Enhancing Lives… With Vision
Top Flight Medical Education
After finishing a top flight medical education, Dr Garrett had many offers in larger cities and prestigious medical institutions for a place to practice, but instead, he decided to relocate to the rural area of Northern Wisconsin-Northern Michigan as he saw a "chance to really make a difference" and to be able to "bring big city medicine to a small area".
Since 1979, Dr. John Michael Garrett has dedicated his practice to restoring vision. Recognizing that the quality of your vision affects the quality of your life is why Dr. Garrett and Dr. Hartwig provide the newest advances in today’s eye care.
Some of the conditions that both Dr. Garrett and Dr. Hartwig treat include: cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disease, and diabetic eye disease. Dr. Garrett also provides laser vision correction for near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism.
Experienced:
There is absolutely nothing more important than a surgeon's experience. Dr. Garrett pioneered the use of small incision cataract surgery by the modern phacoemulsification technique in this region as he was the very first Surgeon to use this technique in Upper Michigan and the entire state of Wisconsin. Dr. Garrett now has over 30 years of experience performing well over 30,000 successful cataract surgeries. In recognition of Dr. Garrett’s leading use of the Crystalens, Bausch and Lomb recently presented him with the National Center of Excellence Award. Dr. Garrett has also performed thousands of other eye surgeries including corneal, glaucoma, and laser surgeries.
Proven Leader
Dr. Garrett was the first Ophthalmologist in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin to:
- Create a free standing Ambulatory Surgery Center dedicated to Ophthalmology
- Perform small-incision cataract surgery
- Perform bi-manual micro-incision cataract surgery
- Introduce SLT laser treatment of glaucoma
- Perform laser vision correction for nearsightedness
- Implant the accommodative IOL (Crystalens) in cataract surgery
Overseas and pro bono work
Recognizing the need to provide eye care to those that cannot afford it, Dr. Garrett, for more than 25 years in a row, has donated his time to volunteer eye surgery in Africa, Central America, and other third world countries annually, through organizations such as the Christian Eye Ministry. Dr. Garrett feels that this experience helps not only those patients who are actually having the surgery overseas, but also his local surgical patients due to the sheer volume of surgery that he performs in these needy counties. For instance, when last in Honduras he performed 18 corneal transplants in one week. While in Africa, he has performed hundreds of trabeculectomy surgeries for glaucoma. This serves to further hone and sharpen his surgical skills to better serve his community at home.
Also, for the past 21 years, Dr. Garrett and his staff have participated in Mission Cataract Surgery Day by providing free surgery, pre-operative care, and post-operative care to patients who have no health insurance or who are suffering from financial difficulties. In addition to assisting Dr. Garrett with Mission Cataract, Dr. Hartwig participates in providing free eye care through VISION USA™ and InfantSEE® programs endorsed by the American Optometric Association.
Ambulatory Surgical Center
Garrett Eye Center’s Ambulatory Surgical Center was opened in 1987. It is still the first and only ambulatory surgical center in the area dedicated to the treatment of eyes. Over 1,000 surgeries are performed yearly in the surgical center. There is an experienced anesthesiologist on site. The surgical center offers convenient, highest quality surgical care at a fraction of the cost of a hospital. Since the nurses and technicians specialize only in ophthalmology, Dr. Garrett enjoys a higher level of support to deliver world class results.
Advantages of the Ambulatory Surgery Center
- Specialized. Well trained nurses and technicians that specialize only in eye surgery allowing greater specialized expertise.
- Intimate. Smaller friendly facility allows more intimate experience for the patient
- Cost saving. We maintain high standards of safety and a sterile environment, while operating at a fraction of the cost of a hospital. This saves patients, insurance companies, and the government thousands of dollars each year.
- Dependable. Scheduled surgery times are not likely to be delayed or bumped by non-related emergencies, as they may be at hospitals
- Efficient. Turn-around time between surgeries is as much as three times faster than at hospitals, which means less waiting for patients and families.
- Comfortable. Patients and their families can relax in a pleasant environment, far from the emergency and trauma situations one may witness in a hospital.
- Advanced. The Garrett Eye Center offers the latest high-tech medical equipment and the most advanced surgical tools available today.
- Family Viewing. Family members are allowed to watch the the actual surgery via closed circuit TV if desired by the patient.
- Confidential. The smaller, controlled setting lends itself toward greater confidentiality.
Welcome to Garrett Eye Center
John Michael Garrett M.D. graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1973. After completing a 2-year Internship and Internal Medicine Residency at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Dr. Garrett completed a 3 year residency in Ophthalmology at the Medical College of Georgia, in Augusta. He followed this with a fellowship in microsurgery, including Phaco-emulsification cataract removal and corneal transplant techniques under Richard Schulze M.D., in Savannah, Georgia. Upon completion, he began an Ophthalmology practice here in Iron Mountain, opening in January 1979.
Welcome to Garrett Eye CenterCenter of Excellence For Crystalens
The Crystalens® advantage unlike standard cataract replacement lenses, Crystalens® lenses correct your cataracts and give you back your full range of vision. Crystalens® is the first and only FDA-approved accommodating intraocular lens that uses the natural focusing ability of the eye. The lens flexes like your eye's natural lens, allowing you to see better at all distances.
Crystalens3D-Eye Online
If you are interested in learning more about the procedures offered by Dr. Garrett and the staff at Garrett Eye Center, please visit our 3D-EYE ONLINE Video library. You will be able to watch animations of the procedures offered in our Iron Mountain, MI office and Ambulatory Surgical Center.
Click the link below to view our videos.
3D-Eye OnlineAmbulatory Surgical Center
Garrett Eye Center’s Ambulatory Surgical Center opened in 1987, and is the first and only ambulatory surgical center in the area. Over 1,000 surgeries are performed per year in the surgical center. We have a certified anesthesiologist on site. The surgical center offers convenient, cost effective treatment with a well-trained staff, specializing in ophthalmology.
Click the link below to learn more about our Ambulatory Surgical Center
Ambulatory Surgical CenterGlaucoma Treatments (SLT)
It is estimated that almost three million Americans have glaucoma. Half of these people are not aware that they have the disease. It is important to make an appointment with Dr. Garrett for a comprehensive eye examination to determine if you could be at risk for Glaucoma. Dr Garrett specializes in SLT laser treatment. SLT is a therapy that uses a special laser to reduce the pressure in the eye. It is usually painless, and the treatment takes a few minutes.
Glaucoma Treatments (SLT)Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes is a condition in which the body’s ability to process and store sugar has been impaired. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. People with untreated diabetes are said to be 25 times more at a risk for blindness than the general population. This is why it is important to schedule an appointment with Dr. Garrett for a diabetic eye examination if you believe you may be at risk for Diabetic Retinopathy. To learn more about the symptoms and treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy click the Learn More button below.
Diabetic RetinopathyDesignated ILASIK Surgery Center
Until recently, glasses and contacts were the only options available to correct vision. With the latest advances in technology and surgical procedures there are several new options available to correct vision problems including iLASIK! The Garrett Eye Center also offers free LASIK screenings for patients! Take advantage of this opportunity to speak with Dr.Garrett or Dr. Hartwig about the entire LASIK experience.
ILASIK