Lazarus Eye Care has opened for business in High Ridge.
The practice opened Feb. 12 at 5311 Caroline Drive in the Schnucks Dillon Plaza.
Optometrist Matthew Lazarus, who owns the practice, said it helps fill a need for quality eye care services in northwest Jefferson County.
“Until you get all the way to Fenton, there’s nobody here besides that Clarkson Eyecare in Walmart providing eye care,” Lazarus said. “There’s a doctor down in St. Clair, but otherwise in the northern Jefferson County area, you have to go into Arnold, Fenton or someplace that’s a good 20-, 30-minute drive to find any kind of eye care. This was the perfect area that was in need of the right practice.”
Lazarus said he specializes in medical eye care and the treatment of eye diseases and systemic diseases. The practice also offers eyeglasses and contact lenses.
“Everybody, regardless of whether they feel they have great vision, should be getting an annual eye exam, not just for a general prescription but for the overall health of the eye,” Lazarus said. He said examining the eye and surrounding nerves, arteries and veins can help doctors diagnose high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and other health issues.
“If they get an eye exam, we’re able to communicate those issues with their primary doctor to help them not just with their eyes but their body as a whole,” Lazarus said.
He said his practice has brand-new equipment and features that can’t always be found at chain eye care practices. “I think the experience here, with the office being new and having new technology, and myself being up on new technology and treatment options, is definitely something you can’t always find at a chain place,” he said.
Lazarus attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry where he graduated in 2018. For the past five years, Lazarus has worked alongside an ophthalmologist in Washington.
“I had a really great experience with patient care, but I wanted to branch out on my own and set up an office and be able to run it the way that I’d like to,” Lazarus said.
Chief happiness officer Gus the golden retriever helps brighten patients’ days, Lazarus Eye Care owner Matthew Lazarus said.
Lazarus said Gus, a golden retriever and chief happiness officer, plays an important role at the practice, adding that Gus lost his left eye to lymphoma two years ago but is happy and healthy now.
“His role is to provide somebody with some doggy love and get them comfortable here,” Lazarus said. “He’s a bright face when you walk into the office.”
Lazarus lives in High Ridge with his wife, Casey.
Lazarus Eye Care is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesdays, the practice is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information or to book an appointment, call 636-489-0133.