Formally becoming Lansing Ophthamology in 1967, founders Justin Sleight and Raymond Hogg initially merged their practices in 1960 so they could pursue other interests, such as providing eye care in Africa. Such generosity has continued with the Justin Sleight, MD/Lansing Ophthalmology Endowment to provide food and shelter to Lansing’s homeless; the Barbara Perrin Glaucoma Fund, which, in conjunction with St. Vincent Catholic Charities, provides glaucoma drugs to those who could not otherwise afford them; the Paul Linnel Award, which gives scholarship money to Michigan State University; and Mikey’s Fund, which is a permanent endowment that covers the costs associated with any free services, such as operating room charges, provided by LOPC.

In 2000, Lansing Ophthalmology surgeon Thomas Moore treated Michaela “Mikey” Hagemann, a Down syndrome patient with cataracts.

“Mikey was at a point where she was legally blind, and her parents impressed upon me that she was not happy or able to do daily activities anymore,” said Moore. “We decided it was worth the risk to operate. The day after surgery, she had a big smile on her face and it turned her life around.”

When Mikey passed away in 2003, her parents wanted to recognize her increased quality of life from the surgery and to provide for others who might not be able to afford such services. After being approached by the Hagemanns, Lansing Ophthalmology decided to create Mikey’s Fund.

“I hope we can continue to grow the funds that we’ve started and make them capable of more generosity,” said Pearlman.

Lansing Ophthalmology now has 20 doctors on staff, specializing in retinas, glaucoma, corneas, and oculoplastics, and provides ophthalmic plastic surgery for reconstruction around the eye and cosmetic care. The practice’s main office on Coolidge Road was built in 1993 and six additional locations have since been added.

Pearlman had been discussing how technology has revolutionized eye care when a former patient, Angela Austin, came up to thank him.

“You saved my sight years ago,” she stated. “I was diagnosed with macular degeneration, and your resources helped save my left eye. I want to thank you so much for that diagnosis and the treatment. It’s really made a difference in my life.”

“The most exciting thing about what we do is all of the new technologies that come out every year,” said Pearlman. “It’s fulfilling to do things for our patients that we couldn’t even dream of 30 years ago. It doesn’t matter which of the subspecialities you speak about, technology has revolutionized them. We now have injectable drugs for macular degeneration that are almost miraculous. When you’ve been doing this for 35 years, you get some perspective, become very humbled, and do things better than before.”

Just like the technology, Lansing Ophthalmology has improved its service to the community over the years as well.

“Justin [Sleight] is just an exemplary person, who, when I first came here, left me his practice while he went to Sierra Leone to do cataract surgery, and I was impressed he would do that,” said Pearlman. “There is a really long tradition of community involvement and charitable works.”