Vision by Design

Dr. Caroline Guerrero Cauchi graduated from the UC Berkeley School of Optometry and has been in private practice since 1980. She is the managing partner of a three-doctor practice in La Mesa California – a suburb of San Diego. She is a Fellow and Board Member of the AAOMC, a member of the International Society of Advanced Orthokeratology, and a certified Wave fitter. Prior to changing career paths for optometry, Dr. Cauchi was trained in the field of Human Behavior and Psychology. She worked as a therapist/teacher for physically and emotionally challenged children and later with Project Head Start developing programs to integrate challenged children into the classroom. This background in psychology has provided her with unique skills to understand patient motivation, compliance, and behavior. As one of the few Latina healthcare professionals in San Diego, she gives back to her community by participating in several mentoring programs for students from underprivileged backgrounds. She also serves as a role model and speaker promoting optometry and college attendance to high-risk youth with programs hosted by UCSD, SDSU, community colleges, grammar, and high schools. 

Dr. Kevin Chan earned his dual OD and MS degrees (Vision Science) from the New England  College of Optometry. He is the Senior Clinical Director of Treehouse Eyes and currently serves as a Professional Affairs Consultant for Johnson & Johnson Vision and Essilor’s  Myopia Taskforce. Dr. Chan frequently lectures nationally and internationally on the subject of myopia management. Notably, Dr. Chan has starred in the renowned TEDx talk titled, ‘Myopia – Global Epidemic’. He was one of the few selected panelists in the U.S. for the inaugural Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) – Myopia Showcase. Dr. Chan has authored numerous articles published in Optometry & Vision Science, Contact Lens Spectrum, Review of Myopia Management, and Modern Optometry. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Dr. Duan graduated from Zhejiang Medical University and completed her graduate education in “Clinical Refraction” in China. She was awarded Master in Vision Science, Doctor of Optometry and Fellow of America Academy of Orthokeratology in US. She practices optometry specialized in pediatric eye care, visual system development, myopia control, visual function disorder through teaching, research and patient care.

She is an Assistant Clinical Professor, Emeritus, in the State University of New York, College of Optometry. She is the founder of Dr. Duan and Associates in New Jersey, United States and on faculty of Eye Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou China. Through her frequent trips and connections in the US, China and the rest of the world, she has provided many opportunities for international communications for eye care professionals.

Dr. Chapman works in private practice in Gretna, Nebraska.  She has instituted a full scope Dry Eye Subspecialty as well as a Myopia Management Subspecialty within her practice.  Dr. Chapman is the Co-Founder of Peeq Pro, a designer of the patent pending device, the Peeq Waiva, and a co-creator of multiple products and services for Peeq Pro. 

In addition to working one-on-one with doctors to implement practice protocols, she lectures within the optometric community as well as to local pediatricians and ophthalmologists.  Serving as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry, Dr. Chapman also enjoys working closely in training 4th year extern students in current dry eye therapies, myopia management strategies, and practice management.  She is a graduate of the University of Houston College of Optometry. 

Nick Despotidis is a partner at Eye Care Professionals, PC, a six-doctor multidisciplinary optometric practice in Hamilton, New Jersey.  He is a TEDx speaker and has written two books on the topic of the myopia epidemic among our youth. His office serves thousands of orthokeratology patients, and he is the creator of the popular workshop “SuperChargeYourPractice“. 

