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Donald McCormack, MD

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DEI-Button_Boulder-Medical-CenterDr. McCormack has earned his Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Foundational Certification.
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About Donald McCormack

Dr. Donald McCormack is originally from Ames, Iowa and joined Boulder Medical Center in 1993. As an ophthalmologist, Dr. McCormack specializes in comprehensive eye and vision care.

Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists and opticians in their levels of training and in the conditions they are trained to diagnose and treat. As a medical doctor who has completed college and nine years of additional medical training, Dr. McCormack is licensed to practice both clinical medicine and surgery. He diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, prescribes eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems, and performs a wide range of clinical procedures and more complicated eye surgeries. For the past 20 years, Dr. McCormack has also been involved in scientific research of new treatments for glaucoma and dry eye disease.

His interest in medicine flourished early when Dr. McCormack occasionally visited patients with his pediatrician father during high school. “My dad loved his job as a physician, so that made an impression on me,” he says. “I liked science in school and was intrigued that the things I learned could be applied to medicine. I’ve also always been detail-oriented and good with my hands. Becoming a doctor was a natural choice for me.”

As an ophthalmologist who treats patients of all ages and walks of life, Dr. McCormack enjoys connecting with all types of people. “I diagnose and treat newborns to older adults for a wide range of eye conditions and diseases,” he says.

After over 20 years practicing ophthalmology, Dr. McCormack is still fascinated by the human optical system. “The eye itself is impressive because many layers are transparent and I can often actually see what’s causing the problem for a patient,” he explains.

The eye can also be a window into medical issues and conditions that affect other parts of the body, according to Dr. McCormack. In addition to revealing conditions and diseases of the eye, a careful eye exam can also help diagnose diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, some rheumatologic and neurologic conditions, heart disease, and cancers.
“Because the eye is the only place where we can directly visualize blood vessels and nerves, we can often see how the optical system is affected in various ways by certain systemic diseases,” he explains.

In addition to appreciating the clinical aspects of ophthalmology, Dr. McCormack considers the practice a visually beautiful field of medicine. “The retina is bright orange with a weave of red arterioles and dark red veins running across it. Some cataracts look like they have holiday lights inside them, and certain conditions of the iris look like glowing spokes under the microscope.”

As Dr. McCormack continues a family tradition of providing personalized and thorough care to his patients, he is grateful for the opportunity to follow his lifelong passion for science and medicine and care for people at the same time. “I consider it an honor to be trusted with the care of my patients’ eyes and a great responsibility to provide the best care I can.”

Dr. McCormack and his wife, Alison, have three children. An oboist since the age of 10, he often plays for church services, receptions and weddings. He also enjoys sailing, hiking, skiing and refinishing furniture.

Specialty Areas

Dr. McCormack diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, prescribes eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems, and performs a wide range of clinical procedures and more complicated eye surgeries. He has special interests in treatments for dry eyes and glaucoma and has been a principal investigator in numerous clinical research trials for these conditions. He also performs laser surgery for glaucoma and retinal disease.

~ Glaucoma – medical and laser treatments
~ Diabetes – retinal laser surgery
~ Dry Eyes – medical treatments and punctal plugs
~ Glasses and Contact Lenses

Research Background — Dr. McCormack has been a Principal Investigator for 22 national clinical research trials to investigate new treatments for glaucoma, dry eye, and conjunctivitis

Education and Certifications

  • Undergraduate — Pomona College
    B.A., cum laude, phi beta kappa -- Anthropology and Primate Studies
    Claremont, CA
    1981

Professional Affiliations

Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Boulder County Medical Society
Colorado Medical Society

Recent Donald McCormack Posts

Smoke from western fires is expected to linger in Boulder County this fall. What can you do when wildfire smoke causes eye problems? Ophthalmologist Dr. Donald McCormack talks about ways that you can get relief from eye irritation caused by smoke.

by Dr. Donald McCormack, MD Ophthalmology Specialist at Boulder Medical Center Dry eyes is a common condition in Colorado during…

by Dr. Donald McCormack, MD Ophthalmologist at Boulder Medical Center Dry Eyes and Dry Eye Disease are common maladies in…

Ophthalmologist Donald McCormack, MD defines the difference between “classic” and ocular migraines shares, symptoms, triggers, and treatments.

Many eye conditions — potentially blinding ones — don’t have early symptoms. And some serious diseases that affect other systems…

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