ABOUT US
At Kentucky Eye Institute, we are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality service, most compassionate care, and seamless transitions between healthcare settings. We will work tirelessly to earn your trust and confidence.
Kentucky Eye Institute is comprised of ophthalmologists, primary care optometrists, and a dedicated supporting staff of roughly 50 employees. As one of the region’s premier eye care providers, we take great pride in caring for our patients. Please take a moment to get to know our doctors below.
Our Doctors
Our doctors are here to serve you
with the best care in the commonwealth!
David L. Blandford, M.D.
Dr. Blandford has a distinguished career in medical and surgical eye care; with a special interest in cataract/implant surgery and refractive surgery.
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Dr. Blandford, born in Kentucky, is married to Jeanette Kelly; they are the parents of Alexander, Ryan, and Kristen. Dr. Blandford received his B.S. degree with distinction from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 1981. He received his M.D. degree with distinction from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 1989. Dr. Blandford completed his Ophthalmic Residency at the University of Kentucky in 1994. Between medical school and residency, Dr. Blandford did a Research Fellowship year, which began his career in clinical research in Ophthalmology.
Dr. Blandford has a distinguished career in medical and surgical eye care. He has participated in over twenty-five medical papers and abstracts, and has also co-produced a medication delivery system for eye medications, which has been patented. This unique system has been used in the treatment of certain eye infections.
Dr. Blandford is a diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of many outstanding Pharmaceutical, Medical and Ophthalmic Associations.
Dr. Blandford practices ophthalmology with a special interest in cataract/implant surgery and refractive surgery.
William J. Curtis, M.D.
Dr. Curtis has been in practice with KEI since 1995, and has since been consistently named one of “America’s Top Ophthalmologists” by the Consumer Research Council of America.
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Dr. Bill Curtis was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and received his medical degree in 1988 from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He was then placed on active military duty and stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he completed his internship.
Dr. Curtis was then selected as the Brigade Surgeon for the largest combat brigade in Europe, the First Brigade of the Third Armored Division. He was stationed in Germany for four years. He proudly served in Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.
Following his military service, Dr. Curtis returned to Washington, D.C., where he completed his Ophthalmology residency at the prestigious Center for Sight at Georgetown University. He was then chosen for a fellowship in advanced cataract surgery with Dr. William J. Collis of the Kentucky Eye Institute.
The Curtis family quickly fell in love with Kentucky. Dr. Curtis has been in practice with KEI since 1995. He specializes in cataract/implant surgery, and has been consistently named one of “America’s Top Ophthalmologists” by the Consumer Research Council of America. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Johannes C. Evans, M.D.
Dr. Evans specializes in cataract/implant and refractive (LASIK/PRK) surgeries, with special interest and training in the field of oculoplastics, or plastic surgery of the eyelids.
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Dr. Evans received his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1978. In 1986, he completed medical school in Austria, following in his father’s footsteps. Dr. Evans returned to Washington, D.C. to continue his training as an ophthalmology resident at the prestigious Center for Sight at Georgetown University Medical Center, where his father has been the chairman of the Ophthalmology Department. He was named “Chief Resident” at the VA Hospital and D.C. General Hospital during his senior year. After his general ophthalmology training, Dr. Evans’ interest in the needs of his patients sent him to fellowship training in anterior segment surgery, with an emphasis on small incision “Rapid Recovery Micro Cataract Surgery.” This fellowship was completed through the Kentucky Eye Institute.
Dr. Evans is a diplomat of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is a member of: the AMA (American Medical Association), FCMA (Fayette County Medical Association), Lexington Academy of Ophthalmology and the KAEPS (Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons).
Dr. Evans specializes in cataract/implant and refractive (LASIK/PRK) surgeries. He also has a special interest and additional training in the field of oculoplastics or plastic surgery of the eyelids.
Bryant C. Evans, O.D.
Dr. Bryant Evans practices primary care optometry and is trained in using specialty contact lenses to help treat a variety of medical conditions.
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After receiving his Bachelor in Science degree in Business Administration from Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH in June 2009, Dr. Bryant Evans went on to receive his Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in June 2014.
His professional associations include his memberships with the Kentucky Optometric Association (KOA), and the American Optometric Association (AOA), which he joined as a student and continues today.
Dr. Evans’ clinical interests include myopia control, fitting specialty designed contact lenses, and using advances in technology to monitor early retina changes.
Paul Karpecki, O.D.
Dr. Karpecki has been a leader and pioneer in the field of Dry Eye Disease, for more than 20 years.
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Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO, received his doctor of optometry degree from Indiana University and completed a fellowship in medical cornea and refractive surgery in Kansas City in affiliation with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, now Salus University. He currently serves as Clinical Director, Advanced Ocular Surface Disease at Kentucky Eye Institute in Lexington KY.
Dr. Karpecki was appointed to the Delphi International Society at Wilmer-Johns Hopkins, which included the top 25 dry eye experts in the world and the National Eye Institute’s Dry Eye Committee to provide insights around dry eye and women. He also co-chaired the Dry Eye Summit for the profession, was a director in the CJO Optometric Dry Eye Guidelines for EyeCare, was recently selected for the DEWS II Diagnostic subcommittee and most recently appointed co-chair of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Symposium in 2016 taking place in Montpellier, France. He has over two decades experience in running some of the largest dedicated dry eye clinics in the United States.
