Michael Behforouz, MD
Michael A. Behforouz is a comprehensive ophthalmologist and has been in private practice since 2000. He is certified through the American Board of Ophthalmology and completed his ophthalmology residency at the prestigious Emory Eye Center, in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Indiana University.
Michael prides himself in providing eye care in a setting that promotes communication, compassion, and competence. Dr. Behforouz has received numerous awards during his education and practice and feels that his greatest achievement is the trust of his patients’ care.
Dr. Behforouz lives in Carmel and has two daughters, Kayla and Stella. He enjoys soccer, basketball, tennis, music, and poetry.
Austin R. Lifferth, OD
Austin R. Lifferth graduated from Indiana University School of Optometry in 2003 and completed a post-graduate residency in ocular disease at the Huntington, West Virginia Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2003-2004. Since that time, he has practiced in ophthalmology co-management centers as a consultative optometrist with an emphasis in glaucoma and dry eye management.
Dr. Lifferth is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society, and is currently serving in various leadership capacities within these organizations. He enjoys learning and teaching about glaucoma and has presented at the local, state, national, and international levels on this important topic. He is a Diplomate in the Glaucoma Section of the American Academy of Optometry and author of the monthly Glaucoma Column in Optometric Management. In addition, Dr. Lifferth is a key member of our dry eye team focusing on diagnosing and treating ocular surface disease.
Outside of Center for Sight, Dr Lifferth enjoys running and hiking – and especially doing these and other outdoor activities with his family.
Amandeep Brar, OD, FAAO
Amandeep Kaur Brar graduated from Indiana University School of Optometry in 2022. She was selected to continue advanced training in the ocular disease residency program at Center for Sight, working and learning alongside Dr. Behforouz and Dr. Lifferth. Before pursuing her career in the US, she had previously practiced as an optometrist in London, England for two years.
Since graduating, she has practiced as a medical optometrist. Dr. Brar has experience in dry eye management, glaucoma and other ocular conditions. In 2024, Dr. Brar completed her fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry.
Outside of Center for Sight, Dr. Brar enjoys running, working out, and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Sydney Ackerman, OD
Ocular Disease Resident
Sydney Ackerman received an optometry fellowship scholarship from Indiana University School of Optometry where she graduated from in 2025. During her fourth year of optometry school, she enjoyed learning about dry eye management and ocular disease, and she interned at the Roudebush VA, John D. Dingell VAMC, Atwater Eye Care Center, and Busby Eye Care.
She enjoys going back to her hometown in Michigan to visit friends and family. Some of her hobbies outside of the practice include going on walks with her dog, working out, cooking, gardening, and doing puzzles. She currently lives in Bloomington with her fiancé, dog, and two cats.
I’ve decided to pursue a residency to be well equipped for handling patients in any clinical setting. There is always more to learn in this field, and I want to be in an environment designed for that as I enter the next chapter of my career. I have grown significantly as a student–doctor over this past year and continuing my passion as a resident will further my confidence and skillset.