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Optometrist’s vision works out well in Clarendon Hills
Dr. Charles Philippou adjusts a phoropter in his examining room. Philippou has operated his Clarendon Eye Associates business in the same location for over 16 years. | Jon Langham~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: September 3, 2012 6:08AM
CLARENDON HILLS — It’s by chance that Charles Philippou ended up locating his eye care business in Clarendon Hills.
But 16 years after he opened Clarendon Eye Associates at 403 E. Ogden Ave., Philippou, 51, feels very strongly that it was a good fit.
“I was in Westmont for two years before I moved here,” he said. “This was a real estate office before I bought it. I had to get out of where I was and was interested in staying in the same area. This is a good location, and I really liked the 19-foot sign I saw with this building.”
As an optometrist, Philippou said he handles virtually all eye issues and problems, short of surgery. He does exams and make diagnoses for various conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. He also prescribes glasses and contact lenses.
“I know it sounds corny, but I wanted to get into something to help people,” said, who grew up in Chicago and graduated from Lane Tech High School there. “We had a family friend who was an optometrist, so I spoke with him. I think it was a good choice for me.”
Philippou said the optometry business has changed considerably.
“It’s become tougher and tougher to have your own private practice,” he said. “By the time people come out of school now, they have $300,000 in student loans, which makes it pretty difficult to open your own practice.”
Another big change has been the technology used in the field of eye care.
“We’re able to make diagnoses that are much more accurate because of the technological improvements,” he said.
Philippou said he is required to renew his optometrist license every two years, a process that includes 30 classroom hours.
“That requirement helps keep you current, but you also have to keep current on your own,” he said. “Things are changing all the time, and it’s important to know what’s going on.”
Philippou also sells glasses.
“We deal with a mix of ages, from 4 to 104,” he said. “I’d say about 90 percent of our practice is people from Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale and Westmont. I have families that come here with a few generations of the family.”
Lauren Brasko of Elmhurst has six people in her immediate family, all of whom use the services of Philippou at Clarendon Eye Associates.
“We were referred by a friend, and I like it a lot here,” she said. “I like his bedside manner, and he’s very easy to work with.”