Prof. Sami G. El Hage, O.D., Ph.D., D.Sc. received his O.D. degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and his Ph.D. and D.Sc. from the University of Paris. He is a former student and colleague of Professor Yves Le Grand in Paris, France. He taught at the University of Paris and the University of Houston College of Optometry, where he was a tenured full professor and graduate faculty at the age of 33. He has lectured extensively nationally and internationally. He was invited by the British Council to the City University in London, for post-doctoral work. He initiated the Corneal Research Laboratory at Professor Herbert Schober “Institut fur Mediziniche Optik der Universitat Munchen”, in Munich, He was invited by Professor Vasco Ronchi of the “Istituto Nazionale Di Ottica” in Florence – Arcetri He was elected as an honorary fellow of the “Collegio de Optometrista de Venezuela”. He received the Grand Honors Award of the National Eye Research Foundation in 1983. He received the 2005 Founders Award at the Global Orthokeratology Symposium meeting in Chicago. He serves as a consultant to several scientific and board organizations. He is a member of several societies, the American Academy of Optometry, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, the French Society of Ophthalmology, and many other organizations. He has published numerous articles and chapters in scientific journals and books. He also co-authored a book with Professor Yves Le Grand on the optics of the eye, published by Springer Verlag. Professor El Hage holds several patents and trademarks on corneal topography and contact lens design; he maintains a private practice in Houston, Texas. 

Dr. Formenti graduated from the University of Montreal, School of Optometry. He has a private practice in Venice and practices the profession of Optometry in Quebec, Canada. From the very beginning, Myopia Control has been a milestone in his practice. He is a fellow of the IAOMC and has a certification in Myopia Management (IACMM). Marino is a contract professor of Optometry at the University of Padova, Dept. of Physics, School of Science. He has been President of the Italian Academy of Orthokeratology – AIOK for three terms and is the President of both the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (IAOMC) and the European Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control-EurOK. 

He is lecturing worldwide on myopia control topics. 

After graduating with honors in Pre-Optometry from Northeastern Illinois University, Dr. Rob attended the Illinois College of Optometry and received a second bachelor’s degree in Visual Science. In 1981he was awarded his doctorate in Optometry.  

He has also been named “Best and Brightest in Optometry” by 20/20 Magazine and “Optometrist of the Year” by Eyegrad. As a community supporter, Dr. Rob was a 25 year member of the Rotary Club of Palatine and was honored as a “Rotarian of the Year”.  

Dr. Rob is a charter member of the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control and an internationally recognized speaker on the topic of Myopia Management. In 2006, he received his Fellowship in the Academy and was named to its Board of Directors. In 2021 he received his Fellowship in the Scleral Lens Education Society and in 2022 received his Fellowship in the British Contact Lens Association. Dr. Gerowitz is also a Member of the prestigious International Society of Contact Lens Specialists and an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the Chicago College of Optometry 

Dr. Rob and Korreen reside in Palatine, Illinois and together with their children enjoy travelling as a family. 

Dr. Marie Homa-Palladino obtained her Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia, PA. She was the owner and sole practitioner of Personal Eyes, LLC in Paoli, for 14 years, devoting her time to family eye care and specializing in myopia management.

She recently merged her practice with Medical Optometry America, and is now the Director of the Myopia Management Center of Excellence. Dr. Homa-Palladino earned the distinguished honor of becoming a Fellow in the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control and was also elected to the AAOMC Board of Directors in 2021.

Randy Kojima is the Clinical Research and Development Director for Precision Technology based in Vancouver, Canada. He also serves as an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Oregon. Additionally, he is a clinical advisor to Medmont Instruments in Melbourne, Australia.

Randy has published numerous articles and submitted posters on various contact lens related topics as well as been a contributing author in a number of text book chapters. He lectures globally and enjoys sharing insights, methods and research with eye care colleagues from around the world.

Randy is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, the British Contact Lens Association, the Scleral Lens Education Society and the International Academy of Orthokeratology.

Dr. Paul Levine graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1992 and earned his Doctorate with honors from the New England College of Optometry in 1997. He completed a one-year residency in Primary Care Optometry at the South Boston Community Health Center. He co-founded Vision Care Specialists in Southborough, Massachusetts in 2004. In addition to primary eye care for patients of all ages, Dr. Levine specializes in Orthokeratology and Specialty Contact Lenses. He is a Certified WAVE designer as well. 

Maria Liu is an associate professor at UC Berkeley School of Optometry, and the founder of the Myopia Control Clinic of UC Berkeley Eye Center. She received her bachelor degree of clinical medicine from Peking University, her OD from Pacific University, her PhD and MPH from UC Berkeley. She is a world renowned clinical researcher in the field of myopia and her expertise focus on the impact of complex multifocal environment on emmetropization and myopia development, as well as novel optical and pharmaceutical treatments in myopia retardation. 

