LITTLE ROCK EYE CLINIC (WEST)

After graduating valedictorian from Smackover High School in southern Arkansas, Dr. Blair initially pursued pre-veterinary medicine at Oklahoma State until she switched to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville where she changed majors and received an associate degree in nursing.  She then worked as a nurse while completing a bachelor’s degree in microbiology at Fayetteville and then a medical degree from UAMS.  As an honor bestowed by her peers in medical school, she was awarded the Winston K. Shorey Award, which is given to the medical school senior who most fully demonstrates the qualities of an ideal physician.  She was also elected to the honor societies of Phi Beta Kappa in college and Alpha Omega Alpha in medical school.  Dr. Blair then completed her ophthalmology residency at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. and went on to do further specialty fellowship training in Cornea and External Disease at the University of Texas, Southwestern, in Dallas.

Upon completion of her fellowship, Dr. Blair was fortunate to return back to her native state of Arkansas where she has been in practice for nearly 25 years, first in her own practice at Pleasant Valley Ophthalmology and then at Little Rock Eye Clinic in their West office location.  While her main interest is in the medical treatment of cornea diseases and dry eyes, she also maintains a busy general ophthalmology practice of routine exams for glasses and contact lens (including difficult contact lens fits) and evaluation/medical treatment of diseases of the eyes, including glaucoma and diabetic eye exams.  She also does certain lasers of the eye, including laser vision correction.  While she no longer does cataract and cornea out-patient surgery, she manages both the pre-operative and post-operative care of these conditions.

She has been selected or been a finalist of the Best of the Best Award for Ophthalmology in Central Arkansas for 3 different years.  She is a board certified member of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Blair finds it a joy to be able to improve a patient’s quality of life by improving or maintaining their vision.  She recently had a heart’s desire to be a mom come to pass with the adoption of her daughter, Sophia, from Bulgaria.  She has donated her time and resources to local outreach programs that provide ophthalmic care to those without means to access eye care.  Her faith is the foundation of her life and she enjoys attending Fellowship Bible Church, as well as her hobbies of traveling, photography, tea tasting, outdoor activities, developing friendships with international students through International Friendship Outreach and spending fun time with Sophia.

Dr. Criswell was born and raised an Arkansas Razorback. She grew up in Van Buren, AR and received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Criswell then attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN where she earned her Doctor of Optometry degree. Before graduating, she completed externships with The Eye Center in Fayetteville, AR and Cool Springs Eyecare in Nashville, TN. She is an active member of the Arkansas Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. Dr. Criswell specializes in primary eye care. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Milo. She also enjoys hiking, cooking, and going to the lake.