A noted educator and author, Dr. Karpecki has provided over 1000 lectures at various meetings covering 4 continents. He has also authored over 1000 papers in journals, book chapters, clinical eblasts and newsletters.
He has previously served the following roles: President of the Optometric Cataract, Cornea and Refractive Society, Chairman of the AOA Topical Interest Group in Refractive Surgery, Co-Chair of the Integrated Eyecare delivery task force for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, Chair of the Kentucky Education Committee, Chair of the American Optometric Association Continuing Education Committee, the AOA Congress Committee and Vice President of the Ocular Surface Society of Optometry.
He currently serves as the Chief Clinical Editor for Review of Optometry, the most read journal in the profession, is director of clinical content and Chairs the New Technology and Treatment Conferences. He is also on the board for the charitable organization Optometry Giving Sight.
He is most proud of his faith, his wife Chandria and his three children including twin girls and a boy.
Kyle Ferguson, DO
Upon graduation from medical school, Dr. Ferguson completed his internship at the world-renowned Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia, PA.
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Dr. Kyle Ferguson was born in Lexington but has called Nicholasville, KY his home for most of his life. He brings KEI his diverse eye care background, having served as both an optician in his “younger days” and now as a surgical ophthalmologist, specializing in cataract, refractive, and ocular cancer surgeries. After a life-changing experience with his vision in middle school, Dr. Ferguson developed a passion for eye care. This passion he has turned into a lifelong mission to care for the vision needs of his fellow Kentuckians.
After Dr. Ferguson’s graduation from the University of Kentucky, where he played trumpet in the pep band for two national championship basketball teams, he worked for 15 years as an optician, advancing into the corporate structure of a global eyecare leader. After a few years away, Dr. Ferguson returned home to Nicholasville and worked in private optical practice. After encouragement from his wife, Dr. Ferguson went back to school and earned his medical degree from the University of Pikeville. Upon graduation from medical school, Dr. Ferguson completed his ocular oncology internship at the world-renowned Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia, PA.
After his internship, Dr. Ferguson completed his ophthalmic residency with an additional year of family practice training in and around New York City. Dr. Ferguson has a wide range of interests including UK athletics, outdoor activities, travel, and history. When not looking after his three sons and spending time with his wife, Dr. Ferguson enjoys flying – he has his private pilot’s license with advanced certifications too!
We are fortunate to have such a well-rounded and accomplished surgeon as part of the KEI family
Rebecca Harris, O.D.
Dr. Harris is a Diplomate with the American Board of Optometry, a member of the Kentucky Optometric Association and completed her ACOE residency in Ocular Disease.
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Dr. Harris, a Kentucky native, grew up in Somerset where her father is still practicing optometry. As a child, she witnessed the relationships her father developed with his patients and knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in optometry. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology at the University of Kentucky in 2005 and was then accepted into the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. Her clinical training included primary care, pediatrics, ocular disease and external rotations in both Central Kentucky and Tuscaloosa VAMC. Dr. Harris received her Doctorate of Optometry in 2009.
Dr. Harris furthered her education by completing her ACOE accredited residency in Ocular Disease at Vision America of Birmingham. It was in this multi-specialty referral center that Dr. Harris served as a part-time clinical preceptor and gained valuable experience in tertiary eye care. The focus on ocular disease proved useful as she has been providing eye care and co-managing with physicians in and around Central Kentucky since then. She is currently a Diplomate with the American Board of Optometry and is a member of the Kentucky Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association.
Dr. Harris and her husband, West Harris, DMD, (who operates his own dental practice in Lexington), currently reside in Versailles where West is a coach for the Woodford County High School baseball team. They are the proud parents of three daughters and one son, June, Gwen, Nora, and Owen. Dr. Harris and her husband also have two dogs that are as much family as their children and enjoy keeping up with Woodford County athletics and the Kentucky Wildcats.
Emily Nickell, O.D.
Emily Nickell completed her optometric training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry in 2018. She is also a graduate of the 2019 Kentucky Optometric Association’s Leadership Program, where she learned valuable skills involved in advocating for optometrists in Kentucky.
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Before working in Middlesboro, Dr. Nickell worked in private practices in both Mount Sterling and Stanton, Kentucky where she focused on primary care optometry, managing and co-managing cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and other diseases of the eye. She recently moved to the area from Mount Sterling with her fiancé, Tyler, who recently graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.
Originally from the hills of Eastern Kentucky, Dr. Nickell says Middlesboro feels just like home. She is excited to explore the area and hike the mountains with Tyler and their goldendoodle, Bentley! She says if you have any suggestions of fun outdoor things to do in the area, let her know when you see her!
Brent M. Kramer, O.D.
Brent Kramer is originally from Greenfield, Indiana He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana and earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) in May, 2020.
