, Service, Education, Interests

Mt Pleasant Eye Doctor — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:00:08 +0000

The following has been excerpted from Dr. Christopher Olson’s Curriculum Vitae:

Professional Awards and Honors

1992, named “Young O.D. of the Year” by the Iowa Optometric Association

1992 to Present, awarded Optometric Recognition Award for Continuing Education by the American Optometric Association

1994 to Present, Fellow, American Academy of Optometry

2000, named “Optometrist of the Year” by the Iowa Optometric Association

2001, Iowa Governor’s appointee to the State Board of Optometry

2009, Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry appointee to the nation’s Accreditation Council on Optometric Education

Professional Service

Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, 2009 to present

Chair, State of Iowa Board of Optometry, July 2006 to Apr. 2010

Secretary, State of Iowa Board of Optometry, Apr. 2001 to July 2006

Clinical Examiner, National Board of Optometry

Member, Education Committee Member, Legislative Committees Member, House of Delegates, Iowa Optometric Association

Member, American Optometric Association

VISION USA Provider

Iowa Lion’s Diabetes & Glaucoma Mobile Unit Doctor

Iowa Alumni Liaison, Illinois College of Optometry

Lecturer, IOAA Annual Meeting, 2005 to 2011

Lecturer, Primary Care Symposium, American Academy of Optometry, 2006

InfantSEE Provider, 2005 to Present

Community Service

Secretary & Member, Mt. Pleasant Public Library Board

Board Member, Kiwanis Club, Mt. Pleasant

Actor and Member, Mt. Pleasant Community Theatre

Board Member, The Rec Center, Mt. Pleasant

Council Chairperson, Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sunday School and confirmation teacher, choir member, liturgist, instrumentalist

Fundraiser, Iowa Wesleyan College, Boy Scouts of America, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association

Education

Waco High School, Olds, IA, June 1979. Valedictorian

Iowa State University, Ames, IA, May 1983. Bachelor of Science in Distributed Studies: Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, and Zoology, Graduated with Distinction

Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL, May 1987. Doctorate in Optometry, magna cum laude. Westside V.A. Hospital Externship

Interests, Activities

Music (instrumental, vocal), Fitness (mountain biking, jogging), Reading

1979, Eagle Scout

1995, Completed Marine Corps Marathon, Washington D.C.