Originally from Chicago, Dr. Filar attended St.
Norbert College for four years and graduated
with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Dr. Filar
then attended Pacific University’s College of
Optometry in Forest Grove, Oregon, for an
additional four years, and he completed his
doctorate degree in 2004. Pacific’s intensive
behavioral and medical curriculum included
studies and clinical rotations specializing in:
primary care, ocular disease, vision therapy,
neuro-optometric rehabilitation, and pediatrics.
Dr. Filar’s graduate thesis project focused on
the correlation between computer usage and
eyestrain. He graduated with honors and as a
member of Beta Sigma Kappa, the International
Optometric Honor Society, and has been
trained in the latest treatments and therapies.
Dr. Filar is a behavioral optometrist. The functional or behavioral approach to vision
care is directed at correcting existing vision problems and/ or enhancing visual abilities
For some types of visual conditions, eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery
may not be able to correct the problem. In those cases, a behavioral doctor may
recommend treatment with special lenses, prisms, preventative measures, and/or vision
therapy. Behavioral vision care is not a new approach to eye care, but it is a
specialized one.
Dr. Filar firstly offers primary care optometry to his patients. He evaluates the eye health
and clearness of vision with comprehensive examinations to monitor whole body health
he treats emergencies, and he manages diseases. In other words, he prescribes
glasses and contacts, treats red eyes and allergies, removes foreign bodies- he does
everything you might expect your optometrist to do. But, in some cases this is not
enough. When this happens he also offers specialized services such as vision therapy
and neuro-rehabilitative optometry. Some people who benefit from these services
include children with learning problems, reading and writing delays, symptoms
commonly associated with ADD or ADHD, head trauma victims, and stroke patients.
Often these individuals have symptoms such as squinting, excessive need for tactile
stimulation, holding reading material too close, closing an eye, frequent headaches,
perceptual shifts, a head tilt, or remaining locked in a sympathetic nervous response, or
fight or flight mode. In addition to evaluating and training binocularity (or the aiming of
the eyes), accommodation (focusing of the eyes), and the ocular motor function (eye
movement), he addresses the patient’s ambient motor skills (things like balance,
laterality, gross motor movement and coordination, perceptual centering, and hand-eye
coordination.). He simultaneously evaluates and trains their focal skills (things like visual
information processing, visual memory, visual figure-ground, and visual span). While
some of these skills may at first seem irrelevant to vision, it is important to remember
that the eyes are an integral part of a whole system. Vision is often thought of in terms of
just clarity of eyesight, when in fact it is actually a sensory function integrated with the
body as a whole, to allow interaction with the environment. It is also a concept of intellect
and emotion. Our overall well-being affects our vision and our eyes and vision equally
affects and guides our whole existence.
Dr. Filar's goals are to educate each patient about their conditions, their visual system’s
responses to the world, to offer nutritional recommendations, and to suggest further
resources. He is a resource for the vision needs of the Door County community, and
works closely with parents, teachers, families, nurses, and other health care providers to
offer each and every patient the best optometric care they can receive.
Dr. Filar is an active member of the Northeast Wisconsin Optometric Society, the
Wisconsin Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, and the
College of Optometry and Vision Development (COVD). He is also a board member for
the Sturgeon Bay United Way, and is a member of the Sturgeon Bay Lions Club. He
was named Wisconsin's 2008 "Young Optometrist of the Year" by the Wisconsin State
Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. This award is
presented to one outstanding doctor annually, and recognizes the doctor’s exceptional
service to optometry, dedication to the visual welfare of the public, and service to the
community. He regularly attends continuing education conferences to remain up to date
on the latest optometric techniques and information.
Dr. Filar has invented several products to enhance his patients' vision care. The Filar
Binasal Occluder is marketed and sold through Bernell, and is a tool to aid in stroke
treatment. The Provizion PanOptic Anterior Segment and Retinal Camera Attachment
is a tool used for telemedicine and eyecare in remote locations. It allows him to take a
photograph of the back of the eye and display it on a laptop where it can be saved to
document the condition, explained to a patient, or emailed to other specialists for further
input. This product is used by NASA and on the International Space Station! For more
information about this product, visit www.provizionusa.com.
Dr. Filar lives in Sturgeon Bay with his wife, Trisha, and his two sons. He enjoys a
multitude of projects and spending time outdoors. He has a holistic approach to patient
care, and is dedicated to meeting the vision care needs of the Door County community.
Paul Filar, O.D.