At Hazleton, Stroudsburg, Pottsville and Nanticoke Eye Specialists (formerly Evans Eye Care), we take your eye care experience further than just eye exams and glasses. Our team’s knowledge is matched only by its passion for care, and we can’t wait to bring you the vision solutions you need and deserve.
Our team is actively involved in the eye care industry. Our doctors perform lectures for other eye care professionals around the world, sharing our experiences and expertise. Doing this helps ensure we’re always on the leading edge of eye care treatments and technologies.
Glasses & Contacts for the Whole Family
On top of our medically-focused services, we carry a range of frames and lenses from top designer brands around the globe. Some of these brands include Coach, Vogue, Polo, and Calvin Klein.
Included with every eyewear purchase is a 2-year unlimited scratch-resistant warranty, making us the ideal choice for eyewear for your whole family. This warranty extends to our children’s glasses, so you don’t have to worry about your child scratching their lenses doing what kids do.
Dr. Thomas Kislan is the founder and medical director of Stroudsburg Eye Specialists (est. 1999), Hazleton Eye Specialists (est. 2001), and Dry Eye Clinic of Northeastern PA (est. 2002). These practices are large multi-disciplinary eye care facilities that provide routine medical eye care and the treatment and management of ocular diseases, such as cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye disease, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.
Dr. Kislan completed his undergraduate studies at Wilkes University and received his Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. He completed internships at the Lynch Pediatric unit in Philadelphia, the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, and the Trachtenberg Moran Eye Surgery Center in Allentown, PA.
Dr. Kislan is an educational lecturer, speaking nationally on Dry Eye Disease, Glaucoma, Ophthalmic use of Omega 3 Fatty Acids, and Refractive Surgery Co-management. He participates in clinical research and has presented his findings at many national meetings. His research has also been published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Kislan is a consultant for Allergan, AMO, PRN, and Pfizer pharmaceuticals. He is also the host of Eye Care Today, a monthly show which airs on local Hazleton Channel 13 and is syndicated nationally on the web at ssptv.com.
He resides in Drums, PA, with his wife, Dr. Sandra Krokos, and their son, Ryan. Dr. Kislan enjoys golf and traveling, when he is not helping patients see better.
James Deom, OD, MPH, FAAO, FSLS
Dr. James Deom joined the practice in mid-2014. Dr. Deom grew up in the Hazleton area and attended Bishop Hafey High School. Dr Deom graduated from Wilkes University, where he received the highest honors. He went on to study at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, where he received several commendations. He was the national president of the American Optometric Student Association, recipient of several scholarships, and received the highest academic average in the Health Sciences for MPH curriculum, as well as highest honors for the Optometry program.
Dr. Deom did rotations at the William Feinbloom Low Vision Center in Philadelphia, Nittany Eye Associates in State College Pennsylvania, the White River Junction Veterans Medical Center in Vermont, and the Blackfeet Tribe Indian Health Service in Browning, MT.
Since joining the practice, Dr. Deom has founded the Scleral Lens Institute, which focuses on providing sclera lens treatment to individuals with corneal conditions such as keratoconus, corneal transplants, and post-LASIK ectasia. Dr Deom also regularly works with corneal surgeon Dr. Frank Bucci to provide Corneal Collagen Crosslinking for individuals with these conditions. Patients travel great distances to receive the care that is offered at both Hazleton and Stroudsburg Eye Specialists through the sub-clinic of the Scleral Lens Institute.
Dr. Deom also offers vision care to individuals who have had a brain injury and children with learning disabilities. Dr. Deom is very involved in the Pennsylvania Optometric Association, where he serves on several committees to bring quality eye care to Pennsylvanians. He is also the Vice President of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Optometric Society. Dr. Deom is very passionate about those with low vision or who are blind in our area. As such, he is on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Community Services for Sight, serving three counties in northeastern PA.
Dr. Deom is an avid runner and triathlete. He has competed in dozens of running races, including 10 marathons and 2 full distance ironmans. He is happily married to his loving wife, Jillian, who is a Neuro Certified Brain Injury Physical Therapist in the Hazleton area.
Brian J. Olzinski, O.D.
Dr. Brian Olzinski has been in private practice since 1993 in Stroudsburg. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in biology from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, and his Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia.
Dr. Olzinski enjoys all aspects of patient care, including the treatment and management of glaucoma and eye infections, and the co-management of cataract and refractive surgery cases with area surgeons. He specializes in hard-to-fit contact lens and emergency eye care, including foreign body removal.
Dr. Olzinski is currently accepting new patients of all ages. He welcomes the opportunity to provide you and your family with excellent clinical care in the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of Stroudsburg Eye Specialists.
