Dr. Schmidt was born in Columbus, Ohio but moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at age six. In high school he earned All-American honors for four straight years in swimming, and followed with NCAA All-America status three years at Ohio State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Science in Physiological Optics, as well as his doctoral degree in optometry.

After graduating from optometry school in 1975 he spent three years in the U.S. Air Force, serving as Chief of the Eye Clinic at Tyndall AFB, Florida, before returning to South Florida. He now enjoys scuba diving and in 1998 made a comeback in competitive swimming in Masters Swimming, an international competitive organization for swimmers over twenty-five years of age. Since then he has been ranked #1 in the world in three individual events in his age group and has broken eight world swimming records on relays.

Dr. Schmidt has practiced in Northern Palm Beach County since 1978 and specializes in preventive eyecare, contact lenses, and ocular nutrition. He is married to his lovely wife Helen, and they have four children and three grandchildren. Dr. Schmidt has developed a world renown website called "The Eye Site" which documents scientific studies on nutritional therapies for many ocular diseases.