I enjoy being able to perform cataract surgery and give my patients the wonderful vision they may not have enjoyed in years. The gratitude they show me, even years later, is very humbling.

D. Brad Stuckenschneider, MD, FACS

– Brad Stuckenschneider, MD, FACS

cataract and laser surgeon

D. Brad Stuckenschneider, MD, FACS

I enjoy being able to perform cataract surgery and give my patients the wonderful vision they may not have enjoyed in years. The gratitude they show me, even years later, is very humbling.

– Dr. Brad Stuckenschneider

cataract and laser surgeon

Get to know Dr. Brad Stuckenschneider

Brad Stuckenschneider, MD, FACS moved to the Poplar Bluff, Mo. area in 1998 after five years of practice in St. Louis. In May of 2003, he joined Eye Care Specialists as the director of our Poplar Bluff facility helping expand the multiple services offered by our practice in the Poplar Bluff area.  As a general ophthalmologist, Dr. Brad Stuckenschneider performs comprehensive eye exams, treats a wide range of eye diseases and conditions, and performs cataract, eyelid, and glaucoma surgery.
Dr. Brad Stuckenschneider sees patients for regular appointments at our Poplar Bluff location on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and travels to Piedmont every other Thursday. Every Tuesday and every other Thursday he performs surgery at the Black River Medical Surgery Center.
In his spare time, you can find Dr. Brad Stuckenschneider watching his son’s baseball games, having tea parties with his young daughter, running in distance competitions with his wife, or simply enjoying family time at home in Poplar Bluff.

What is the difference between an ophthalmologist and optometrist?

Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists in their level of training and in what they can diagnose and treat.

After an undergraduate degree, an ophthalmologist pursues a medical degree (MD) or doctor of osteopathy degree (DO). After four years of medical school and a year internship in general medicine, ophthalmologists spend a minimum of three years in a university and hospital-based residency specializing in ophthalmology.

Having completed medical school, ophthalmologists are often more aware of how different diseases may affect the eye and how different findings from an eye examination may indicate serious disease elsewhere in the body. They are licensed to practice medicine and perform surgery. General ophthalmologists, such as Dr. Brad Stuckenschneider, diagnose and treat a wide range of eye conditions and diseases, prescribe glasses and contacts, and perform surgery.

After an undergraduate degree, an optometrist spends four years in a college of optometry to pursue a doctor of optometry degree (OD) (not to be confused with DO, an osteopathic physician). A college of optometry educates students primarily about the eyes and does not provide a comprehensive education regarding the rest of the body and systemic diseases that an MD or DO is required to learn.

An optometrist can perform eye exams, diagnose eye disease and conditions, and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. They can treat some eye conditions by prescribing eye drops but optometrists are not licensed to perform surgery. If extensive treatment or surgery of an eye disease or complex eye condition is needed, an optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist.

Here is an interesting article from Reader’s Digest detailing medical diseases an eye doctor may diagnose in a routine eye exam: Shocking Diseases That Eye Doctors Find First.

DR. BRAD STUCKENSCHNEIDER: EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE

CREDENTIALS

Click the item to expand the detail.

Board Certified

Board certification indicates that beyond his or her basic medical license, an entity recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties has certified the surgeon to practice within his or her specialty. For ophthalmology, this entity is the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). The ABO certifies the surgeon has completed specific training and continuing education related to the specialty. Click here for an informative video explaining ABO certification.

The American Colleges of Surgeons

The suffix FACS indicates that a surgeon is a "fellow" of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The ACS was established in 1913 with the mission to improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The organization sets high standards for surgical education and practice. A fellow of the ACS has passed rigorous evaluation and his or her education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct meet the high standards required by the College.

AFFILIATIONS

The following affiliations help Dr. Brad stay abreast of technological advancements in ophthalmology and cataract surgery.

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

The mission of the AAO is to advance the lifelong learning and professional interests of ophthalmologists (Eye M.D.s) to ensure that the public can obtain the best possible eye care. The AAO provides information and tools we utilize to educate our patients.

Missouri Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons

The mission of MoSEPS is to represent Missouri ophthalmology by providing educational opportunities, legislative advocacy, and practice enhancement to members such that quality medical and surgical eye care is promoted for the citizens of Missouri.

EDUCATION

Residency: Ophthalmology

Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Internship: General Medicine / Internal Medicine

St. Mary’s Health Center
St. Louis, Missouri

Medical School

University of Missouri, Columbia
Columbia, Missouri

Doctor of Medicine

Graduate School

St. Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri

Department of Physiology

Undergraduate

St. Louis University
St. Louis, Missouri

Bachelor of Science – Biology

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Rosalie Tilles Scholar, St. Louis University

Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement in Neuroscience, University of Missouri

Recipient of the Retina Award at the Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute

Recipient of the Jack Copeland Memorial Award for Outstanding Presentation of Research Project at the Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute

Presenter at the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Ocular Findings Following Bone Marrow Transplantation

Member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

Graduated Cum Laude at Univesity of Missouri, Columbia Medical School

Graduated Magna Cum Laude at St. Louis University

Ophthalmic Services

Caring for the needs of your Special Eyes!

Eye Care Specialists

Caring for the needs of your SPECIAL EYES!