Dr. Irvin
Dr. Irvin has been practicing Optometry for over 20 years. He and his wife Mindy have three children: Jessie, Benner and Gabrielle. Dr. Irvin grew up in southern Indiana and earned his B.S. (1998) and O.D. (2002) degrees from Indiana University.
Dr. Irvin embraces new research and believes in investing in technology that will give his patients the best eye exam and disease prevention possible.
In his spare time Dr. Irvin enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, boating, travelling and following Indiana University sports teams.
“I give every patient I see the time they need to ask questions. I’m big on patient education, I want my patients to understand everything about their vision and eye health. Taking the time to talk to the patient, hear their concerns and ultimately help them see better is very rewarding. I work with the best Doctors and Staff each day, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else for a career."
Dr. Bigham
Dr. Bigham was born and raised in Oakland City, IN (Gibson County). He is the son of Jim and Suzanne Bigham. Dr. Bigham is a graduate of Wood Memorial High School (1994), University of Southern Indiana (1998) and the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry (2002). He and his wife Allyson have five children: Lauren, Lindsey, Nolan, Joley, and Betty. The family lives in Evansville and enjoys spending time together especially through camping, youth sports (basketball, softball, soccer and tennis) and activities at First Christian Church of Evansville.
“I became nearsighted in my teens and started to go to my childhood Optometrist. His professionalism and joy for what he did inspired me to pursue a career in Optometry. I enjoy coming to work each day because the experience of each patient is unique. What I try to do is listen to my patients and present options best suited to meet their individual needs.”
Dr. Russ
Dr. Heather Russ is a Haubstadt native currently residing in Evansville with her husband Adam and daughter Evelynn. She graduated from Gibson Southern High School, got a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at Purdue University, then went to the Indiana University School of Optometry where she graduated in 2010 with her doctor of optometry degree.
When not in the office, Dr. Russ enjoys reading, cooking, being involved in church activities, doing puzzles, watching sports, and exploring the outdoors with her family and dogs.
Dr. Russ enjoys working with all ages but pediatrics holds a special spot in her heart. “It’s important to encourage a safe welcoming environment for little ones especially for those visiting the optometrist for the first time. We want them to enjoy coming to see us as much as we enjoy seeing them in the office.”
Dr. Powers
Dr. Hannah Powers was born and raised in Oakland City, IN (Gibson County). She is the daughter of Henry M. Brewster and Julie Brewster of Oakland City. She is a graduate of Wood Memorial High School, Indiana University, and Indiana University School of Optometry. She has been practicing optometry since 2017.
Dr. Powers and her husband Alex live in Oakland City with their kids Samuel and Elouise. They love their small community and try to stay very active within it. They spend a lot of time at their community baseball field where her husband is the league president. They also spend a lot of time with their church family. In their spare time they enjoy boating Kentucky Lake and cheering on IU athletics.
“I love having a job where I can work with people and improve their quality of life through their eyes. I enjoy every day because I can do something I have a passion for. I especially love working with children.”
Dr. Chesnut
Dr. Caleb Chesnut was born and raised in Newton, Illinois. He is the son of Brent and Donna Chesnut. Dr. Chesnut is a graduate of the University of Evansville and the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.
Dr. Chesnut and his wife, Emilee, now live in Evansville on the north side. He enjoys golfing, getting outdoors whenever possible, watching sports, and spending time with his family and friends.
“Patient education is very important to me. My goal is to make sure every person who leaves my office understands exactly what we talked about during the examination. I love optometry because it allows me to get to know my patients and share laughs and stories in the exam room all while providing them with top notch care of their ocular health and visual system. Northside Eyecare’s commitment to providing full scope optometry and use of state of the art technology allows me to give back to my patients in the most rewarding way imaginable.”
Crystal Stokes
Mrs. Crystal Stokes is our Chief Operating Officer. She was born in Evansville, IN. Crystal and her husband Gordon currently reside in Oakland City, IN. She has two children, Preston and Anna.
Crystal has been with our office since 1997. She enjoys her job because she gets to interact with the public on a daily basis. “It’s been great building relationships with our patients over the years. I still know and see patients from when I started my first day at the office.”
Crystal works mainly at the Northside office but makes it a priority to visit all of our offices monthly. When she is not at the office, Crystal enjoys working in her garden and spending time with her family.
Choose The Right Eye Doctor
Eye Doctor Haubstadt
Maybe you have noticed your vision going a bit fuzzy, or floating spots, or even you are just getting headaches regularly. These are all signs that you should visit an eye doctor, although you should actually think about getting regular eye check-ups done even if you haven’t noticed anything different.
An eye doctor can offer an array of different services which are related to the health of your eyes, usually ranging from a routine checkup to minor surgery.
How to Choose an Eye Doctor
Especially for those who have never seen an eye doctor before, choosing one can be a bit tricky at the best of times. Most people decide that they need to see an eye specialist only after a problem arises, and this can make the process even more stressful. Well, we’re here to help you feel more comfortable and here are some simple tips on how to choose an eye doctor:
Recommendations from your primary care doctor – They should be able to give you the details of some local eye doctors, and if they know you particularly well, they may be able to advise on someone that they know that you will like and work well with you.
Recommendations from family and friends – Ask around. Anyone that you know that wears glasses or contact lenses goes to an eye doctor. Speak to people and ask them for their recommendations.
Professional Organizations – Have a look at the professional organizations linked to eye care – the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association both offer advice on finding local eye doctors on their websites.
If you are moving to a new area and subsequently looking for a new eye doctor, check that they serve your needs. If, for example you have glaucoma, check they include glaucoma care and treatment.
At South Gibson Eye Care in Haubstadt we offer a comprehensive range of eye care services, such as general checkups, glaucoma diagnosis and care, macular degeneration care, referrals, an after-hours service and we work with kids! By choosing a company like this, you know that you will get good treatment whatever your problem may be.
Additional Details to Check
So now you think that you have found your eye doctor, it’s time to delve into the details.
Length of practice – Ask them how long they have been in practice. A doctor who has seen millions of eyes, and conditions is much more likely to diagnose quicker and more accurately than a newbie. If you have an existing condition, check whether they have experience in this area.
Insurance – It is vital that you check that they accept your insurance before going, or things could get a bit sticky!
Credentials – Check out their credentials such as licenses and affiliations before you go.
Once you have checked all of the above, the most important thing when choosing an eye doctor is that you feel happy, comfortable and that you can trust your doctor. If you’re around the Haubstadt area, South Gibson Eyecare is the place to go for professional and approachable staff that offers comprehensive, personal service. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment!
