CORDELE — What is the first thing most people do when they wake up? They see what is around them.

It may be the alarm clock where they see how to hit the snooze button, or a shirt that may or may not match the pair of pants they want to wear. For some people, however, seeing is not that simple.

Dr. William Chancey has been an optometrist in the Cordele area for some 40 years. He has dedicated his life to ensuring that those having difficulty ‘seeing the fine print’ get the help they need.

Optometrists are the main providers of vision care in a community. Becoming an optometrist takes six to seven years. Dr. Chancey studied both at Emory University and Southern College of Optometry in Tennessee.

Through eye examinations, optometrists are able to diagnose a wide variety of vision problems such as nearsightedness and farsightedness. They also p rovide vision therapy, prescribe glasses and contact lenses for those who need them.

The most typical service is a routine eye examination. There are many types of equipment that they use to assess vision, the movements of the eye, eye alignment, pupil light response, possible eye injuries and the general health of the eyes.

“Everything is automated now,” said Dr. Chancey. “There are instruments designed to assist in checking for glaucoma. There are even video magnifiers available for patients suffering from macular degeneration.

For example, if a patient who suffers from macular degeneration cannot read the information on his prescription bottles, the bottle can be placed under the video magnifier, and the print can be blown up on a screen until it is large enough for the patient to read.

If necessary, Dr. Chancey refers patients to opthamologists when they have eye diseases or the need for surgery.

“With all the new innovations in eye care, most people can have good vision as long as they wish,” he said.

Dr. Chancey tries to help those with vision needs in a variety of ways. He accepts all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

He credits the success of his practice to his workers, “I have the nicest, sweetest staff. I do not know what I would do without Dena and Sharon. My wife Jo, whom I love, is the office manager and runs the entire office. She has always been a great asset to my practice.”

Dr. Chancey recommends everyone have regular eye exams.

“It is important to take care of your eyes and protect your vision,” he says. “There are many things that can damage your eyes and hurt your sight. UV rays in the sun can cause damage to one’s eyes. Smoking and obesity are detrimental to your sight. Systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure can also cause problems.”