Dr. J. Rex Parent, MD

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Get to know Ophthalmologist Dr. J. Rex Parent, who serves patients in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Parent, specializes in cataract and refractive surgeries in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is the President & CEO of The Eye Center of Fort Wayne, striving to provide each patient with the best eye care possible. 

The Eye Center of Fort Wayne is a comprehensive medical and surgical eye clinic that offers complete medical eye examinations by specialists in the field of ophthalmology. This includes the diagnosis, management, and treatment of eye diseases, featuring in-house surgery in the state-of-the-art surgical center. The Center is Northeast Indiana’s first nationally accredited ambulatory surgical center, devoted exclusively to eye surgery.

With a focus on preserving eyesight, Dr. Parent is the first eye surgeon in northeast Indiana to perform Custom LASIK, RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange), RELACS (Refractive Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery) and IOLs (Multifocal Intraocular Lenses). In fact, he was one of eleven ophthalmologists in the United States (out of 17,500 ophthalmologists) who participated in the national study leading to FDA approval for the first multifocal IOL and the first surgeon in the Midwest to implant a multifocal IOL.

The doctor’s acclaimed career in medicine began after he earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1977. He then went on to complete his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky. 

He first performed LASIK in Brazil in 1995, prior to FDA approval in the United States. He has also participated in early scientific exchanges between China and the United States and has done teaching and humanitarian work in Guatemala and Honduras. For his frequent participation in medical humanitarian missions abroad, he has been presented a “Tribute from the Heart” Award from the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the United States of America.

Continually staying abreast of the latest developments in eye care, Dr. Parent is board-certified in ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology, an independent, non-profit organization responsible for certifying ophthalmologists in the United States of America. He is also the recipient of the Physician Recognition Award from the American Medical Association.

Among his professional affiliations, he is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Intraocular Lens Implant Society, the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgical Society, the Society For Excellence in Eyecare, the Fort Wayne Medical Society, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

With a reputation for excellence, Dr. Parent has lectured extensively in the United States, South Africa, and throughout Europe at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He has also authored numerous medical journal articles on advanced cataract and refractive surgical techniques and has been involved in several approval studies for various cataract surgery devices.

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Ophthalmologists are experts in the diseases, functions, and anatomy of the eye. They may provide routine care such as vision testing, as well as prescribe and fit eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, ophthalmologists are also surgeons. They repair traumatic injuries to the eye and perform cataract, glaucoma, and corneal surgery.

An authority in his field, Dr. Parent has been selected by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America”, listed as one of “America’s Top Ophthalmologists”, selected as “One of Indiana’s Favorite Physicians”, selected as a “Top Ophthalmologist in Indiana”, and selected as “The Top Ophthalmologist in Fort Wayne.” 

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