Background:

Dr. Michael Wallerich is a native of La Crosse, Wisconsin. In high school, he completed an apprentice optician program at his local eye doctor’s office.

Directly after his residency, Dr. Wallerich became a traveling optometrist within skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, rehabilitation clinics and regional hospitals throughout the state of Minnesota.

Education:

  • University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
    • Biology (B.S.); Minor – Spanish
  • State University of New York College of Optometry
    • Doctor of Optometry (O.D.)
  • Empire State College
    • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
  • Berkeley: University of California –School of Optometry @ VA Palo Alto Health Care System
    • Residency: Primary Care/Brain Injury Vision Rehabilitation

Clinic Interests:

  • Neuro-Optometric Evaluations
    • Vision dysfunctions from traumatic (concussions, head traumas, etc.) or acquired (strokes, Parkinson’s disease, etc.) brain injuries
  • Contact Lens Evaluations (Specialty Contact Lenses)
    • Soft Contact Lenses: distance, astigmatism correction, multi-focal contact lenses
    • Hard Contact Lenses: Rigid gas permeable contacts for single vision, multi-focal options, and for corneal conditions (keratoconus, corneal ectasia, other diseases)
  • Pediatric Eye Care & Myopia Management
    • Assessing refractive error, pediatric vision screening, eye turns, binocular vision dysfunctions, traumatic/acquired brain injury vision assessments
    • Treatment for nearsightedness; Certified provider for Mi-Sight 1 Day contact lenses for treatment of nearsightedness
  • Geriatric Eye Care (inpatient care within nursing facilities)
    • Provide medical eye examinations for vulnerable adults within inpatient facilities throughout the metropolitan area

Why brain injury vision rehabilitation (neuro-optometry)?

Dr. Wallerich translated in Spanish in the neuro-optometric rehabilitation and neuro-ophthalmology clinics at the State University of New York during his first year for several patients. After each visit, he witnessed the patient’s vision dysfunctions improving, which consequentially improved the patient’s symptoms. The treatments were reducing each patient’s symptoms (headaches, eye fatigue, double vision, etc.), which was empowering for both the provider and patient. Patients would explain how they planned to return to work, continue with college courses or other aspirations that seemed unlikely before. To impact someone so profoundly was important to Dr. Wallerich, which made it an easy decision to complete a residency in brain injury vision rehabilitation.

Hobbies:

In his spare time, Dr. Wallerich enjoys playing piano, participates in a kickball league, downhill skiing, regular exercise, reading non-fiction, volunteering (LGBTQ causes, mentorship programs board of health), kayaking, hiking, gardening (growing vegetables, fruits, etc.), playing board games and traveling!