Rémy Marcotte-Collard is a graduate optometrist, contact lens educator and clinical investigator from the School of Optometry at the Université de Montréal. He completed a residency in optometry at the Université de Montréal, in the field of specialty contact lenses. He is involved in research in the field of specialty lenses and myopia control, a field in which he completed a Master’s degree in Vision Science at the School of Optometry of the Université de Montréal. He co-founded the Myopia Management clinic at the University of Montreal eye clinic and is its co-director. Dividing his time between private practice and teaching optometry theory and practice, he is currently pursuing a PhD in Vision Science where he is working to determine the effect of different optical designs of contact lenses, controlling myopia, on changes in choroidal volume. He has a patent on a system of optical designs that control the progression of myopia and the axial length of the eye. 

Dr. Nazia Maredia, OD, is a highly skilled and passionate optometrist with expertise in ocular diseases, specialty contact lenses, and comprehensive eye care. She graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and furthered her education at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Driven by a desire to provide exceptional care, she immersed herself in learning about ocular diseases and specialty contact lenses while working in private practice in Houston. 

After graduating in 2009, Dr. Maredia joined a private clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, where she focused on ocular diseases like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. In 2011, she relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where she contributed to a retail office and expanded her practice. Dr. Maredia is licensed as an optometric glaucoma specialist in Texas and has invested in new equipment to offer comprehensive eye care for all ages. 

She is a member of the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control, and she holds an internationally accredited certification in myopia control. Dr. Maredia’s expertise includes fitting various corneal molding lenses, and she is dedicated to finding the best solutions for her patients, whether it’s specialty contact lenses, glasses, medical eye care, or LASIK surgery consultations. 

Outside of her profession, Dr. Maredia enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her husband and children. Her commitment to excellence and compassionate approach to patient care make her a highly regarded optometrist who continually strives to stay at the forefront of her field. 

After graduating with honors in Pre-Optometry at Ferris State University, Dr. Martin Attended the Michigan College of Optometry graduating with honors in 1999.  Dr. Martin has been serving the Mid-Michigan area for 20 years providing comprehensive care, managing ocular disease, and fitting specialty contact lens designs. He specializes in pediatric eye care and all types of myopia management, with an emphasis on Ortho-K.

Dr. Martin is a Fellow of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control since 2005.  He has served on the Leadership and Planning Board for this organization and currently serves on the Fellowship Committee.  He takes an active role in testing candidates sitting for their FIAOMC as well as keeping the testing process up to date.

Dr. Martin has a passion for education and has served as a mentor for many doctors new to myopia management.  In 2017 he was asked to present at Vision By Design (VBD) Bootcamp for Newcomers. Based on reviews he has become a permanent member of the Bootcamp team.  Dr. Martin speaks nationally and internationally on the subject of myopia control, with an emphasis on Ortho-K.  His most recent international lecture was Mumbai, India.

Dr. Martin is a founding member of Mission Myopia Control.  Its mission is to educate and assist doctors in incorporating myopia management into their private practices.  You see Dr. Martin’s most recent work in the Mentorship Program GP specialists.  You can also catch him at VBD this year in Chicago!

Dr. Langis Michaud graduated from École d’optométrie de l’Université de Montréal in 1986 where he also obtained his master’s degree in physiological optics (1998). He received also a diploma in Public Administration from École Nationale d’Administration Publique (ENAP) in 2006. He is a full professor and has been practicing at Université de Montréal since 2001, as the chief of the contact lens department and served as a Dean of the School (2020-22).  

He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (Diplomate), the British Contact Lens Association, the Scleral Lens Education Society, the European Academy of Optometry, and the International Academy of Orhtokeratology and Myopia Management.   

Dr. Michaud’s main research interests are myopia control, scleral contact lenses, keratoneuralgia, and anterior segment irregularities like keratoconus. He is also interested in ocular manifestations of Fabry disease. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and publications or professional reviews. He is the author of many book chapters and more recently co-author of the only book pertaining to myopia management.  Because of his expertise, he is a regular speaker at major optometric and ophthalmology meetings around the world. 

