Charles E. Lyon, M.D., FACS

Because of his determination, thousands of people are able to keep sight of what’s important.

“When I was a junior in college, I was a biology major”, Dr. Lyon said. “But I was tutoring pre-med students, and I was making straight A’s, while some of them were having a hard time.”

Faced with a choice, Dr. Lyon pursued medicine instead of biology. “I knew medicine would be challenging,” Dr. Lyon said. “But a plus would be that I would be helping other people.”

Dr. Lyon, who is from Claiborne Parish, graduated from Northeast Louisiana University (now the University of Louisiana-Monroe) with a B.S. in Pre-Medicine. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University. From there, Dr. Lyon did his residence in Ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina, and his Vitreo-Retinal Fellowship at Tulane University’s School of Medicine.

“I enjoyed the intricate detail associated with Ophthalmology,” Dr. Lyon says. “It was, and is, a great challenge dealing with a miniature world.”
While Ophthalmology is a wide-ranging field, Dr. Lyon chose to narrow his focus. His specialty is Vitreo-Retinal Diseases and Surgery, Diabetic Eye Diseases and Ocular Trauma.

“Retina was, and continues to be, an exceptionally-challenging part of the eye,” Dr. Lyon explains. “I was excited about being on the front-end of retina and vitreous studies and improvements.”

Dr. Lyon opened his practice in 1987, and has since formed Vitreo-Retinal Associates, with offices in Shreveport/Bossier, Natchitoches and Ruston. He is also Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, and is active on the staff of LSU in Academics.

While Dr. Lyon sees many patients throughout the week at Vitreo-Retinal Associates, it is his time in the operating room where he finds the most satisfaction.

“Surgery is very rewarding”, Dr. Lyon said. “It is a gratifying experience to give something (eyesight) back to someone.”

Dr. Lyon and his wife, Kimberly, make their home in Shreveport. They are the proud parents of four children (Savannah, Jennifer, Samantha and Chance).

When Dr. Lyon is not spending time with his family or patients, you can usually find him outdoors. He is an avid birdwatcher, and past president of the Louisiana Ornithological Society.

Neil W. Brogden, O.D.

“I had to write a career-idea paper for class,” Dr. Brogden said. “A family friend was an optometrist, so I talked with him and saw what he did. He let me look in the eye. From that point on, I knew what I was going to do.”

That was as a high school senior in Kennett, Missouri. Now, after graduating from the University of Arkansas and the Southern College of Optometry, Dr. Brogden is an Optometrist, joining Vitreo-Retinal Associates in September of 2006.

“The retina/vitreous relationship is very interesting,” Dr. Brogden said. “It’s fascinating to see how a disease process can affect one or both.”
And in the big picture of life, Dr. Brogden recognizes the importance of a patient’s eyesight.

“You can do without most of your other senses,” Dr. Brogden said. “But I can’t imagine losing my eyesight. Probably my biggest fear is to go blind.”
While Dr. Brogden can diagnosis many eye diseases, there is one on which he keeps a particular eye.

“Diabetes affects the old and young,” Dr. Brogden said. “Patients still don’t understand how diabetes works and how it affects the whole body. What’s going on in your eyes is going on throughout the whole body. The hardest part is getting the patient to understand the whole diabetic process.”

Many times, a person doesn’t know they have diabetes until their routine eye exam shows something out of the ordinary. Dr. Brogden says a person may have gone 10 years without a physical exam. However, if Dr. Brogden suspects diabetes, he will send that person to their primary care physician.

“It’s rewarding to know that you are getting the patient back in the loop to give them a better quality of life once they are treated.”
From the moment Dr. Brogden introduces himself, you realize you are not just a number. He greets his patients with a warm handshake and a genuine concern for their well-being.

“It’s good to have a relationship and rapport with each patient,” Dr. Brogden said. “You want to give them your undivided attention. Other offices don’t do that. They herd them in and herd them out.”

Dr. Brogden could simply make his diagnosis and send the patient on their way. However, Dr. Brogden tries to explain each condition, and give the patient as much information as possible when it comes to a course of treatment.

“It’s their choice,” Dr. Brogden said. “We can make suggestions, but it’s their eyes, their choice, and their body. They need to know what’s going on.”

Some conditions, with long names and hard pronunciations, are difficult to articulate in terms the patient can understand. However, Dr. Brogden tries to simplify it as much as possible.

“For example, an epiretinal membrane is like a piece of cellophane on the retina than can crinkle and distort images,” Dr. Brogden said.

Just like that, a patient’s condition goes from confusing, to simplistic.

Dr. Brogden’s association with Vitreo-Retinal Associates gives him the opportunity to work with and learn from one of the country’s most respected retina specialists.

“It is a privilege to be associated with Dr. Lyon,” Dr. Brogden said. “You can look across the country and not find a more knowledgeable and talented physician and surgeon. His peers look up to him, and his patients are so appreciative. This is a great opportunity for me to learn from the best.”

In December of 2006, Dr. Brogden married the former Alisa Pickering from Shreveport.

“I am happy to now call Shreveport my home,” Dr. Brogden said. “I look forward to being here for many years, and helping as many people as possible.”

When Dr. Brogden is not at the clinic, he is likely to be playing golf, hunting, fishing, or calling the hogs for his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks.