I've needed corrective lenses since I was seven years old. An odd kid, I thought that glasses were…read morea sign of distinction and couldn't wait to have a pair to call my own. Over the years, my opinions on this matter have changed completely. What I wouldn't give to have 20/20 vision and see the world with crystal clear clarity, without the help of my industrial strength contact lenses (when I take them out, the world becomes one big Monet painting).
Luckily, I have the very best ophthalmologist, Iman Ali, in whom I've placed complete trust to keep my peepers healthy and bright since 2005. At that time, I traveled the 45 minutes from my apartment in Quincy, MA to see her in Fall River. Eight years later, I still travel to see her, forsaking many other qualified ophthalmologists in Providence.
For my first appointment, she had her work cut out for her: I was fresh from a major car accident during which I'd suffered eye injuries that made wearing my traditional contacts extremely uncomfortable. She was patient, caring, and so confident that I could keep wearing contacts (by the time I reached my twenties vanity had sunken in, and I no longer agreed with my seven year old self that glasses were a badge of honor). She knew instinctively how to care for a young woman who'd suffered a physical and emotional trauma, and with her help, my eyes - and my overall well being - improved. Today, there's barely any remnant of the original injury, and my prescription has, against all odds, grown lighter in strength.
Other fantastic details that make Dr. Ali's practice, Total Eye Care, an excellent choice include: a friendly front desk staff (who in all these years have remained intact - I mean, no discernible turnover. This speaks volumes!); a charming little coffee shop in the main lobby before you enter the office; and for those who DO still think that glasses are a true fashion statement, a huge range of high end designer eyewear, including gorgeous prescription sunglasses. If I still liked wearing specs, I'd have no shortage of luxe and lovely options.
Dr. Ali is - to coin a well worn phrase - the very best in the business. She's so smart, so sophisticated, and so easy to talk to. She's Brown University educated, NYC trained (where she gained incredible experience working on patients suffering from eye issues in the wake of 9/11), and superbly suited to a practice in an area like The Riv, where folks really appreciate a doctor who remembers all sorts of things about you: little facts that might date back years. While she's thoroughly modern, hers is the type of practice that hearkens back to the physician practices of old, which were built on a strong sense of family, where all generations went to the same doctor -- and that doctor inquired after one's parents, as the pediatric patients matured into adulthood. This makes my annual eye appointment feel like coming home, in the best way!
