Dr Price Kloess has been selected as one of the Best Doctors in America®. Compiled by Boston-based Best Doctors, Inc., the Best Doctors in America® database is the result of an exhaustive survey of more than 40,000 physicians in the United States. Only those doctors recognized in the top 3% of their specialty earn this prestigious honor of being named one of the Best Doctors in America®.

PRICE M. KLOESS, M.D.
Medical Director

Dr. Kloess is a board certified, fellowship trained ophthalmologist specializing in blade-free all laser Custom LASIK laser vision correction, "no stitch" cataract laser and surgery, refractive lens exchange with bifocal implants, phakic IOL surgery, and corneal transplantation surgery. He served as Cornea Chairman and Consultant to the USAF Surgeon General for refractive surgery for several years before returning home to Birmingham in 1994 as the founder and Medical Director of the Alabama Vision Center. He is a Principal Investigator for the Alcon FDA Phakic IOL Study and a clinical consultant for several pharmaceutical and surgical companies.  Dr. Kloess is a clinical assistant for the Eye Foundation Hospital in Birmingham.  He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and served as President of the Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology.  

Education and Training
  • B.S. University of Alabama (with honors)
  • M.D. University of Alabama School of Medicine
  • Harvard Basic Sciences Course in Ophthalmology
  • Residency in Ophthalmology, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center
  • Fellowship, Cornea, Emory University School of Medicine
  • LASIK certification by NIDEK, VISX, Summit, Autonomous LADAR Vision
Professional Appointments
  • Board Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology
  • Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Fellow, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
  • President, Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Chief, Division of Ophthalmology, Baptist Montclair Hospital
Personal
Dr. Kloess participates in charitable surgical eye missions to prevent blindness in Mexico. He is chairman of the local Young Life Board. He and his wife Joy stay busy raising their three children, Emily, Jason and Margaret.

Andrew J. Velazquez, M.D.
Dr. Velazquez is a board certified, fellowship trained ophthalmologist specializing in blade-free all laser Custom LASIK laser vision correction, "no stitch" cataract laser and surgery, refractive lens exchange with bifocal implants, phakic IOL surgery and advanced corneal transplantation surgery. He was born in Orange, CA and raised in Atlanta. He completed an Ophthalmology residency at the University of Florida and a Cornea and Refractive Surgery Fellowship at Duke University. Most recently he served as Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of Cornea and External Disease and Director of Refractive Surgery at The Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Clinical Assistant at the Eye Foundation Hospital.

Education and Training

  • B.S. Auburn University (with honors)
  • M.D. University of South Alabama School of Medicine
  • Residency in Ophthalmology, University of Florida
  • Fellowship, Cornea, Duke University School of Medicine
  • LASIK certification by VISX, Intralase femtosecond laser, YAG
Professional Appointments
  • Board Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology
  • Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Fellow, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
  • Board Member, Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Clinical Assistant, Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital
Personal
Dr. Velazquez and his wife Romney stay busy raising their two daughters, Sydney and Lauren. He enjoys swimming, golfing, and biking.

Tonya Polk, COT, OCS
Director
Alabama Vision Center, LLC
CRN

tpolk@alabamavisioncenter.com

Tonya is the Director of one of the most prominent laser centers and optometric networks in Birmingham. She is a Certified Ophthalmic Technician as well as one of the few Ophthalmic Coding Specialist in Alabama. As the Director of the Alabama Vision Center, she regularly administers training programs and assists in the proctoring and training of LASIK surgeons in Alabama and surrounding states. She has developed marketing strategies for the many doctors in the referral network.  She serves as a study coordinator for an FDA clinical trial for the Alcon investigational Phakic IOL. 

REFRACTIVE SURGERY EXPERIENCE
Tonya has substantial experience in assisting and training many surgeons and clinical staff in refractive surgery. She is certified on the NIDEK and VISX excimer lasers. She is also an expert in the areas of VISX Wavescan analysis with Iris Registration, Moria microkeratome and the Intralase blade free laser. She has also been certified in the Alcon Phakic IOL study.  She regularly attends refractive, administrative, and coding courses to maintain proficiency in new technologies and advances in all aspects of eye care.

PERSONAL
Tonya volunteers her time facilitating state technician and administrator programs. She has been married for 17 years to Andy. They have a son Ray who is a junior at Chelsea High School.

 

Julie Morris, Optician

          

Kimley Howard, COT , Head Technican            Denise Self, Ophthalmic Technican     

   

  Dawn Ray, Refractive/Surgical Coordinator

            

Angie Canterbury, Front Desk Supervisor               Rachel Kontzen, Patient Coordinator

Carol Boggan, Administrative Assistant