Marple residents don’t have to go far to find a friendly, competent and caring eye doctor. Dr. Michael Allodoli of Broomall Eye Care is a local optometrist who has been providing relationship-based eye care right here in Broomall since 2006. Over the past several decades, he has built trusting relationships with his patients who return year after year and recommend his practice to our friends and neighbors.
Dr. Allodoli grew up in Overbrook and graduated from Malvern Preparatory School, where he especially enjoyed his math and science classes. He furthered his education at Temple University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After Temple University, he earned his master’s degree in Biology from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and in 1988 he became a Doctor of Optometry.
Dr. Allodoli’s early career was in the retail eyeglass business, where he performed eye exams and prescribed eyeglasses. He found the job to be fast-paced and enjoyable, but ultimately what was missing was forming a personal connection with patients. “Jumping from one appointment to the next didn’t allow much time to get to know any of my patients,” he explained.
Looking for that personal connection sparked Dr. Allodoli to shift gears and open up his own practice. Since opening Broomall Eye Care in 2006, he’s been providing services including eye exams, treatment and eyeglasses. Dr. Allodoli said that working for himself has been very fulfilling. “In my own practice, everything is much more personal. When patients come back, they know they’ll get to see me again, year after year.”
That personal connection was even more important during the Covid-19 pandemic and Dr. Allodoli said he was grateful for his patients’ support. Back in March 2020, the office remained open but only for emergency visits and for filling orders for glasses and contacts. When the office opened back up for its normal business hours, patients who had put off routine visits began to return. “I really appreciated the support of my patients and staff during that challenging time. They were very patient as we adapted to the changes throughout the pandemic,” he said.
The office staff and patients know each other by name, seeing the same familiar faces every time they come for their visits. Patients are typically greeted by Dr. Allodoli’s wife Lisa, the office manager, or one of their other friendly staff members. Optician Stephen Lacoste has been with the practice since it opened, and his son Samuel is also part of the team, helping with the insurance side of the business.
Michael and Lisa are longtime Marple residents. The couple met at a company Christmas party back when Dr. Allodoli was working in the retail eyeglass business. He and Lisa hit it off, married and decided to settle down in Marple to raise a family. Their sons Gianmichael and Robert both graduated from Marple Newtown High School. “We loved raising our children here, getting to know other families and being part of a great community,” he said. The Allodoli’s home in Marple is even close enough for them to walk to work. When they’re not working, an ideal day for them is to spend time in their garden. Although owning a practice doesn’t always allow for many days off, we asked Dr. Allodi where they like to go on vacation. Perhaps no surprise to our readers, they love the Jersey shore, too!
”Working and living in the same community has allowed me to make personal connections with my patients,” said Dr. Allodoli. That combination of personal connections, experience and expertise in the optometry field is why so many Marple friends and neighbors continue to recommend Dr. Allodoli’s practice for eye care. Getting to know his patients so well over the years has allowed him to give each one a more informed diagnosis and treatment plan.
Conveniently located in the Lawrence Park Business Center, Broomall Eye Care provides comprehensive eye care services, including eye exams, eye disorder diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases including astigmatism, glaucoma and cataracts. “Even if you don’t need corrective vision care, these exams are important in order to monitor your overall eye health and wellness,” said Dr. Allodoli. He explained that regular exams by an eye doctor can help detect a variety of health issues. “Aside from getting access to vision correction like glasses or contacts, an eye exam can offer insight into other healthcare concerns,” he added.
Whether you need an eye exam, a routine checkup or eyeglasses, Broomall Eye Care is always accepting new patients of all ages. Call 610-325-7688 today or visit www.BroomallEyeCare.com to make an appointment or to learn more about their services.