Meet Our Doctors

Winding down is not in Dr. Jack’s vocabulary, so you’ll still see him in the offices caring for patients, mentoring the younger doctors in the practice and elsewhere, and keeping the world safe for family optometric practice by being an active administrator for Vision Source.

​​​​​​​The Marathon Man is in the building! Dr. John Gardner, known to his family and friends as “Dr. Jack” has run 55 marathons since 1978, when he completed his first of 30 Chicago Marathons.

A lifelong sports fan, athlete, learner, and traveler, Dr. Jack’s marathons have included runs in Paris, France, London, England, New York, Boston, the Arctic Circle, and Mt. Everest in Nepal.

All these roads lead him back to his passion for caring for his patient’s eyes and eye health, for family practice optometry, and for private practitioners. He is particularly interested in helping people with early macular degeneration, specialty contact lenses (One patient still refers to Dr. Jack as the “contact lens god.”), myopia management, pre-and post-op care, and plain old outstanding family eye care.

Truly, Dr. Jack is devoted to making sure that all Gardner Family Eye Care patients receive the highest quality care, including the latest and greatest innovations in technology. The Associate Doctors reflect his commitment to making sure that, even as he ages (Is this possible?!), our patients receive the absolute finest Optometric care. These younger doctors provide the depth and quality of care with the newer approaches and techniques that are now part of their training, which exists, in part because of Dr. Jack’s involvement in various organizations and lobbying efforts over the years.

Over the years, Dr. Jack has continued and extended his father’s legacy of patient-centered optometric care. And, over the years, he has supported and nurtured family- and privately-owned optometric practices by inviting young doctors into the practice, by sharing expertise with members of the optometric communities, and by staying the course when so many have shifted to private equity or corporate-owned practices.

Relationships are key in this family practice model. And Dr. Gardner puts relationships front and center… with Staff, with Patients, with fellow Optometrists. While Dr. Gardner’s running days may be behind him, his marathon of patient care continues right alongside his support of family practice. The world changes always. But Dr. Jack prides himself on maintaining his father’s legacy of excellence.

And when you consider that Dr. James Gardner opened the practice in 1938 (BEFORE WWII), you see how each of the Gardners showered their focus on their patients.

Dr. Jack brought his BA from Villanova University to The Ohio State University’s College of Optometry where he remains active in alumni events. (He is a HUGE fan of Villanova’s basketball Wildcats and is especially fond of a photo taken of him with former coach, Jay Wright.) For 8 years, Dr. Jack’s time on the faculty at the Illinois College of Optometry included coaching the ICO men’s basketball team. (Ask him what his sweetest victory was!)

His intense interest in sports prompted him to get involved with sports vision. He wrote a chapter in the book, Sports Vision, edited by Don Loren and CJ MacEwen (Dr. Gardner’s chapter is Vision Requirements in Sport and you can see him way back when in the photo in his chapter! ) Dr. Jack was one of the optometrists testing the vision of professional basketball players, signees, Para-Olympic athletes as well as Olympic athletes at the Atlanta games in 1996. Dr. Jack loves to help young athletes on the field, knowing that this also helps their classroom performances and in their lives.

Winding down is not in Dr. Jack’s vocabulary, so you’ll still see him in the offices caring for patients, mentoring the younger doctors in the practice and elsewhere, and keeping the world safe for family optometric practice by being an active administrator for Vision Source.

He now also enjoys more time with his wife, Paula, and, when they can, with their sons who live in Boise, ID, and Nashville, TN. The family recently fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling together to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Dr. Jack’s primary vision is always to make sure that all people have access to excellence in eye health and vision care across their entire lives. His life has been devoted to this purpose.

If you would like to e-mail Dr. Jack please do so at doctors@gardnereyecare.com.

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, surrounded by several of my family members. Growing up with many of my relatives nearby made for an exciting and lively childhood as I would spend my days enjoying the company of my sisters and cousins.
During my time at Benedictine University and Illinois College of Optometry,

​​​​​​​I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, surrounded by several of my family members. Growing up with many of my relatives nearby made for an exciting and lively childhood as I would spend my days enjoying the company of my sisters and cousins.
During my time at Benedictine University and Illinois College of Optometry, I developed a passion for exploring new restaurants in downtown Chicago and a love for traveling. Some of my favorite dining spots include Tre Dita, La Serre, and Pasta Bowl. When it comes to travel, my favorite destinations have been South Africa, Italy, and the Maldives.

My trip to South Africa was, without a doubt, my favorite. Cape Town, with its stunning coastline, breathtaking mountains, and the warm hospitality of its people, stands out as my favorite city. During our stay, my husband and I went on our first safari, which was a truly breathtaking experience. Witnessing wild animals up close in their natural habitat was unforgettable. However, one of the most memorable moments was our late-night return to the resort when a pack of hungry hyenas surrounded our jeep—it was both thrilling and a bit nerve-wracking!

At Illinois College of Optometry, I had the privilege of serving as an academic coach for first-year students. In this role, I provided valuable support in various areas, including exam preparation, time management, stress handling, and overcoming test anxiety. Sometimes, it was simply about being a supportive listener. Throughout my four years of optometry school, I was consistently recognized on the clinical Dean’s List for patient care, earning honor grades in all patient care courses while maintaining strong academic standing. Additionally, I was an active member of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and participated in the Private Practice Club.

I completed my externship site at two private practices in the Chicagoland area, as well as at Illinois College of Optometry. During these externships, I developed a strong interest in the treatment and management of glaucoma, dry eyes, specialty contact lenses, and myopia control.

My passion for optometry grows daily. I find immense joy in volunteering at vision screenings, especially when I encounter children who have been struggling in school due to vision issues. Witnessing their excitement when they put on their first pair of glasses and see the world clearly for the first time truly makes my day. Hearing from parents about how their child’s performance has improved in school warms my heart. Such an experience deeply motivates me, and I hope it inspires you as well.

