David S. George, MD, of the Eye MDs in Parkersburg with a machine in their office that uses UV light to adjust the Light Adjustable Lens after cataract surgery. It customizes the implant’s focus for the patient. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — For over 30 years, Eye MDs in Parkersburg and Marietta have been treating patients in the Mid-Ohio Valley with new technology and new procedures.

The practice was started in 1992 by Dr. David S. George and Dr. Scott H. Strickler. George grew up in Marietta and Strickler in Williamstown.

The two did not know each other, but they had mutual friends around the area. They met during their ophthalmology training residency at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

“When we finished, we both wanted to return home,” George said. “We said why don’t we set up a practice in Marietta and Parkersburg. We were two docs with two spots.”

They were advised that “starting from scratch” wasn’t going to work, but they did it anyway.

The Ambulatory Surgery Center in Belpre, dedicated exclusively to eye surgery, created by the doctors at Eye MDs in Parkersburg. The center was established in 1999 as the first ASC in southeastern Ohio. (Photo Provided)

“We got started and we got busy really fast,” George said.

“By 1999, we had to bring on Dr. (Zane P.) Lazer as our third partner.”

It was the late 1990s when they built the Ambulatory Surgery Center in Belpre and moved into the building they are in now at 418 Grand Park Dr. #315 in Parkersburg.

“We have actually expanded a lot,” Dr. George said. “We are actually looking for another partner at this point with all the growth we have had over the years.”

They are currently talking with potential candidates.

The partners of Eye MDs in Parkersburg are Dr. Zane P. Lazer, Dr. David S. George and Dr. Scott H. Strickler. The practice handles a variety of eye care services. (Photo Provided)

The practice has seen a lot of innovation over the years, many things that were very cutting edge, George said of laser assisted cataract surgery which is unique for this area. He believes they are the only ones to have this laser system to do this cataract surgery within 100 miles.

“It is some great technology for the area,” he said. “It is only available at 300 sites nationally.

“We are lucky to be able to provide it for the community here.”

Recently, the practice has added the light adjustable lens which is an implant that they can use for cataract surgery.

“We can change the power of the implant to customize it after we put it in the eye and the eye heals,” George said.

The doctors at the practice are appreciative for the support they have received locally.

“We started in 1992 and we have just crossed over the 30-year mark of being here,” George said. “It has been amazing with the community.

“I never thought we would ever be this busy. I thought we were going to go to a small town and we are just going to have a small practice.

“It has really become one of the largest practices in Ohio and West Virginia.”

Lazer said the practice has had many firsts over the years.

“We were the first and only ophthalmology group to offer FEMTO laser assisted cataract surgery in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” he said. “We were the first to offer Lasik surgery in the MOV. We were the first and only to offer Laser Assisted Eyelid surgery in the MOV.”

“We were the first and only to offer Laser Assisted Blepharoplasty in the MOV. We were the first and only to offer IStent in the MOV. We were the first and only to offer XEN Stent in the MOV.”

The practice had the first free standing eye surgery center in the area.

“Our surgeons are among the busiest in both West Virginia and Ohio,” Lazer said. “Looking forward, we are planning to grow our practice and add new surgeons over the next few years.”

With two-thirds of their business coming from West Virginia, they pull in patients from a large area.

Cataract surgery is still one of the major services they have with laser surgery, regular implants, multi-focal implants, implants to correct astigmatisms and more. They also do eyelid surgery which Lazer does with a laser unique to this area.

The practice also does Lasik surgery, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery, refractive surgery, glaucoma surgeries and more. They have access to retinal doctors locally.

Half the practice is surgical and half is medical. They treat glaucoma, eye infections, sties, corneal infections, corneal ulcers and more.

“The practice has just grown exponentially,” George said. “When we first started I would see six people a day. Now I am seeing 60. It is a lot busier than it used to be.”

Strickler said he has enjoyed being able to serve the community and bring new innovations to patients in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“It’s been a privilege to serve the people of the area for the last 30 years,” he said. “I’ve truly enjoyed the opportunity to help improve my patients’ quality of life and to get to know them personally along the way.”

The practice does about 4,000 eye surgeries a year and has around 12,000 office visits a year.

“It is just a lot of people,” George said.

A new light adjustable lens was just started four to five months ago. The light adjustments are done in the office and can be done a number of times until the patient feels comfortable with them.

“When the patient is happy with where it is at, we lock it in for life and it doesn’t change anymore,” George said. “It is pretty cool technology. I think it is what I would want for my eye if I had to get one.”

The lenses are currently only available in places like Columbus and Cleveland.

“This is something that we offer that is very unique,” George said.

With over 30 years of experience, the doctors are very appreciative to the community.

“It has been good,” George said. “We have had over 30 years of service here.

“We want to thank the community for all the acceptance and their trust in us to do their eye surgery.”