Dr. Christopher Smiley, the current owner of Vision Professionals, is a Central Ohio native who embodies innovation and progress within the Optometric community. His unwavering commitment to excellence shines through every aspect of his work.
Graduating with top honors in contact lens patient care from The Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2001, Dr. Smiley's dedication was recognized with the esteemed American Optometric Foundation’s (AOF) Contact Lens Excellence Award. This accolade, presented to a fourth-year optometry student demonstrating exceptional clinical contact lens patient care, was a testament to his expertise. He is also a distinguished member of both the Sigma Kappa and Gold Key International Optometric Honor Societies.
Dr. Smiley's passion for advancing optometric education is evident through his memberships in the American Optometric Association (AOA), Ohio Optometric Association (OOA), Columbus Optometric Association (COA), and the Contact Lens & Cornea Section of the AOA (CLCS). Additionally, he serves as a board member for the Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI). As a clinical investigator for various contact lens study programs, he remains at the forefront of lens technologies, often providing them before commercial availability. Dr. Smiley's expertise extends to consulting with numerous contact lens manufacturers, lecturing fellow doctors, and teaching students innovative contact lens fitting techniques. Currently, he presides as the President of The Ohio State Alumni Association for the College of Optometry and has also served as an advisory council member to the Presidents of The Ohio State University.
Specializing in challenging contact lens fits, Dr. Smiley excels in cases involving rare eye conditions like keratoconus, irregular astigmatism, and vision rehabilitation post-laser vision correction. He played a pivotal role in the early development of modern scleral contact lenses and is nationally recognized for his expertise in fitting advanced cases. Additionally, Dr. Smiley is renowned for offering myopia control technologies, including orthokeratology (Ortho-K), throughout his career. His proficiency further extends to the treatment and management of eye emergencies, glaucoma, and dry eye. Dr. Smiley takes pride in delivering state-of-the-art eye care to patients seeking contact lenses, especially those who have faced challenges elsewhere.
Dr. Smiley's relentless pursuit of continual optometric education and cutting-edge technologies underscores his impeccable clinical skills and leadership in the profession. Beyond his professional endeavors, he cherishes spending time with his kids. His daughter, Kendall, is pursuing pre-optometry studies at the University of Kentucky, and patients might have the opportunity to interact with her during college breaks. Meanwhile, his son, Morgan, attends school at Westerville Central. In his leisure, Dr. Smiley enjoys Ohio State Buckeye football, health and fitness activities, automobiles, fishing, warm weather, particularly if a beach is involved, and his loyal companion, Dino (Rhodesian Ridgeback).
Dr. Smiley welcomes new patients seeking advanced specialty contact lens services, either independently or through referrals from other providers. However, he currently does not accept new patients for general optometry services or basic contact lens needs. Patients opting for Dr. Smiley's care will benefit from a team-based approach, where they will also be seen by a licensed resident Doctor of Optometry and/or a 4th-year Optometry extern. For those desiring a different approach, our office offers alternative providers. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.