Dr. Thomas Choponis of Great Lakes Optometry cut a bright red ribbon yesterday at noon to celebrate his office’s new location along the Ashmun Street Business Spur.
Choponis was joined by his wife, Stephanie, their two daughters, staff members, Sault Area Chamber of Commerce, and chamber ambassadors.
"This building was already here, but we remodeled and opened during the last week of December,” Choponis said, showing off some new optometry equipment to go with its spacious interior.
Advanced examination technologies to accommodate the new eye care office include an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) device. Choponis has defined an OCT machine as a non-invasive imaging test that uses light to capture pictures of the retina. Choponis compared an OCT to a computerized tomography (CT) scan.
Choponis is the third owner of Great Lakes Optometry in its 20th year serving Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area.
“It was started by Dr. Dale Johnson and taken over by Dr. Brian Matthews,” Choponis said. “I am its third owner.”
Choponis took over the eye care business in 2019. He received his Doctorate of Optometry from Ferris State University in 2017, and completed three externships across the country.
The doctor has been practicing optometry in the Upper Peninsula since 2017.
“I am trained in refractive procedures as well as diagnosis and management of eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts,” Choponis said. “I can also evaluate and fit specialty contact lenses. I had 10 years of optical experience as an optician before becoming a licensed optometrist.”
Great Lakes Optometry offers eye examinations for children’s vision testing, diabetic patients, developmentally disabled patients, those in need of laser vision correction consultations, and more.
“This new location was something that was needed,” Chamber President Tony Haller said. “They were in their old location downtown and have expanded."
Great Lakes Optometry was once located in a 650 square foot building on 128 W Spruce St. Its new business location is 2237 Ashmun St. Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
