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Terry Spencer, MD
Dr. Spencer lives in Rapid City with his wife, Heather, and two sons, Keegan and Jared. He was born in Santa Clara, CA. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Idaho State University and his medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Spencer continued his education by receiving an Ophthalmic Pathology and Intraocular Lens Research Fellowship from the University of Utah Moran Eye Center. He then completed a Internal Medicine Internship from the University of Utah School of Medicine and Affiliated Hospitals and an Ophthalmology Residency from the University of Utah Moran Eye Center. He has special interest in cataract surgery using presbyopia correcting intraocular lenses and in difficult or complicated cataract surgery. He has experience using the IFS Advanced Femtosecond Laser and also has expertise with Phakic Intraocular Lenses. Having performed thousands of cataract and refractive procedures, the Laser Vision Center is excited to have a surgeon of Dr. Spencer's caliber join our team.
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Stephen Khachikian, MD
Dr. Khachikian lives in Rapid City with is wife, Sonali, and daughter, Maya. He was born in Brooklyn, NY.
He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree and graduated with honors from Siena College in Upstate New York, before pursuing medical school at Albany Medical College. Dr. Khachikian continued his medical career in Albany completing his Ophthalmology Residency and Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery Fellowship.
Dr. Khachikian has performed extensive clinical research in the areas of keratoconus, corneal topography and endothelial keratoplasty. His work with Dr. Michael Belin helped define a new reference surface for elevation based corneal topography as well as new screening criteria for subclinical keratoconus. This research has resulted in an award from the Corneal Society and multiple publications and international presentations.
Dr. Khachikian provides medical and surgical management of corneal disease, cataract surgery, and refractive surgery.
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Paul Zimmerman, MD
Dr. Zimmerman lives in Rapid City with his wife, Kristina. He has three grown children and seven grandchildren.
He was born in Hamilton, Montana. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University. After receiving his Bachelor's degree, Dr. Zimmerman served four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He then received his Master of Science degree from Portland State University and completed medical school at Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine.
Following medical school, Dr. Zimmerman did an internship and his ophthalmology residency at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. He then went on to the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Doheny Eye Institute in Los Angeles, California where he did a fellowship in uveitis.
After all of his education, he returned to Salt Lake City and became an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center. He directed the residency training program while maintaining his general and subspecialty practice.
Dr. Zimmerman joined the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute in 2002. He is dedicated to personally caring for patients throughout the preoperative, surgical and postoperative experience and loves to teach. He has an active cataract and uveitis practice and successful refractive surgery practice using the latest advances in technology. In fact, he is a refractive surgery patient himself, having had Conductive Keratoplasty in 2003. He also participates in clinical research studies with the other ophthalmologists at the Eye Institute.
Outside of his rewarding profession, Dr. Zimmerman enjoys golf, tennis, hunting, and spending time with his family.
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Scott Schirber, OD
Dr. Schirber lives in Rapid City with his wife, Laura. They have three dogs - a chocolate Lab, a Lab-Boxer mix and a Dachshund.
He was born and raised in South Dakota and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in May of 2000. He completed optometry school at Pacific University College of Optometry in Oregon in 2004.
During Dr. Schirber's final year of optometry school, he had LASIK surgery. Like many of our patients, he was unable to wear contact lenses, disliked his glasses and desired clear vision for many of the activities he enjoys. Dr. Schirber's pre-LASIK prescription was for severe nearsightedness and astigmatism.
The procedure went well and Dr. Schirber was able to see without glasses the next day. He now enjoys life without the hassle of glasses.
After completing his education, Dr. Schirber moved to Minneapolis, where he worked at one of the busiest laser centers in the country. He spent three years there caring for approximately 40,000 patients who underwent laser eye surgery. He also found time to get married and became a "dog person" by adopting his wife's two dogs and getting one of his own.
Having grown up in the Black Hills, he always wanted to return to the area. Strong family ties also drew him back. In October 2007, he moved to Rapid City to become the Laser Center Director at the Eye Institute.
Out of the office, Dr. Schirber enjoys being a struggling golfer, riding his bike for exercise and transportation (he's one of those bicycle commuters you see in the morning...please Share the Road!), and spending time with his family. He looks forward to getting to know you and your family. He hopes to be able to help you enjoy the benefits of laser eye surgery just as he has.