Full name: Meagan Melissa Herring
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Hometown: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Degree:

– Optometry Degree from Nova Southeastern University School of Optometry
– Certificate in Business from Nova Southeastern University
– Ocular disease residency at Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates in Havre de Grace, MD (through Pennsylvania College of Optometry)
– Currently working on my Holistic Health Practitioner certification trough Trinity School of Natural Health

Earned from (school): (see above)

Associations:

-Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry
-Member of the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society
-active involvement as a student in SVOSH and Student Optometric Practice Management Association.

Undergrad education:

– Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo
– BSc. in Vision Sciences from Nova Southeastern University

Personal hobbies:
– CrossFit, running, Yoga and meditation when I have the time!
– Hiking, camping and outdoor adventure with my family

Family/children:

– Husband and 2 boys ages 3 & 6 moved from Clearwater, FL in 2017 with the US Coast Guard

Where did your interest in optometry come from? (See below)

Do you have any personal stories relating to your interest in optometry?

– I grew up in Canada where I had annual eye exams from a very young age. My mom took me and my sister to the only English-speaking optometry schoool in Canada where I really enjoyed having the eye tests performed by optometry students.
– Having that positive experience stuck with with me throughout my undergraduate education as a pre-optometry student at that same school.
– Although I had plans to follow the pre-medical route vs. optometry, I became intrigued when I learned about the flexibility and family-friendly nature of this profession.
– It was then I decided to change course and begin applying to optometry schools.

Are there any industry specialties you have interest in focusing on down the road?

– definitely myopia control is on the horizon as we learn more about effective therapies for progressive myopia. Currently I am working towards becoming certified with the new MiSight soft CLs for myopia control.
– holistic, integrated eye care, including homeopathy, herbology and iridology as they relate to whole body wellness.

What does being part of EYEcenter mean to you?

-Having licenses across four different states in various modes of practice, EYEcenter is unlike any optometric practice I’ve come across. Being a part of the EYEcenter family to me means compassion, service and excellence in eye care. Everyone is extremely caring while the focus is truly on giving back to local communities. I am honored to have been welcomed into the EYEcenter family.

What are you excited for in optometry during the years to come?

– I’m excited to see a shift toward a more integrated approach to eye health. The eyes aren’t just a window to the soul, but a glance at the status of the overall health of the body. As primary eye care providers, we are at the forefront of patient education in the prevention of disease, (whether it be eye-related or whole body), and abundance of wellness.

A Sacramento native and member of the American Optometric Association, American Academy of Optometry, and the California Optometric Association, she comes to us as a recent graduate from the Southern California College of Optometry. See her bio below. Welcome to the EYEcenter family, Dr. Lynch!

Hometown: Sacramento, CA. I was born and raised in Sacramento. My schooling took me to the Bay Area and Southern California but I always knew I wanted to return home to Sacramento where my friends and family reside.

Degree: Doctor of Optometry & Master of Science in Visual Science
Earned from (school): Southern California College of Optometry
Undergrad education: UC Davis (BA in English)

Associations:

Graduated Summa Cum Laude Honors (Optometry School)
Member of AOA (American Optometric Association)
Member of COA (California Optometric Association)
Member and student fellow of AAO (American Academy of Optometry)

Personal hobbies: I love quilting and often make them as gifts for friends. I am an avid baker but am still trying to perfect my souffle! I enjoy traveling in the states and abroad to experience other cultures and languages. There is so much to see in this beautiful world.

Where did your interest in optometry come from?
My first experience in eye care was accompanying my mom at age twelve to bring your daughter to work day. She was a nurse for a cataract surgeon and was able to show me the power of restoring vision. I was hooked after I saw the joy on patients’ faces when they could see clearly! I knew I wanted to give others the gift of sight. I am blessed to call optometry my job.

Are there any industry specialties you have an interest in focusing on down the road?
I love working with pediatric patients. A child may dislike reading or school altogether and many times this is due to a vision issue. It is incredibly rewarding to help a child see clearly and comfortably and hear how their vision improvements affect other areas of their life.

What does being part of EYEcenter mean to you?
Being part of the EYEcenter family allows me to treat my patients with the utmost care and cutting edge technology. This practice values the relationships doctors build with their patients because it understands communication is a vital part of health care. EYEcenter also strives to provide the best by participating in clinical research studies and working with doctors across the country to advance new treatments in vision care.

What are you excited for in optometry during the years to come?
Optometry is an ever-expanding field. New technologies for treating eye diseases such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, and even brain injuries and concussions are on the horizon. I am excited to be apart of Optometry as is becomes more integrated with whole body health and wellness.