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Steve Chaplin
IU Communications
stjchap@iu.edu
812-856-1896

Last modified: Thursday, April 18, 2013

IU School of Optometry expanding Bloomington eye care services at Atwater Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2013

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- More doctors, diagnostic tools and eyewear shopping opportunities await patients from Indiana University School of Optometry's Community Eye Care Center on their first visit to the school's Atwater Eye Care Center.

They'll also get free parking.

Atwater Eye Care Center

Patients of IU School of Optometry's Community Eye Care Center on North Monroe Street will now see doctors at the school's 22,000-square-foot Atwater Eye Care Center, above.

Print-Quality Photo

The School of Optometry will move services from its Community Eye Care Center on North Monroe Street on April 25 and begin meeting those same patients May 6 at the centralized $3 million Atwater Eye Care Center that opened in 2009 on the edge of IU's campus at 744 E. Third St. Visitors will be able to park in patient parking next to the clinic off East Atwater Avenue, or at either the Henderson-Atwater or Atwater parking garages half a block away on either side of the center.

Dr. Neil Pence, associate dean of clinical and patient care services at the School of Optometry, said former Community Eye Care patients will see the same doctors, plus benefit from a broader offering of diagnostic services.

"It's a much bigger tool kit to work with at Atwater," Pence said. "In addition to having more doctors and staff available, patients will also be able to have more complicated procedures addressed here. It just made sense for us to have all our services under one roof."

The clinic on North Monroe Street is about two miles away from Atwater Eye Care. If residents of the surrounding Crestmont neighborhood prefer not to drive, Bloomington Transit operates bus stops less than one block away from both the former clinic and Atwater.

Atwater map

Atwater Eye Care Center, its adjacent parking lot and nearby parking garages and bus stops are highlighted here.

Print-Quality Photo

Pence said Community Eye Care patients will remain with their current eye care doctors and benefit from one of the largest and most modern eyewear and fitting centers in the region.

"All of our free and reduced-fee services will continue to be offered, scheduling is the same, no one will see their doctors change, and they'll benefit from our state-of-the-art facility," he said.

The School of Optometry conducts both patient eye care and research at the 22,000-square-foot Atwater facility and will no longer rent the property where Community Eye Care operated.

Records and equipment will be moved from the North Monroe Street clinic after it closes April 25, and Atwater Eye Care Center will begin seeing those patients May 6.

For more information please contact Steve Chaplin, IU Communications, at 812-856-1896 or stjchap@iu.edu.