Eye'll be seeing you

Some say the eyes are windows to our soul. Others say the eyes are our most valuable asset. Whatever the case may be, our eyes help us to perceive the world and experience life in a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and movement. Taking care of our eyes through regular checkups can ensure they continue to allow us to see the world in all its vibrant detail.

The team at Eye Love Spearfish, a member of Butte Electric Cooperative, a Basin Electric Class C member, knows all about eyes. Located in a stunning 780-squarefoot standalone building designed to resemble the original small white barn that once occupied the site, the family-owned and -operated optometry clinic has been serving the community of Spearfish, South Dakota, and the surrounding area since 2021, when Dr. Antwan Randolph’s passion for helping others was brought to life through his work as an optometrist.

“From a fairly young age, I wanted to pursue a career in Optometry,” Dr. Randolph says. “During my fourth year in Optometry school at Indiana University, I had the privilege of doing an externship in Ridgefield, Connecticut, with the team doctor of the New York Yankees and the New York Knicks. There I discovered my passion for a facet of my profession: sports vision and vision therapy.”

Dr. Randolph’s experience in Connecticut opened the door to the world of vision therapy and helping those with learning disabilities, eye-turns, acquired head injuries, and the study of light therapy. “It’s a field of my profession that never gets old. It’s always different because everyone’s brain works differently. It’s challenging and rewarding knowing that you’re a part of changing lives,” he says.

A native of Seattle, Washington, Dr. Randolph and his family of seven have been in Spearfish for the past four years. The optical clinic will celebrate its third year in November.

“I love owning my own business. My time is valuable to my family, and for me it’s priceless to be able to be in control of my schedule and be there for my family whenever I can,” he says.

Eye Love Spearfish has a team of three talented people and has roughly 1,000 clients. A day at the clinic typically includes eight comprehensive full eye exams and one or two vision therapy sessions, which are like physical therapy for the eyes. Eye health is critical at all stages of life, and the team serves all ages, from infants to seniors.

The optical clinic also includes a wide selection of contact lenses and frames, most unique to the clinic.

While each client is important, Dr. Randolph says there is one who stands out. “I remember helping one young client achieve depth perception when they initially had no depth perception or awareness,” he says. “I tell people, you have your goals and I have mine, and building your binocular vision is always high on my list, meaning they were unable to use both of their eyes as a team to achieve depth perception, and through therapy and glasses we got them to see in three dimension for the very first time in their life … pretty priceless.”

The work Dr. Randolph and his team do every day wouldn’t be possible without reliable electricity.

“Electricity is priceless in my business,” he says. “I pride myself on providing the latest technology to my clients, and without electricity none of it would work.”

“We’re very thankful and feel privileged to have the reliable services Butte Electric provides, and we’re also thankful for the people that we’ve interacted with; they’ve been nothing but helpful and professionals at what they do.”