About

Benefits

The Board

OPTOMETRIC TRENDS DISCOVERY GROUP

Led by prominent experts in the field of optometry, The Optometric Trends Discovery Group is an exciting new group that reports on clinical opinions and practice patterns about the current and future state of optometry.

to see how your answers compared to everyone else

on key topics with 

expert commentary

for an AppleWatch

Dr. Melissa Barnett is principal optometrist at the University of California, Davis. 

She is an internationally recognized key opinion leader, specializing in dry eye disease, specialty contact lenses, and presbyopia. Dr. Barnett lectures globally and publishes extensively on topics including dry eye, anterior segment disease, contact lenses, presbyopia, and creating a healthy balance between work and home life for women in optometry. 

She is Immediate Past Chair of the American Optometric Association Contact Lens and Cornea Section, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry, a Fellow and Global Ambassador of the British Contact Lens Association, serves on the Board of the Gas Permeable Lens Institute, International Society of Contact Lens Specialists and is Past President of The Scleral Lens Education Society. 

Dr. Melissa Barnett and Lynette Johns authored and edited the book Contemporary Scleral Lenses: Theory and Application with the unique perspectives and contributions of international experts. Dr. Barnett most recently chaired the BCLA CLEAR report on scleral lenses. She is currently serving on the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS): A Lifestyle Epidemic Ocular Surface Disease Workshop. 

Dr. Barnett was awarded the inaugural Theia Award for Excellence for Mentoring by Women in Optometry. She was granted the Most Influential Women in Optical from Vision Monday. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, yoga, hiking and spending time with family.

Dr. Marc Bloomenstein is the Director of Optometric Services at the Schwartz Laser Eye Center in Scottsdale, Arizona and President of MRB Eye Consultants.

He is the Chairman of the Education Committee for Vision Expo. 

Dr. Bloomenstein served as the Chairman of the AOA Continuing Education Committee and served on the board of the Ocular Surface Society of Optometry (OSSO), as well as a founding member of the Optometric Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Society (OCCRS).

Dr. Bloomenstein has served as the President of the Arizona Optometric Association, Legislation Chair and President of the Board of the Arizona Optometric Charitable Foundation. Dr. Bloomenstein has delivered over 1500 invited lectures worldwide and serves as a consultant to numerous industry-leading pharmaceutical, biomedical and information technology companies.

Dr. Gloria Chiu is an Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the USC Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. She received her Doctor of Optometry at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry and completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at the Southern California College of Optometry, where she still serves as an adjunct faculty member.

Her clinical interests include contact lens fittings and treatment for patients with ocular surface disease and irregular corneas. Her research interests include microbial contamination in contact lens-related solutions and effects of scleral lens wear on the ocular surface and optic nerve.

She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the Scleral Lens Education Society, and a member of the California Optometric Association. She is a regular contributor to Contact Lenses Today and Contact Lens Spectrum, and publishes frequently in ophthalmic journals.

She was named one of America’s Best Eye Doctors in 2021 by Newsweek and GP Practitioner of the Year by the Gas Permeable Lens Institute in 2023.

Dr. Koetting completed her Optometry Residency in Ocular Disease / Primary Care at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH, and received her Doctor of Optometry from southern College of Optometry.

Dr. Koetting has extensive experience in the field, her specialties include Dry Eye disease, Glaucoma, Diabetic eye care, and Neuro-Optometry.

Dr. Koetting is a nationally known lecturer and author with a focus on ocular disease, surgical co-management, and Neuro-Optometry. She was 2019's recipient of Virginia's prestigious VOA Young OD of the Year award.

Dr. Koetting grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and comes from a long line of Optometrists as she is a 4th Generation Optometrist. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, kayaking, running, and playing the cello.

Dr. McGee is the visionary founder of Precision Vision of Edmond, a boutique-style eyecare practice that specializes in dry eye disease, specialty contact lenses, and aesthetics. She is also the co-founder of Precision Vision of Midwest City, an MD-OD practice specializing in premium IOL and cataract surgery. 

She earned her OD degree from Northeastern State University College of Optometry, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians and the American Optometric Association. Currently she serves as the Immediate Past-President the OAOP. 

She is also an adjunct faculty member of Northeastern State University College of Optometry. She was named Young Optometrist of the year in 2012 by the OAOP.

Dr. Mohammad Rafieetary is a consultative optometric physician at the Charles Retina Institute. 

He is a graduate of Boston University and has received his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Following his Primary Care Optometry and Ocular Disease Residency at the Southern College of Optometry (SCO) and the Memphis Health Center, and until 1996 he served on faculty and as the Chief of Ocular Disease at SCO. Dr. Rafieetary is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), the immediate past Chair of the Retina Interest Group (SIG), and President and fellow of the Optometric Retina Society (ORS).

Dr. Rafieetary is a Diplomate of the American Board Optometry and serves on the Board of Directors of ABO and Diplomate of the American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry.

Dr. Rafieetary’s clinical practice is dedicated to conditions of the posterior segment; he frequently publishes in professional journals and lectures on posterior segment topics.

Dr. Justin Schweitzer is a fellowship-trained optometrist specializing in the treatment of glaucoma, corneal-related vision conditions, and cataracts at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, SD.

An adjunct clinical professor at The Illinois College of Optometry and Kentucky College of Optometry, Dr. Schweitzer is a national leader in glaucoma, anterior segment surgery, and anterior segment pathology who lectures to his colleagues nationwide. 

Dr. Schweitzer is a member of several industry organizations, has held many leadership positions within them, is the current president of the South Dakota Optometric Society, and is involved in community eye care initiatives. He currently serves as a chief medical editor for Modern Optometry and is the Optometric Externship Director for the Illinois College of Optometry at Vance Thompson Vision.

Justin looks forward to time with his wife, Nissa, and their two children. Some of his favorite pastimes are camping, spending time at the lake, running, biking, and swimming. 

A Minnesota Vikings fan, Justin loves following his team throughout their NFL football seasons and counts down to their season opener regardless what time of year it is.

Dr. Erin Tomiyama is an Assistant Professor of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University. She is a Southern California native and completed her undergraduate degree at UCLA. She then received her OD degree from the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University. 

Dr. Tomiyama went on to complete a Cornea and Contact Lens Residency at the University of Houston College of Optometry. During residency, she was introduced to clinical research and decided to pursue a MS, then PhD in Physiological Optics. 

She has developed a passion for myopia management and her research areas of interest are myopia, optics, and astigmatic corrections.

Dr. Tomiyama is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a two-time Ezell Fellowship recipient.

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