Dr. Stanley Pletcher is a comprehensive ophthalmologist with a focus on oculoplastics. He has vast experience in cataract surgery and eyelid procedures such as blepharoplasty and ptosis repair (drooping eyelids). He also enjoys helping with lacrimal system issues for the patient with tearing.
He grew up in Elkhart, IN, where he attended Elkhart Central High School. He entered Goshen College and received his B.A. in biology in 1986. He then attended Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis where he received his M.D. degree.
Dr. Pletcher did an internship in Indianapolis at St. Vincent's Hospital in 1990-91. He then completed his residency in ophthalmology at Indiana University in 1994. Since residency, Dr. Pletcher has worked in Alaska as the Summer Emergency Ophthalmologist, and he practiced for three years in Harlan, KY, at the Harlan Appalachian Regional Healthcare Hospital. Ask him about his fun summer in Alaska taking care of unexpected fishing-related eye emergencies!
He joined Great Lakes Eye Care in 1997 and has been here full time except for 2010 - 2012 when he and his family spent two years serving in Ecuador, helping to start a eye surgery program at a mission hospital near the jungle. Since joining Great Lakes Eye Care, he has enjoyed performing all the oculoplastics procedures for the practice. Dr. Pletcher is board certified in ophthalmology, completing his 3rd certification in 2015.
Dr. Pletcher has gotten involved in many international endeavors and travels yearly to Ecuador working in a small clinic on the Colombian border in the north. He has been involved with training other ophthalmologists in a special mission technique for cataract surgery, known as manual small incision cataract surgery. He has also started a ministry called Christian Eye Network, that assists other ophthalmology practices to recruit like minded physicians. In addition, he started Global Sight Alliance, which is a nonprofit ministry helping eye care providers and others find meaningful mission information and opportunities.. Dr. Pletcher has been involved in the board of the Christian Ophthalmology Society and has recently stepped down from a 4-year term as the president of this society.
Most recently, he is the co-founder of eyeMobil Innovations. eyeMobil has been working to create mobile products for mission work, and their flagship product is the portable microscope. He has been proud of the portable surgeon's stool that he has helped to innovate.
Dr. Pletcher's wife, Shelley, is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a master's in community nursing. They have four children: Matthew, Erin, Jocelyn and Tori. They attend Riverside Church in South Bend. Currently Tori is involved in competitive dancing, keeping them busy cheering her on.
Dr. Pletcher Curriculum Vitae (CV)