Learn more about Dr. Asadullah:
Why did you choose optometry?
I chose optometry because a loved one of mine experienced eye complications, which made me realize the critical importance of ocular health. Without it, our ability to function would be greatly affected. I find it fascinating how our eyes can provide so much insight by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and tumors through eye examinations.

What do you LOVE about optometry?
Optometry is one of the most fulfilling professions due to the rewarding experience of improving a person’s vision. Optometrists can make a significant impact each day. An eye exam can result in a patient obtaining corrective lenses, identifying an eye injury or disease, or accessing services such as low-vision rehabilitation. I enjoy meeting new people, addressing their visual needs, and building relationships.

What are your life passions?
My passion lies in improving people’s quality of life, driven by the profound impact it has on helping individuals lead more fulfilling lives. I am committed to quickly absorbing knowledge and mastering new skills, enabling me to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those I serve.

What do you most enjoy doing during your free time?
I love spending time with my family and friends, traveling to new destinations, staying active through running, and indulging in a variety of cuisines.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
One of my most cherished childhood memories is when my sisters, cousins, and I would spend summer days swimming in my grandparents’ pool and ending the night with a bonfire.

What is your favorite color?
Any shade of green!

What music/ians do you love? and what do you love about it/them?
I enjoy a wide range of music genres, from classical and R&B to hip-hop. My experience playing the clarinet and guitar during my childhood has given me a deep appreciation for well-crafted music. I particularly enjoy listening to The Weeknd, whose incredible voice never fails to captivate me.

Tell us anything you’d love for people to know about you…
One thing I would love for people to know about me is that I have a genuine passion for helping others, whether it is through my work in optometry, volunteering at vision screenings, or just lending a listening ear to those who need it. I find joy in making a positive impact in the lives of others, and I am constantly striving to learn and grow so I can serve people better. Outside of my professional life, I love exploring new cultures through travel and trying out new restaurants. Whether it is discovering a new favorite song or savoring a meal at a new restaurant, I believe in embracing life’s experiences to the fullest.John J. Gardner, O.D.

“We’re going on a bear hunt.” Our Dr. DeVito brought Michael Rosen’s children’s book to life when she told us that she would need to join us in July instead of June 2023 because she was going on a bear hunt with her family.

​​​​​​​“We’re going on a bear hunt.” Our Dr. DeVito brought Michael Rosen’s children’s book to life when she told us that she would need to join us in July instead of June 2023 because she was going on a bear hunt with her family.

Yes. Mouth open in astonishment. We felt the same way. And aren’t you so glad that we waited for her? We sure are!

Dr. DeVito brings her intrepid spirit with her every day to Gardner Family Eye Care, where she is even more focused on her commitment to our patient’s eye health and vision than she was hunting (and getting!) a bear.

Growing up in a small town north of Kalamazoo, MI, she spent a lot of time outdoors. She’s hunted deer since she was very young when this was what her family ate for many of their meals.

Dr. DeVito has played volleyball all her life, including at Kalamazoo College where she captained the Varsity Volleyball team as a libero (If you know, you know! If not, please ask her!) and MVP.

Her interest in medicine began in undergraduate school, but after graduation, she spent some time doing real estate in New York City. This allowed her to conduct thorough research to uncover the best match of Optometry schools for her. She chose Indiana University, where she completed her optometric studies and, at the same time, began her MBA.

At IU, Dr. DeVito continued to excel in her studies and her leadership. She served as an associate instructor for 5 different optometry classes and was President of the Optometric Private Practice Club where she spear-headed the initiative to grow interest in Private practice optometry. Dr. DeVito was elected Co-President/CEO of the national optometric private practice organization “SOLN” and was chosen Best Practices Student Honoree.

Dr. DeVito elected to complete externships at the John Dingell VA, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Indiana University, and a private practice in Burke, Virginia. Among her other honors? She was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society, and the Gold Key Optometric Honor Society as well as various school clubs.

Dr. DeVito has spoken on several optometric podcasts on topics that she loves—specialty contact lenses, the treatment and management of dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, ocular disease, and myopia.

It's perfect, she has joined Gardner Family Eye Care because, for 85 years, we have made it our mission to care for you and your family AND to TEACH YOU how to best care for your eye health and vision. Perfect, because Dr. DeVito’s passion has included providing tools, knowledge, and connections that facilitate success among her patients and her peers.

Her passions, skills, and commitment fit so well into all that we are here at Gardner Family Eye Care. We are delighted she persevered through all the challenges of her bear hunt and brought her spirit of adventure, passion, and excellence here.

Here’s more about Dr. DeVito:
Why did you choose optometry?
I chose optometry because it allows you to help preserve the systemic and ocular health that is vital to maintaining one of our most valued senses – vision.

What do you LOVE about optometry?
I love seeing my patients enjoying life to their fullest ability by providing the care and resources to my patients to allow them to do this.

What are your life passions?
To help as many people as possible and provide them with outstanding care.

What do you most enjoy doing during your free time?
I enjoy time with family, working out, traveling, staying active, and enjoying good food through restaurants or cooking.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
Spending time with family on the ocean in Rhode Island.

What is your favorite color?
Red

What music and musicians do you love? And what do you love about them?
I really enjoy all music – country, classical, rock, pop, and metal. Andrea Bocelli is fantastic – the passion in his songs is unmatched. Having played the clarinet, I greatly appreciate any good music.

Tell us anything you’d love for people to know about you…
I greatly value the benefits of a healthy lifestyle through nourishing the body with good foods and keeping active. This carries over into my patient care and helping my patients live their best lives.