Our Practice in Windsor

Dr. Melissa Bussey, OD

Dr. Bussey was born and raised in Windsor, ON. She graduated from Holy Names Catholic High School before attending Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Although it is typical for students to complete a 4-year undergraduate program before attending optometry school, Dr. Bussey applied to the program a year early, without a bachelor’s, and was accepted into the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO). It was there that she received her bachelor’s degree after 2 years and her doctorate after 4.

Through ICO, she received extensive training at the college and numerous sites across the United States. During her rotation at the Illinois Eye Institute, she received in-depth training in pediatrics, binocular vision, vision therapy, and sports vision. In addition, she gained further experience in treating and managing ocular diseases.

From there, she travelled to Mount Dora, FL, to work with optometrists and ophthalmologists, providing pre- and post-operative management for patients with cataracts and retinal disorders. It was here that she was also included in several surgical procedures.

Dr. Bussey then rotated through the Detroit Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where she gained further experience in treating and managing ocular disease.

Her last rotation was through Kresge Eye Institute in Detroit, where she gained extensive experience in fitting cosmetic and specialty contact lenses (for conditions such as keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, and severe dry eye) and further knowledge in ocular disease. At the end of her rotation, she was requested by the institute to stay on as an optometrist. She went on to become the director of optometry and sole optometrist working with 19 ophthalmologists. At the institute, she was responsible for primary care services, contact lens fittings, ER walk-ins, and the treatment and management of ocular diseases. Since then, she has served as an adjunct faculty member to several optometry schools and was responsible for the further development of their students.

Dr. Bussey exposes many students to fitting contact lenses (both cosmetic and specialty) and ocular disease management for the first time. In addition, she lectures and assists in the training of ophthalmology residents rotating through the site.

Two years after graduating, Dr. Bussey decided to take the Canadian board exams and became licenced to practise in Canada. She maintains her licence in both countries and continues to practise in both.

Throughout her career, Dr. Bussey has had the opportunity to work with amateur and elite athletes in both the NHL and NBA, and has served as a consultant for the MLB. Whether it be comprehensive eye exams, urgent care appointments, or sports vision training, she has been entrusted with the maintenance of ocular health and visual performance of athletes across the sports landscape. For her work in sports vision, Dr. Bussey was recently appointed a board position of the International Sports Vision Association.

Dr. Bussey graduated in 2011, and since then, she continues to attend several conferences and seminars each year to stay up to date on the latest in medical trends and sports vision.