Patrick Vollmer, OD, FAAO

Director of Clinic + Research

Dr. Patrick Vollmer is an award-winning author, international speaker, and principal investigator for emerging ophthalmic drugs seeking FDA approval. Dr. Vollmer founded Vita Eye Clinic in 2016 and Core, Inc (his clinical research company) in 2020. He specializes in comprehensive eye exams, contact lenses, eye emergencies/eye trauma and ocular disease.

He is passionate about emergency medicine, ophthalmic diseases, diabetic and hypertensive eye pathology, glaucoma, co-management of systemic diseases, pharmacology, macular degeneration, and neuro-ophthalmic pathology. In order to take the very best care of your eyes, the clinic is equipped with the most cutting edge medical technologies found in the industry to date.

Dr. Vollmer lives locally in Shelby with his fiancé (Anna) and two dogs (Bentley + Ellie), who are widely recognized and entertained by all patients who enter the clinic doors.

  • Awards
    • Top-300 Innovators in Optometry- Primary Care Optometry News, Healio
    • Top 50 Up-and-Coming Practitioners/Researchers in the United States- Primary Care Optometry News, Healio
  • Education
    • Post-Doctoral: Stanford Graduate School of Business
    • Residency- (Hospital) WJB Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, SC
    • Doctorate: Indiana University
    • Undergraduate: Appalachian State University
  • Clinical Research
    • Ophthalmic Assessments of Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye in Patients Suffering from Self-Reported or Clinician Diagnosed Dry Eye Disease
    • A Phase 3, Multi-Centered, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of SkQ1 Ophthalmic Solution in the Environment and During Challenge in the Controlled Adverse Environment (CAE) Model for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome
    • The RENEW Trial: A Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Masked, Parallel-Group, Vehicle-Controlled, Adaptive Phase 3 Clinical Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Reproxalap 0.25% Ophthalmic Solution Compared to Vehicle in Subjects with Dry Eye Disease
    • A Phase 3, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of 0.25% HL036 Ophthalmic Solution Compared to Placebo in Subjects with Dry Eye
    • A Multi-Center, Double-Masked, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Dupilumab in Patients with Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis (AKC)
    • A Multi-Centered, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of 0.1% RGN-259 Ophthalmic Solutions for the Treatment of Dry Eye Using the Controlled Adverse Environmental (CAE) Model (ARISE-3)
    • A Phase 3, Multi-Center, Randomized, Controlled, Double-Masked, Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of OC-01 (varenicline) Nasal Spray on Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease (The ONSET-2 Study)
    • A Phase 3, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Masked, Vehicle-Controlled Clinical Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of 1% Tavilermide and 5% Tavilermide Ophthalmic Solutions for the Treatment of Dry Eye
  • Publications + Posters
    • Review of Optometry: 2020 Clinical Guide to Ophthalmic Drugs
    • Review of Optometry: 2019 Clinical Guide to Ophthalmic Drugs
    • Review of Optometry: 2018 Clinical Guide to Ophthalmic Drugs
    • Review of Optometry: 2017 Clinical Guide to Ophthalmic Drugs
    • Melton, Thomas, and Vollmer’s 21st Century Perspective on Glaucoma Patient Care
    • Chronic Myeloid Leukemic Infiltrative Retinopathy, AAOPT
    • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Metastasis to the Right Lateral Rectus, SECO
    • Optic Neuritis as an Initial Presentation in the Setting of Multiple Sclerosis, SCO
    • Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus, AAOPT

Randall Thomas, OD, MPH, FAAO