DrHome1 For Dr. Kate Reidell, doctor of optometry (OD), the first moment of visual clarity came at age 12 when she got her first pair of glasses.

“You could actually see the leaves on the trees from far away,” Reidell said.

A native of Plattsburgh and a 2002 graduate of Plattsburgh High School, Reidell spent her summers working at Eye Care for the Adirondacks (ECFA).

toni_smithShe did everything from filing charts to answering phones, to checking in patients.  She even did a turn in the billing department.

“You could tell she was the kind of person who would succeed in what she wanted to do,” said Faye Martineau, Administrator for ECFA in Plattsburgh.

Reidell thought business would be a good career path and selected it for a major.  She soon changed her mind, realizing, that a career in business would not allow her to help people in the way she wanted.  A switch to health care was in the cards.

“Optometry is quite rewarding,” Reidell said.

At Binghamton University, Reidell completed a bachelor’s degree in Biology.  She completed her OD at Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, which is located north of Philadelphia.

“City life isn’t for me,” Reidell said.

When the chance to return to her hometown came, Reidell was excited.    She and her husband returned to the Plattsburgh area and she began to practice at ECFA.

“I had always hoped to come back,” Reidell said.

Currently, she is building her practice, adding patients to her roster.  She hopes to develop a good relationship with all of her patients, some of which are her neighbors who have witnessed her journey.

DrHome2 She enjoys working with the other doctors at the practice, who have been very supportive of her in her journey.

“I would go to her myself,” Martineau said.  “(We’ve had) nothing but positive feedback.”

Reidell has chosen to specialize in contact lens fittings, multi focal lenses. She has a particular interest in helping her patients to find the right fit for their eyes.

Contact lens use is on the rise, according to Reidell.

Patients who couldn’t wear contacts in the past are able to wear them now because of new developments in the field.

“They improve the quality of life,” Reidell said.

Active people, those who are involved in sports or other activities that might be hindered by traditional glasses, are excited to for the opportunity.

Reidell hopes to help those people in their vision journey.

“She is young, attractive, intelligent and a role model for the youth in our community,” Martineau said.

According to Martineau, Reidell sets an example for those who are working hard to pursue their own goals and dreams.

Martineau said that Reidell shows young people that if you set your mind to achieving a goal and work hard, anything is possible.



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