Our Optometry Practice
in Plainville

Dr. Donald J. Higgins is the founder and Medical Director of the Dry Eye Treatment Center of Connecticut, a clinic specialized in diagnosing and treating of all dry eye disease. This clinic features diagnostics such as Tear Lab and Oculus Keratograph 5M and Crystal Dry Eye Report. Treatments may include the use of Lumenis OptiLight IPL, NuEra radiofrequency and intraductal meibomian gland probing. We also may prescribe autologous serum tears and PRP, platelet-rich plasma eye drops when needed to treat Sjogren syndrome, neuropathic corneal pain, and other severe corneal diseases. There is no case of dry eye disease we can’t treat. Dr. Higgins is fond of saying “no matter how severe your dry eye disease may be there is always something that can be done to help ease your suffering and return your quality of life back to you.

Dr. Higgins decided to become an eye doctor his junior year in high school and has never looked back. In his undergraduate studies, Dr. Higgins received the Trustees Prize in Science, the highest award presented to a science student. He graduated from Boston College in 1978 and began attending the New England College of Optometry. After graduating in 1982, he returned to his hometown of Plainville and has been in private practice ever since. 

He is a past president of the Connecticut Association of Optometrists and served as a medical advisor to the American Optometric Association. He has also served on an advisory level for pharmaceutical companies such as Alcon, Allergan, and Bausch & Lomb on topics ranging from glaucoma, dry eyes treatment, and an advanced contact lens procedure called orthokeratology myopia control. He has served as an Adjunct Clinical Faculty to the New England College of Optometry. Dr. Higgins was awarded the George Comstock award for his lifetime work advancing the profession of Optometry both locally and nationally and is a Diplomate, American Board of Optometry.

Dr. Higgins has completed interviews with several newspapers, journals, and television networks concerning eye and vision-related topics. He has served as an editor for peer-reviewed articles for the American Optometric Association journal and has reviewed cases for the Connecticut Department of Public Health many times. He is a member of several eye care groups, including the Connecticut Association of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, National Glaucoma Society, Optometric Retina Society, Optometric Dry Eye Society, and Optometric Nutraceutical Society.

Dr. Higgins is still very active in teaching many doctors and currently mentors several young doctors and students with his wealth of medical-optometric knowledge gained throughout his professional life. He has served as an Adjunct Clinical Faculty for the New England College of Optometry, helping train many doctors.  

“My goal every day is to be the best doctor I possibly can be and to improve the quality of life of each patient I have the privilege of working with.”

Ewelina has 13 years’ experience in the Optometry field. She has a bachelor’s degree in science and completed multiple courses in dry diagnosis and treatment modalities. She joined Higgins Brothers’ Vision Care in 2014 as an optometric technician and through experience and expanded education has continued to grow with our practice. She is our office manager and also runs the Dry Eye Treatment Center of Connecticut. Ewelina is knowledgeable in all clinical procedures and practice management. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and daughter.

Maria Corriveau, RHIT, Registered Health Information Technician, Sr Medical Billing
Specialist, Graduated Valedictorian of Briarwood College in 2009 in Health Information
Technology with an Associate of Applied Science Degree and member of American Health
Information Management Association (AHIMA). Maria is a resident of Bristol, joined Higgins
Brothers’ Vision Care in 2010 and has 12 years’ experience in all areas concerning Insurance
billing and accounts Receivable and set up the electronic billing Trizetto and Officemate
programs in 2014. She takes pride in assisting all our patients concerning their insurance
eligibility questions and billing issues. In addition, she is happy to assist with phone calls
regarding scheduling and rescheduling appointments, processing credit card payments and
relaying messages.

Gabby joined our team in September of 2022. She has been in the Optometry/Ophthalmology field since she was 8 years old! She volunteered / worked for her family Optometrist most summers growing up and well during her time in College at Nova Southeastern University.She is an experienced Optician and Optometric Technician. She herself has struggled with her vision since she was 3 years years old but has overcome many challenges that has shaped her into the medical professional she is today.
She is working towards her goal of becoming an Optometrist.
In her free time she likes to spend time with family and take her dog on hiking adventures around the state.