President's Message

Dear SDCOS Members,

I hope you’re all doing well. Spring is upon us—and hopefully that means a little more sunshine, a little less charting, and maybe even a moment to enjoy both.

Thank you to everyone who joined our first quarter mixer on St. Patrick’s Day. The bowling event had a great turnout and was a fun way to reconnect with colleagues after the workday.

We’re looking forward to our upcoming 5-hour CE event on April 12. It will feature insightful clinical content along with door prizes from our sponsors. As a reminder, volunteering for one morning at LOVC earns complimentary admission to this event—a great way to give back and stay engaged.

We’ve welcomed many new members recently and are excited to connect with them at the upcoming CE. If you know colleagues who are not yet part of SDCOS, we encourage you to invite them to join—our society continues to grow through shared learning, connection, and support.

Thank you for your continued involvement and support.

Sloan Rajadhyksha OD, FAAO, FCOVD

Volunteer Outreach

On March 21, your SDCOS partnered with the Thumbprint Foundation's Vision of the Future program to screen kids at the Salvation Army's Door of Hope. This facility shelters and supports homeless familes and survivors of domestic violence.

The program began with a brief bilingual presentation for the parents regarding the importance of vision in the learning process. It was followed by a vision screening for 20 children, 9 of which were in need of further testing and eyewear. Thanks to the generosity of the Thumbprint foundation, vouchers were given to the children for full exams and glasses at the offices of local society members.

A big thanks to Kristie Bruce-Lane, CEO of the Thumbprint Foundation, and to Dr. Joyce Medina and Dr. John Pack for volunteering their time. Additional screenings are planned at other homeless shelters across the county. Please be on the lookout for opportunities to volunteer.

Volunteer Opportunity: VSP Eyes of Hope Mobile Vision Clinic

VSP Eyes of Hope returns to San Diego County May 18-21, 2026, providing vision care for at-risk youth. We are seeking doctor volunteers. VSP Mobile staff will take care of all pre-testing and eyewear services.

MONDAY, MAY 18 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
NCREC
255 Pico Ave.
San Marcos, CA 92069
*Need 2 doctors.

TUESDAY, MAY 19 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
ARTS
200 E. 12th St.
National City, CA 91950
*Need 2 doctors.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
37ECB
3720 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92105
Staffed: Dr. Bob Meisel, Dr. Richard Baker

THURSDAY, MAY 21 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
ECCS
924 E. Main St.
El Cajon, CA 92021
Staffed: Dr. Bob Meisel, Dr. Richard Baker

If interested, please contact Rhonda Wilson Rhonda.Wilson@vsp.com or Bob Meisel rmeisel47@gmail.com

OD Relations Liaison Message

Please contact Dr. Lucia Millet, OD, Society Optometrist Relations Liaison at sdcos @gmail.com to be put on an official list for the following:

Fill-in/part-time work
Full-time work
Purchase/partner in/sell a practice

This service is offered free of charge to SDCOS members.

Upcoming CE Meeting (Save the date!)

Location: WestPAC Headquarters: 5280 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92121
July 16th - 2 hr CE - Featuring Priscilla Chang, OD, FAAO. Topic: Myopia Control

Save the date! Registration link coming soon

View Full 2026 Calendar

OMD Corner

Photobiomodulation for Dry AMD: A New Era in Retinal Care

Nikolas JS London, MD FACS
Retina Consultants San Diego

For decades, a diagnosis of intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration carried an uncomfortable reality: we could monitor it, counsel patients on nutrition and risk reduction, and watch, but we could not treat it. That has changed.

The Valeda Light Delivery System received FDA De Novo authorization in November 2024, making it the first and only FDA-authorized therapy proven to improve visual acuity in patients with intermediate dry AMD. For optometrists co-managing this patient population, this represents a meaningful shift in what's possible.

