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The Villages
Monday, April 29, 2024

Optometrist joining practice in The Villages has long history of helping others

Dr. Donald Ragan has joined the EyeSite of The Villages optometry practice located at Grand Traverse Plaza.

Dr. Donald Ragan
Dr. Donald Ragan

Graduating from University of West Florida in 2006 with a degree in pre-professional biology and a certificate in human physiology, Dr. Ragan went on to study optometry at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Fort Lauderdale. It was at Nova that he became active with The Fellowship of Christian Optometrists. In 2009, he traveled around Honduras giving eye exams and giving out glasses to some of our world’s neediest people.

Ragan was given the opportunity to work at the Kids in Distress community outreach clinic in Wilton Manors, Florida during his pediatric rotation. This campus was set up as a safe haven for the abused and neglected children of the Fort Lauderdale area. Receiving honors for his work, he was rewarded with the opportunity to give something to these needy children who mostly knew what it was like to have things taken away.

During his externship rotations,  Ragan had the opportunity to work with world-class specialists and surgeons specializing from ocular plastics to corneal disorders. Combined with being in the field of optometry now for more than 10 years, Ragan has seen a large scope of advanced clinical cases,giving him a broad perspective of the many conditions that affect the eyes of our community.

In addition to routine eye exams, Ragan has been involved with the treatment and management of ocular disorders and disease including: cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and several other ocular pathologies. Ragan has been working in The Villages for the past three years and is very familiar with the common eye pathologies that occur to the active, advanced-age community here in The Villages.

Growing up in a small town in northern Michigan, Ragan said he knows the importance of a strong community. He will be partnering with The Rotary Club of The Villages, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter County, and the First Baptist Church of Lady Lake to advance the knowledge of aquaponics. Ultimately, Ragan’s goal is to set up aquaponics green houses in needy areas of our world with poor nutrition.

For more information about EyeSite of The Villages, visit  www.eyesite-thevillages.com

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