Corinne Belanger, O.D.
Pocono Mountain native, Dr. Corinne Belanger joined Stroudsburg Eye Specialists in their new location in Tannersville, providing comprehensive eye care to the community.
Dr. Belanger practices full-scope optometry and specializes in the treatment and management of ocular disease, comprehensive diabetic eye care, and ocular emergencies. She also has a special interest in pediatric vision care, beginning at six months of age.
Brendan Connors, O.D.
Dr. Connors spent the majority of his childhood growing up in Canton, OH, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He graduated with honors from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a minor in business. After receiving the highest OAT (Optometry Admission Test) score in the country, he went on to attend the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. At optometry school, Dr. Connors continued to thrive, joining the prestigious Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society, receiving academic honors, clinical honors, and numerous scholarships. During his clinical rotations, Dr. Connors gained valuable experience in the management of low vision patients, treating ocular disease, and fitting specialty contact lenses. Dr. Connors graduated from a challenging and competitive 4-year optometry program as Valedictorian of his class, achieving the first cumulative 4.00 GPA at his school in years. Dr. Connors passed all three parts of the National Board Examinations with flying colors and received a NBEO Certificate of Recognition for the highest board score at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, falling just short of the highest score in the country.
After completing one of his medical rotations at Hazleton Eye Specialists, Dr. Connors was eager to join the practice. Dr. Connors is looking forward to the grand-opening of Pottsville Eye Specialists, a state-of-the-art optometric practice opening in Palo Alto, where he will soon be working full-time. Dr. Connors is interested in practicing full-scope optometry, from routine eye exams and contact lens fittings, to the management of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, post-op cataract and LASIK care, and much more. Dr. Connors has a special interest in macular degeneration, a leading cause of legal blindness, and manages AMD with a comprehensive approach involving genetic testing for risk assessment, the best technology available for early and accurate diagnosis, knowledge of the latest innovations for treatment, and the impact nutrition and lifestyle changes can have on prognosis. Dr. Connors is excited to be coming to the Pottsville area and is involved with a new docuseries, Eye on the Anthracite Region, where he is reaching out to get to know the local community. Dr. Connors is currently accepting new patients of all ages.
Akirta Sran, OD, FAAO
Allie Wylam , OD, MPH
Dr. Alexis Wylam, a notice of the Wyoming Valley, graduated from Holy Redeemer High School and completed undergraduate education at King’s College with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. She then earned her Doctor of Optometry degree at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University.
Dr. Wylam completed her externships at Fort Bragg Army Base, in Fayetteville NC: The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA: a speciality contact lens and cornea rotation through The Eye Institute, in Philadelphia , PA; and at several practices throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, includes Hazleton Eye Specialists, receiving clinic honors in every location.
While in school, Dr. Wylam was the Vice President for the Gold Key Honor Society, coordinator of the student ambassadors, and a member of the Pennsylvania Optometric Student Association.
Dr. Wylam will practice full-scope optometry including glaucoma, diabetic eye exams and emergency eye care. She has an interest in specialty contact lenses for individuals with corneal diseases and keratoconus, as well as pediatric eye exams.
Courtney McCall , O.D.
Courtney was born and raised in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania right outside of Jim Thorpe. She graduated from the Marian Catholic High School in Tamaqua and then attended Saint Joseph’s University majoring in Biology and graduating with honors. She continued her education at Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2023. After completing an externship at Hazleton Eye Specialists for her last year of school, she had the honor of continuing her career with the same doctors who helped shape her into the doctor she is today. In her free time she enjoys coaching and playing volleyball and spending time with friends and family.
Christopher J. Nowik, O.D.
Dr. Christopher J. Nowik has been in private practice since 1980 in Bangor, PA.
A native of Northampton, PA, he graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA with a BS degree in biology. He received his optometric degree in 1980 from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He was a member of SOSH (Student Optometric Service to Humanity) and had the opportunity to work in Haiti providing vision services and medical eyecare to an underserved and appreciative population.
His practice has been providing vision exams, contact lenses and medical management of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes and macular degeneration. He will continue to do so as he slowly transitions into retirement and is excited to expand the scope of the practice with the new technologies that are being introduced into the office.
He is a proud dad of three and grandfather of six. In his free time, he enjoys walking, surf fishing, biking and enjoying trips to the Outer Banks of N.C.
Dr. Rob Dougherty, O.D.
Retinal Eye Surgeons
Physicians are independent of our practices and come from The Retina Clinic and Patel Retina Institute.
