About Our Doctors

David L. Cook, O.D., F.A.A.O., F.C.O.V.D,

Clinician, author, international educator, Dr. David Cook, is one of the nation’s leading authorities on vision therapy, enjoying over forty years of experience as a clinician changing the lives of thousands of vision therapy patients.

In 1974, he earned his A.B. in English Literature from U.C.L.A where he was also co-captain of the gymnastics team. He received his doctorate in optometry from Pacific University College of Optometry in 1978 and in 1979 completed the vision therapy residency at the State University of New York’s College of Optometry, where he was also a clinical instructor.

In addition to his books, When Your Child Struggles, Visual Fitness, and The Shape of the Sky, he has published over a dozen articles on vision therapy in peer-reviewed, clinical-science journals. Three of these papers won best-article-of-the-year awards, and he has received the Skeffington Award for excellence in writing on vision therapy.

Dr. Cook has served national and international exam boards and lectured across America as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Spain and Greece. He has addressed the International Reading Association and state educational-psychology and occupational-therapy organizations. Having appeared on such local television programs as Good Day Atlanta and Noonday, he remains a popular speaker—the podcast linked to this website, for instance, has over fifty thousand views to date.

Dr. Ekta Patel, B.Optom, O.D.

Dr. Patel was raised and initially trained as an optometrist in Johannesburg, South Africa. She then attended New England College of Optometry, where she completed the four-year Doctor of Optometry degree in two years, graduating first in her class with highest honors. She was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Optometric Honor Society and a recipient of the Advanced Standing International Program Scholastic Achievement Award and the William C. Barrett Scholarship Award for Clinical and Academic excellence.

For over 15 years Dr. Patel has practiced in Metro Atlanta, concentrating on detecting and treating ocular disease and prescribing glasses and contact lenses to maximize clarity, comfort, and performance. She is particularly aware of the impact of vision problems on family life. Her child had an eye that turned outward and, despite high intelligence, was struggling in school. Homework dragged on for hours nightly. Desperate, she made a cross-city commute to see Dr. Cook. Freed from the homework wars, she witnessed the transformative impact that the tailored program had on his behavior, learning, and self-esteem.

Inspired, Dr. Patel completed a two-year vision therapy fellowship with Dr. Cook. Working shoulder to shoulder they saw and studied all aspects of vision therapy. This experience allows her to provide the finest in vision therapy care, ensuring families experience the same life-changing successes that she and her child did.

Dr. Patel is a member of the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association, the American Optometric Association, and the Georgia Optometric Association. She is fluent in English, Afrikaans, and Gujarati.

Call for a Free Phone Consult

Check Out Our Resources

Dr. Cook’s Publications:

Authored books VISUAL FITNESS and WHEN YOUR CHILD STRUGGLES.
Published articles in top optometric journals.
His article “Eyesight, infinity and the human heart” was voted “Best Non-Technical Article” by the Association of Optometric Editors.