Dr. Michaud was awarded the GPLI Educator of the Year in 2023, the Academy of Optometric Education award in 2022, and the Donald Korb Award for research from the Contact lens section of the AOA in 2023. 

Lisa Ostrin is an Associate Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. She received a BA in Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin and then completed an OD/PhD at the University of Houston College of Optometry. She went to John Hopkins University for post-doctoral research in low vision and retinal prosthetics. She then worked as a Clinician Researcher at the University of California Berkeley, with a focus on myopia. She returned to the University of Houston to continue her work in myopia, conducting studies in both human participants and animal models. She is interested in environmental factors and visual cues that contribute to myopia onset and progression, as well as in the development and testing of novel myopia treatments. In addition to research, Dr. Ostrin teaches gross and ocular anatomy and has authored a book, Anatomy of the Human Eye: a Coloring Atlas. Dr. Ostrin is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, Gold Fellow of ARVO, and a recipient of the American Optometric Foundation Ezell Fellowship and a recipient of the Cora and J Davis Armistead Teaching Award. 

Holder of an M.D. from the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; Residency in Ophthalmology from Serviço do Professor Paiva Gonçalves, Rio de Janeiro; Fellow in Ophthalmology from the Beneficência Portuguesa do Rio de Janeiro; MBA in Management in Ophthalmology from UNIFESP; and Ph.D. in Medicine from Universidade de São Paulo.  

Clinical Director of CLÍNICA SCHAEFER, in Curitiba-PR; Marketing Director of CDOP Hospital; Associate Partner of the CDOP Group.  

President of ABRACMO (Brazilian Academy of Myopia Control and Orthokeratology), Term 2022-2025; Member of the Technical Chamber in Ophthalmology at the Federal Council of Medicine, Member of SOBLEC, Brazilian Society of Contact Lens, Cornea and Refractometry. 

Dr Patrick Simard is graduated from École d’Optométrie de l’Université de Montréal in 2002 where he also obtained his Master’s Degree in vision’s science on keratoconus research (2006). He is a Fellow of the AAO, the IACLE, and the BCLA. He also obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration in 2010 from HEC Montreal. Dr Simard is in private practice at Clinique d’Optométrie Bélanger and is a clinical instructor and lecturer at Université de Montréal since 2002. His area of research is on myopia control, orthokeratology, aberrometry, and scleral lenses. He co-holds a patent for a contact lens design that controls the development of myopia and axial length. 

Dr. Skoner received his Doctorate of Optometry degree from Salus University (formerly Pennsylvania College of Optometry) where he graduated with academic and clinical honors. In 2017 Dr. Skoner opened Ortho Eyes, Pittsburgh’s first and only eye care clinic devoted entirely to myopia control. He now practices full-scope optometry at Eye Care Specialties of PA in Pittsburgh, PA and his clinical specialties include pediatric myopia and binocular vision. Dr. Skoner was the first FIAOMC in the state of Pennsylvania. He has been published in the Journal of Asthma, Journal of Asthma and Allergy, and Korean Journal of Asthma, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology regarding ocular complications secondary to inhaled corticosteroid use in patients with asthma and allergies. When Dr. Skoner is not seeing patients, he enjoys spending time with his wife, fishing, tennis and scuba diving. 

Dr. Tung is a board certified Ophthalmologist practicing in Taiwan. He chose to specialize in contact lenses and treatment of binocular visual function problems in children. He is the inventor and worldwide patents holder of Lenses for variety range of Orthokeratology, Specialty contact lenses and Corneal rehabilitation for altered corneas. He currently holds nine (9) US patents, 5 China patents, 2 Taiwan patents and more worldwide patents in the design of Orthokeratology and specialty soft contact lenses, of which the most well known designs are high myopic molding, dual geometric hyperopia and presbyopia Ortho-K and Ortho-K simulation soft lenses for myopia retention.