Meet the Doctor
Dr. Lori Smolinski
Lori Smolinski, O.D., has been affiliated with Grandville Optical since 2002. Dr. Lori, as she likes to be called, enjoys seeing patients of all ages for their eye care needs. She is equally comfortable examining children and seniors. Contact lenses are an area of interest for her, and she regularly fits even the more difficult astigmatism and bifocal cases.
Dr. Lori is also a Certified Low Vision Specialist, one of only a handful in Michigan to specialize in helping the visually impaired. While these exams are done at the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Grand Rapids, it makes her well suited to ‘think outside of the box’ and tailor exams to individual patient needs. She prides herself in spending lots of quality time educating her patients and performing all aspects of the examinations herself, not relying on technicians and fancy gadgets.
After working with larger ophthalmology practices, she decided that only spending a few minutes with each patient was not why she became an optometrist. She respects her patients’ time, and strives to stay on schedule by not overbooking. Dr. Lori, by being a newer graduate, has the most up-to-date training that optometry has to offer. She is able to prescribe medications when appropriate, and performs comprehensive examinations including pupil dilation and glaucoma testing (without the uncomfortable air-puff test!).
Her undergraduate work was completed at Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan. Dr. Lori attended the small liberal arts college after competing for and receiving a Trustee’s scholarship, the most valuable scholarship that Adrian College offers. She majored in Biology with a Chemistry minor, and received many awards along the way for her volunteer services with the campus Civitan group and special needs members of the community.
Her optometry degree was awarded by the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University. Dr. Lori graduated with highest honors, and was active in many of the school’s organizations. Her most prestigious award was for Outstanding Student in Contact Lens Care, given to her by Vistakon, a division of Johnson & Johnson.
Dr. Lori continues to be active in organized optometry, as a member of the American Optometric Association and its Low Vision and Contact Lens Sections. She is also an active member of the West Michigan Optometric Association, and is the President for the 2007-2008 session.
Personally, Dr. Lori is married and lives in Holland with her husband, Tom, and two spoiled dogs. She enjoys traveling and scrapbooking in her spare time. If you need an update on the Red Wings or Detroit Tigers, she can usually provide that as well.