Ryan Capouch was in middle school, and woke up one September morning without any vision in his right eye. His local optometrist, Dr. Michael Rexine, met him after hours and diagnosed him with optic neuritis. Over the next two days, Ryan lost vision in his left eye as well, and was rendered legally blind. He spent a week in Fargo’s MeritCare (now Sanford) hospital, under the care of ophthalmologists Dr. Tom Strinden and Dr. Steve Thom, and pediatrician Dr. Patrick Welle. Through their expertise, Ryan made a full recovery and now enjoys healthy vision. It was because of the care and attention of Dr. Rexine, Dr. Strinden, Dr. Thom, and Dr. Welle, that Ryan found his calling to be a pediatric optometrist.