Focusing on a career

Michael W. Zolman gave serious thought after college to becoming a doctor.

He worked in a hospital for a year while pondering his next move, and after a while, the right career for him came into focus.

Zolman, 30, decided to become an optometrist. Because his father also was an optometrist, the younger Zolman initially had rejected the idea in favor of doing something different.

"I wanted to be an M.D.," he recalled.

But after a year of working around doctors, he realized the profession wasn't his calling. "The hospital made me realize it was the last place I wanted to be. I didn't like the sadness of people dying and telling people bad news every day," he explained.

Zolman, who just opened his own office, Infinity Eye Care, at 325 Folly Road, decided he wanted to spend his life helping improve and restore lost sight for others.

"Now I get to tell people good news and get them seeing again," he said of his chosen profession.

A Knoxville, Tenn., native, Zolman earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Tennessee, then graduated from Nova Southeastern College of Optometry in Florida. He decided to work in the Lowcountry after visiting several times earlier in his life.

In addition to operating his shop, Zolman divides his time between optometry outlets at the J.C. Penney stores in Charleston and North Charleston and at the Medical University of South Carolina Storm Eye Institute's Feldberg Center for Vision Rehabilitation.

Zolman is also a volunteer for the Special Olympics and, with other volunteers, the Lions Club and commercial sponsors, helps special-needs children get free eye exams, lens prescriptions and glasses.

Zolman said he first got involved with Special Olympics while at optometry college. "I was a little reluctant to do it at first, but I found out I absolutely loved the feeling of helping other people," he said.

He said he contacted the local Special Olympics organization when he moved to James Island three years ago, and is co-clinical director for the organization with Dr. Jennifer Smith of Charleston.

Zolman said nothing gives him as much of a thrill as helping improve someone's sight or restore lost sight.

Thanks in part to new high-tech gadgets, magnifiers, lenses and hand-held eye pieces, some people have regained precious abilities to care for themselves and to read, he said.

As a low-vision specialist, Zolman helps clients whose vision became impaired or lost due to glaucoma, detached retina, macular degeneration or other problems.

He said a person's remaining visual abilities are carefully analyzed, and plans are made for using the abilities aided, when necessary, by filters, corrective lenses and illuminating magnifiers.

"I take what they have remaining and work with it," he said.

He said it's a joy to see someone who had been unable to read, cook, sew or even tend to their own personal needs able to do those things again. Zolman said he's helped some people that other optometrists were unable to.

"Some have been told nothing else can be done. Thankfully, that's not always the case."

In one case dear to Zolman, he said he helped an elderly woman recover her ability to continue her favorite pursuit: reading the Bible. "It is really special when you can do that for someone," he said.

"We use our eyes every single day. When you don't have the ability to use your eyes, it changes your life," he added.

Reach Edward C. Fennell at 937-5560 or efennell@postandcourier.com.