Dr. Sachin Patel was born in Patterson, NJ, and grew up in Scranton, PA. After graduating from Jesuit High School (Scranton Prep), he chose to go directly to medical school in Europe and pursue the family trade. Dr. Patel comes from an extended family of physicians. His father, sister, wife, and approximately 25 other relatives, enjoy practicing different fields of medicine.
After finishing medical school, Dr. Patel completed an internship at Flushing Hospital, New York. He went on to complete a three-year residency in Ophthalmology at Nassau University Medical Center and Stony Brook in Long Island, NY. During his final year in residency, Dr. Patel was fortunate to have served as chief resident.
Following his Ophthalmology degree, Dr. Patel went on to complete a two year vitreoretinal surgery fellowship. The first year was with world-renowned surgeon and researcher, Dr. Gholam A. Permam at Tulane University Health Sciences Center, and the second year was at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation. Dr. Patel was fortunate and grateful to have this world-class experience.
Dr. Patel has a special interest in International Ophthalmology. After completing his retinal fellowship, he worked in Oslo, Norway, in the vitreoretinal division at Ulleval University Hospital, alongside the country’s most advanced surgeons. He was fortunate to learn and use the latest European techniques, which will soon be available in the U.S.A.
Dr. Patel has also led two charitable mission trips to underprivileged areas in India. He was able to offer over 100 eye saving retinal surgical procedures in a short two months. He hopes to continue these surgical medical mission trips every two years.
Patrick Coady, M.D.
Patrick Coady, MD, MBA is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Dartmouth College and then a medical degree from Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. His medicine internship was done at Columbia University St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center and ophthalmology residency at California Pacific Medical Center. He did his vitreoretinal fellowship training at Yale University School of Medicine.
Dr. Coady is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists. He has been an investigator in clinical research trials for age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion and non-infectious uveitis. Dr. Coady has published articles on numerous topics including: ischemic retinal diseases, diabetic macular edema, retinal imaging, retinal surgery, remote visual monitoring and sickle cell retinopathy. He has extensive experience in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat retinal and macular disease as well as repair dislocated intraocular lenses.
He was named by Castle Connoly a Top Doctor in 2023, featuring in New York Magazine and Jersey’s Best Magazine
Dr. Ajey Alurkar, M.D.
Ajey Alurkar, MD, is a retina eye doctor in Clarks Summit, PA at Patel Retina Institute. Dr. Alurkar specializes in performing retina surgery and is currently accepting new patients.
Dr. Frank A. Bucci, Jr., is an internationally recognized expert in refractive and cataract surgery. He has been a pioneer in refractive surgery, having performed the first RK, AK, PRK, LASIK, and MultiLx procedures in Wyoming Valley. He has performed over 8,000 refractive surgeries and over 22,000 cataract and lens implant surgeries. Dr. Bucci is the originator of the MultiLx procedure and is the first and only eye surgeon in Northeastern Pennsylvania to routinely implant multifocal lenses for both MultiLx Elite and MultiLx Cataract patients. The majority of Dr. Bucci’s patients who have the MultiLx procedure never need bifocals again.
Dr. Bucci is a prolific clinical researcher and has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles. He was voted as one of the top 50 ophthalmologists in the U.S. by his peers, as published in Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. He is the only fellowship-trained refractive surgeon in Northeastern Pennsylvania. In 1998, Dr. Bucci founded the Bucci Cataract and Laser Vision Institute dedicated solely to correcting eye disorders through the pursuit of excellence in eye surgery.
Dr. Bucci performs LASIK procedures at his LASIK suite in Wilkes-Barre. It houses the latest state-of-the-art technology. This includes the only free-standing excimer laser in Luzerne County featuring Wavescan and Customvue laser vision applications from VISX. In 2000, Dr. Bucci founded the Angelina Theresa Bucci Eye Surgery Center, which offers the latest technology and highly trained ancillary staff. The center is Medicare Certified and accredited by the AAAHC.
Our Stroudsburg location is easily located right on Route 611, in the same shopping complex with Friendly’s and Dollar General. There is plenty of parking right in front of our practice, with disabled parking options available.
Our Stroudsburg location is easily located right on Route 611, in the same shopping complex with Friendly’s and Dollar General. There is plenty of parking right in front of our practice, with disabled parking options available.
Our Hazleton location is easily located right on the Airport Beltway with an image of an eye on top of the building. There’s plenty of parking right in front of our practice, with disabled parking options available.
Our Hazleton location is easily located right on the Airport Beltway with an image of an eye on top of the building. There’s plenty of parking right in front of our practice, with disabled parking options available.
