Meet Dr. Sean Collon
Ophthalmology
Dr. Sean Collon is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous. He grew up in Bloomfield, Michigan, and attended medical school at Vanderbilt University, followed by an ophthalmology residency at the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. He then completed a fellowship in Global Ophthalmology at Stanford University in collaboration with Cure Blindness (Himalayan Cataract Project), before returning to the Moran Eye Center for his fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery.
Dr. Collon's clinical and surgical interests include retinal detachments, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, retinal vascular disease, and complex anterior segment problems, including dislocated intraocular lenses. He has been active in research and education, authoring peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on retinal disease, teleophthalmology, and global ophthalmology, and presenting at national and international meetings.
Improving access to eye care has been a defining thread of Dr. Collon's career. He co-founded the Utah Teleophthalmology Program, a statewide diabetic retinopathy screening program serving patients at community health centers and free clinics, and his global ophthalmology work has taken him to eight countries across three continents, including leading the first dedicated vitreoretinal surgery training for Eritrea's national ophthalmology residency program. His work in eye care equity has been recognized by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, where he has also served as an Advocacy Ambassador.
Dr. Collon believes good retina care starts with clear explanations and unhurried conversation. His patients consistently describe him as thorough, attentive, and willing to take the time to answer every question: a doctor who treats them as people, not cases. He is committed to honest counsel, persistence with challenging problems, and making each patient a full partner in decisions about their vision.
Outside the clinic, Dr. Collon is an avid cyclist, mountaineer, and reader. He has twice climbed Denali and worked as a mountain guide, and he marked his move to Bellingham by bicycle, riding roughly 3,100 miles solo from Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean to his new home in Washington. He is excited to put down roots in Bellingham and looks forward to exploring the mountains, coastlines, and gravel roads of the Pacific Northwest.
Education
- MD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Residency
- Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah
Fellowship
- Global Ophthalmology, Stanford University in collaboration with Cure Blindness (Himalayan Cataract Project)
- Vitreoretinal Surgery, Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah
Board Certification(s)
- American Board of Ophthalmology
