Connie S. Copeland, PhD., O.D.

Dr. Connie Copeland has been practicing optometry since 1997 and joined Isthmus Eye Care in 2002. Prior to coming to IEC she spent over four years at Marshfield Clinic and at Retina-Vitreous Associates, working with all ranges of patients, from the most straightforward to those with complex problems involving coordination of care with ophthalmology and several other specialties. "My experience with ocular disease has impressed on me the powers of preventative care and early detection to preserve eye health." Her clinical interests include comprehensive eye care, ocular disease management, contact lens fitting, and low vision. In low vision care, "Nothing is more rewarding than restoring the ability to read for someone who has been blinded by ocular disease," she says.

Dr. Copeland enjoys the doctors, staff and patients at Isthmus Eye Care. "It would be difficult to find better colleagues than the team at Isthmus. I wholeheartedly endorse our philosophy of high quality, people-oriented eye care." In addition to her work at Isthmus Eye Care, Dr. Copeland assists in clinical research studies at the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology Fundus Photography Reading Center.

Connie grew up in northeastern Ohio. Some of her happiest times were spent sailing small boats on Lake Erie with her father. After graduating from Duke University, Connie went to graduate school at Yale University in cell biology, and worked in basic biology research for several years.

As a career change, Dr. Copeland entered optometry school at Ohio State University in 1993. She wanted to work in a career that impacted people's lives directly. At Ohio State she took extra course work in primary care, keratoconus, visual processing and retinal disease. She graduated with her Doctor of Optometry in 1997.

In her free time, Dr. Copeland enjoys her daughter Charlotte Xiaohong, born in 1999 and her cat Nina. In addition to playing, swimming, camping and learning together, Dr. Copeland and her daughter study Chinese conversation.