Local optometrist nominated for humanitarian award

DOWNERS GROVE – There is a saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul.

For Downers Grove resident and optometrist Leonard Hardesty, his nearly four-decade passion for eye health led him to help change not only the health of his patients but legislation in Springfield.

Because of his work in helping patients achieve optimal eye health throughout the years at Hardesty Eye Care & Associates, Hardesty was nominated in September for the Illinois College of Optometry Alumni Association’s Humanitarian Award. While not selected this year as the award recipient, it didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for promoting eye health.

“I found out about the award in September, and I was stunned,” Hardesty said. “I didn’t expect anything like that.”

Jenni Sopko, director of communications at the Illinois College of Optometry, said anyone in the community can make a nomination, but typically it is a friend or colleague.

Hardesty has been practicing since 1976 after graduating from the Illinois College of Optometry. As a member of the Illinois Optometric Association, he and fellow IOA members would drive to Springfield to promote their cause – for example, the right for optometrists to dilate a patient’s eyes for a more thorough examination that could reveal medical conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and glaucoma.

Diagnostic pharmaceutical agents are eye drops used to dilate pupils. Known as DPA, the anesthetic drops assist in measuring eye pressure, which is one of the risk factors of glaucoma. The legislation allowing optometrists to use DPAs passed in 1984.

The next hurdle to overcome was for legislation to approve optometrists to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents – eye drops that would help an eye infection, Hardesty said. Legislation took 10 years and was finally passed in 1995, according to Hardesty.

“It became a mission, but it was fun mission, and when we won, that was incredible,” he said. “A comprehensive eye exam doesn’t deserve that label unless you widen the pupil and get a good look.”

While the change in legislation could certainly be considered a success, it is the advice and care he offers to his patients on a daily basis that makes Hardesty unique, according to patient Maureen Perry. He offers sound nutrition advice that made a difference in her own eye health.

“I came to see him because I had pink eye,” Perry said.

During the full eye examination, however, Hardesty discovered the macula in her eyes – the portion of the eye that provides sharper, central vision – wasn’t ideal. It was especially troubling news for Perry because she has an aunt with macular degeneration.

She tries to eat healthy, but per Hardesty’s recommendations, she has been taking a vitamin supplement with Zeaxanthin, Lutein, and Vitamin D, she said. The damage to her macula has not progressed further since following the vitamin regiment, she added.

“I wouldn’t have even known that my macula wasn’t perfect if Dr. Hardesty hadn’t done his tests,” Perry said.

Hardesty said optometrists and medical doctors share the first two years of medical school courses and he constantly is upgrading his education through optometric continuing education courses that include nutrition among many other eye specific discussions such as glaucoma.

“You cannot stop learning, it can’t be a chore, it has to be enjoyable,” he said. “This is starting year 39 and it’s still fun.”