meet the doctors

Emphasis: Contact lenses, Ocular surface disease, Providing care to underserved LGBTQ community

Accreditations: Board certified in optometry by the American Board of Optometry, Member of VOSH Board of Directors

Having been an orthokeratology contact lens patient since age eight, Dr. Michael’s career in optics began with an office assistant position when he was fifteen years old. Michael graduated cum laude from Augustana College as a triple major in biology, pre-med, and Spanish. Combining his interests, he spent several months studying in Arequipa, Peru. Later, he went on to the Illinois College of Optometry where he again graduated cum laude and did his graduate thesis on HIV and contact lens wear. Areas of specialty include specialty contact lenses, ocular surface disease, and providing care to LGBTQ patients in need. His local philanthropy is highlighted by his work with Howard Brown Health Center, an organization with a mission to promote health and wellness to underserved LGBTQ patients in Chicago. Michael is part of a dedicated group of doctors who provide consultation services to the contact lens industry, bringing new technologies to the marketplace. He has also been published in Optometric Management Magazine.

Dr. Michael’s experience with VOSH began five years ago on a trip to Barranquilla, Colombia. Immediately moved by the experience and the direct impact on the community, he has now been on five trips including Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, and Mexico. He was welcomed into the VOSH Board of Directors in 2016.

Dr. Ciszek is one of the three owners of Visionary, alongside Dr. Joseph Warner, and Jamar Holloway

Likes: his puppies, Porsche and Enzo, saying “Yay!” and throwing his hands up after he’s finished with a patient’s exam

Emphasis: Geriatric eye care, Ocular disease

Accreditations: Member of the American Optometric Association and Illinois Optometric Association, Board certified in optometry by the American Board of Optometry

Dr. Joe grew up in a small town in southeast Iowa, where he developed an interest in eye care volunteering with his local optometrist. He graduated from Central College in Pella, Iowa in 1996 with a major in biology and a minor in music. While there, he was active playing the piano for various music functions and as a four year letterwinner on the tennis team. 

He completed his optometry studies in 2000, graduating from the Illinois College of Optometry, where he was a Wildermuth Foundation scholar and a member of the Tomb and Key honorary society. He completed advanced training in 2001 through a residency in primary eye care at the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he developed an interest in geriatric eye care and ocular disease.

Likes: coffee before 2pm, intensely bowling, being Butters from South Park

Emphasis: specialty contact lenses, ocular disease 

Affiliations/Accreditations: Member of the American Optometric Association, Illinois Optometric Association, and National Keratoconus Foundation. Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry and Scleral Lens Education Society. 

Dr. Ryan focuses on providing full-scope pediatric and adult care including ocular surface disease, glaucoma, and diabetic management. A Southern California native, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the University of California, San Diego. He went on to continue his studies on the east coast obtaining his Doctor of Optometry from the State University of New York College of Optometry. 

He then completed advanced training with a combined residency in Primary Eye Care with an emphasis in Cornea and Contact Lenses at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. He specializes in fitting specialty soft and gas permeable contact lenses for patients of all ages such as orthokeratology, scleral, corneal, hybrid, and prosthetic lenses for various ocular conditions including keratoconus, post-surgical/traumatic corneas, dry eyes, and myopia management. 

Likes: being right, traveling