Why ICO?
As a student, I loved being part of the ICO family. When it came time to decide what to do after residency, teaching was a natural fit for my strengths. At ICO, there are so many opportunities for students to discover their talents and to grow as clinicians, colleagues, and friends. You will end your ICO journey as a confident, prepared, and capable optometrist.
Biography
Dr. Sicks graduated magna cum laude from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2006 with a BA in Biology. She received her OD from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2010 and went on to complete a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. While in Oklahoma, she was certified in and performed therapeutic anterior segment laser and minor surgical procedures. Currently, Dr. Sicks serves as an attending optometrist for third- and fourth-year interns in the Cornea Center for Clinical Excellence. She is also involved in the didactic training of students in specialty contact lenses and ophthalmic surgical procedures including injections, minor surgical procedures, and anterior segment laser therapy. She has delivered continuing education and presented research and posters at both local and national optometry meetings. Dr. Sicks is Chair of the Faculty-Student Liaison Committee for the American Academy of Optometry and also serves on their Leadership Task Force. She is a member of the Communications Committee for the Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators. She is also a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach.
Special Interests
Specialty contact lenses, keratoconus, corneal dystrophies, meibomian gland dysfunction, ocular surface disease, phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, pediatric dry eye, myopia management, orthokeratology
Education
2011 Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, Cornea and Contact Lens Residency
2010 Illinois College of Optometry, OD
2006 Illinois Wesleyan University, BA
Experience
2021-present Matthew E. Schmidt, MD and Associates
2014-2015 Children’s and Family Eyecare (Mary Lou French, OD and Associates)
2013-present Illinois College of Optometry
2011-2013 Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry
Awards & Honors
2015 Dr. Rodger Kame Award, American Optometric Association Cornea and Contact Lens Section
2011 George W. Mertz Contact Lens Residency Award, American Optometric Foundation
2010 Heart of American Contact Lens Society Grant Award
2010 Clinical Excellence Award, Illinois College of Optometry
2009 Robert D. Newcomb Fellowship for Leadership, American Academy of Optometry
Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society
Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society
Professional Organizations
American Academy of Optometry (Fellow)
International Association of Contact Lens Educators (Fellow)
Scleral Lens Education Society (Fellow)
American Optometric Association
Illinois Optometric Association
Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators
Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach
Publications
Sicks LA and Harthan JS. Phlyctenular Keratoconjunctivitis: a Teaching Case Report. Optometric Education. 2021;47(1).
Bradley CS, Sicks LA, Pucker AD. Common ophthalmic preservatives in soft contact lens care products: benefits, complications, and a comparison to non-preserved solutions. Clinical Optometry. 2021;13:271.
Harthan JS, Sicks LA. Sutureless amniotic membranes (Prokera) for filamentary keratitis: A case series. Journal of Dry Eye Disease. 2019 May 9;2(1):e10-6.
