Catching a glimpse of Monday’s rare solar eclipse can be exciting – but can cause lasting vision damage without proper safety precautions, say faculty members at Ferris State University’s Michigan College of Optometry.
“Unsafe viewing of the sun, even for a few seconds, is not worth a lifetime of vision impairment,” said Dr. Eric Syverson, an MCO assistant professor and chief of Medical and Surgical Services.
A rare total solar eclipse will be visible across parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico on Monday, April 8. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between Earth and the sun – blocking the sun’s light and darkening the sky as if late in the evening or early in the morning.
As cool as a rare solar eclipse is to observe, Syverson strongly urges skywatchers to carefully use special eye protection and limit even protected exposure to minimize the risk of eye damage.
“Some may say it is safe to r
The life and career of 2008 Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry alumna Dr. Emily Coles prove that professional success and exemplary community service can be accomplished within miles, even blocks from where they were raised.
“All the skills I have acquired, both professionally and those that help me in roles outside the office, came because of my education. I graduated from Big Rapids High School in 2000 and continued a family tradition by heading to Michigan Tech, where I graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology,” said Coles, whose father is Dr. Fred Guenther, a retired obstetrician and currently the mayor of Big Rapids. “I did apply to another school of optometry beyond MCO, but I very much wanted to come back home for this learning. I was so pleased to be accepted.”
Coles began her professional practice with Optometric Associates and, in 2016, became the business owner of what is now Big Rapids Family Eyecare. If the id
Change-Ups: Kalaczinski named MOAâs Educator of the Year
Lillian Kalaczinski, an associate professor for Ferris State Universityâs Michigan College of Optometry, has been named the Michigan Optometric Associationâs 2021 Educator of the Year. Kalaczinski is a 1998 MCO graduate following three years in the pre-optometry program at Ferris. Kalaczinski served as director of vision services at a Grand Rapids-area community health center before joining the MCO faculty in 2015. Kalaczinski also is chief of primary care services at the University Eye Center, and an adviser to registered student organizations unique to the college.
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Rehmann won Clearlyratedâs Best of Accounting Diamond Award for providing superior service to its clients for at least five consecutive years. Rehmann received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 from 82% of its clients, significantly higher than the industryâs average of 43% in 2020.