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Brent Kramer is originally from Greenfield, Indiana He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana and earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) in May, 2020. He is a member of the Kentucky Optometric Association and
American Academy of Optometry.
His optometric studies included rotations at a variety of medical centers, clinics, and private practices throughout Eastern Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and Indiana. His clinical interests include: pre and post-operative surgical care, dry eye disease, and using the latest technology to monitor retinal disease including macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Kramer joined Kentucky Eye Institute in March of 2021 and is currently seeing patients in our Versailles, Jackson, and London locations.
He is happy to call Kentucky his home away from home and is looking forward to becoming part of the communities KEI serves. He currently resides in Central Kentucky and enjoys traveling, golf, skiing, fishing, and doing just about anything outdoors with his Labrador Retriever, Boone.
Peter J. Blackburn, M.D.
Dr. Blackburn has a special interest in patients with ocular tumors, retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and uveitis.
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Dr. Peter Blackburn graduated from the University of Colorado in Denver medical school in 1997. Subsequently, he completed a year internship in internal medicine at Kettering Medical Center in Dayton Ohio in 1998 and finished his ophthalmology residency at the Rocky Mountain Lion’s Eye Institute at the University of Colorado in 2001. He then went on to complete a retina and vitreous fellowship at the University of Kentucky in 2003. Dr. Blackburn is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
After his training, he spent a year in private practice in Colorado before returning to the University of Kentucky Department of Ophthalmology, where he has been since 2004.
Besides his patient responsibilities at UK and elsewhere, Dr. Blackburn also provides patient services as an independent contractor at Kentucky Eye Institute’s Corbin, Kentucky practice location and other KEI locations as needed. He has a special interest in patients with ocular tumors, retinopathy of prematurity, age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and uveitis.
Dr. Blackburn spent most of his formative years in Colorado. He enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with his family.
Claire Fraser, M.D.
Dr. Fraser’s clinical interests include diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and epiretinal membrane.
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Claire Fraser graduated from Princeton University, and earned medical and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Weill Cornell Medical College and Rockefeller University. She completed her residency in Ophthalmology at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell, and a fellowship in VitreoRetinal Surgery at the University of Kentucky and Retina Associates of Kentucky. She is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Her clinical interests include diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, retinal vascular diseases, uveitis, trauma, and retinal detachment.
Peter Timoney, M.D.
Dr. Peter Timoney is the recipient of multiple ophthalmology and research awards and has contributed to numerous presentations, research projects and publications.
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Dr. Peter Timoney earned his medical degree at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He completed his residency at the University of Kentucky in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. His two-year ASOPRS oculoplastics fellowship was completed at Indiana University in Indianapolis and he currently serves as Director of Oculofacial Plastic & Orbital Surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Kentucky. His clinical interests are in the areas of congenital eyelid and orbital disorders, trauma to the orbital area, oculoplastic reconstruction, orbital tumor, droopy and malpositioned eyelids, and tearing / lacrimal outflow issues.
Dr. Timoney is a board certified ophthalmologist. He enjoys rowing, photography, traveling, and spending time with his wife, Andrea, and two children.
Daniel Moore, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Moore completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Washington, Seattle.
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Dr. Daniel Moore received his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He went on to receive fellowship training in glaucoma at Duke University. He has been practicing at the University of Kentucky since 2013, and provides services at the Kentucky Eye Institute’s Lexington Location since 2017. Dr. Moore is a board certified Ophthalmologist.
His interests are in the clinical and surgical management of glaucoma. He also participates in ongoing clinical research projects in glaucoma and other aspects of academic medicine. As the director of the ophthalmology residency program at UK, he is actively involved in education efforts.
Dr. Moore spent most of his childhood growing up nearby in Evansville, IN. He is a sports enthusiast and enjoys outdoor activities, exploring the Commonwealth and especially spending time with his family.
Makisha Maggard, O.D.
She received her Doctorate of Optometry in 2007 from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. Dr. Maggard has worked in private practice since 2007.
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Dr. Maggard and her family are from Buckhorn, KY, a small Eastern Kentucky town in the heart of Perry County. After graduating Buckhorn School in 1998, Dr. Maggard attended Georgetown College where she majored in biology and chemistry. Always interested in eye care, Dr. Maggard explored the field of optometry by first working as a technician in a Lexington-based optometric practice. While pursuing a master’s degree in public health at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Maggard made the decision to fuel her passion for eye care and attend optometry school. She received her Doctorate of Optometry in 2007 from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. Dr. Maggard has worked in private practice since 2007 and has also proudly held an appointment with the Lexington Veterans Administration Medical Center where she cared of our country’s veterans. She currently lives in Richmond with her husband Sam, who is the owner of an automotive repair business, and their two children Kendall and Carter. Dr. Maggard is excited to be closer to her home where she can actively serve the communities of Appalachia.
COME VISIT US
Our doctors and staff are excited to serve you!
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider. If you are seeking vision care services in Lexington, Kentucky and the surrounding areas, you have come to the right place. Kentucky Eye Institute has locations throughout Kentucky to make access to eye care more convenient. Our doctors are dedicated to creating the best possible outcomes. We are here for you!
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