Valeda uses precise wavelengths of light (590 nm) to stimulate mitochondrial function in the macula through a process called photobiomodulation (PBM). By activating cytochrome c oxidase and boosting ATP production, PBM enhances cellular metabolism, reduces oxidative stress, and modulates inflammation, mechanisms directly relevant to AMD pathophysiology. Importantly, this is a non-thermal, photochemical process with no tissue damage and no phototoxicity. Treatment is non-invasive, requires no pupil dilation, and takes less than five minutes per eye per session. A standard course consists of nine sessions over three to four weeks, repeated every four months.

FDA authorization was based on LIGHTSITE III, a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled trial enrolling 100 patients across 10 U.S. sites. At the 21-month primary endpoint, the PBM group gained 6.2 letters compared to 2.4 letters in the sham group, a statistically significant difference of 3.8 letters (p=0.0036, 95% CI 1.2–6.3).

The recently-published 24-month data are equally compelling: the PBM group maintained a 5.6-letter gain versus 1.3 letters in sham, a difference of 4.3 letters (p=0.0024, 95% CI 1.5–7.2). This represents approximately one full line of vision improvement, sustained over two years. Importantly, 55% of treated eyes gained five or more letters, and 26% gained ten or more letters, two full lines of improvement.

Perhaps most striking is the disease-modifying signal: new geographic atrophy developed in only 1.1% of PBM-treated eyes versus 9.8% of sham-treated eyes, a 90% reduction (p=0.025). These findings suggest PBM may slow disease progression at a structural level, not just improve symptoms.

Long-term extension data from LIGHTSITE IIIB, presented at ARVO 2025, followed patients out to 4.5 years. More than 60% maintained greater than one line of vision benefit with continued treatment. Critically, patients who paused treatment for 20 months recovered approximately five letters after resuming, demonstrating that the benefit is durable and restorable.

Who Is the Right Patient?
FDA-authorized indications include patients with intermediate dry AMD, BCVA 20/32–20/70, with medium or large drusen or non-central geographic atrophy. Patients with center-involving GA or active neovascular AMD are excluded. The strongest responders in the trial were intermediate AMD patients. While early AMD showed minimal benefit many may also be interested and we are happy to discuss the treatment with them if they would like.

Coming to Our Poway Location
We are pleased to share that Retina Consultants San Diego will be offering Valeda photobiomodulation at our Poway location in the near future. We will be the first retinal practice in San Diego County to provide this therapy, eliminating the need for patients to travel to Orange County or Los Angeles for access.

We welcome referrals and look forward to partnering with you on this exciting new treatment option for your intermediate dry AMD patients. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions.

Best wishes,
Nik

SDCOS Board of Directors

Click to view board of directors

Welcome New SDCOS Members!

We’re excited to welcome our newest members to the San Diego County Optometric Society!

Your decision to join our local community of optometrists reflects a shared commitment to advancing patient care, supporting one another, and staying connected in our ever-evolving profession.

SDCOS offers opportunities to grow both professionally and personally through continuing education, networking events, leadership involvement, and community outreach. Whether you’re new to the area or newly licensed, we’re glad you’re here.

We encourage you to get involved, attend upcoming events, and connect with fellow members. If you see a familiar face, say hello; and if not, introduce yourself. We’re a welcoming group!

We look forward to getting to know you and supporting you in your optometric journey.

Welcome to SDCOS!

Dr. Dana Barakat
Dr. Jane Goodwin
Dr. Joseph Hannoosh
Dr. Austin Hirmiz
Dr. David Ierston-Brown
Dr. Ananya Jalsingh
Dr. Gurjiv Kaur
Dr. Kim Kelly
Dr. Diana Nguyen
Dr. Tracey Nguyen
Dr. Jocelyn Ou
Spencer Phu (Student)
Dr. Supanat Sritapan
Dr. Vanessa Tran
Dr. Jenelle Yaldo

SDCOS Member Spotlight

We’re excited to introduce a new feature in our newsletter—SDCOS Member Spotlight!

At our first meeting of the year, many of you shared a little about yourselves through a fun questionnaire, and we can’t wait to highlight the amazing doctors in our community.

Each spotlight gives us a chance to learn more about our fellow members, both inside and outside the exam room. From career paths and specialties to favorite hobbies, books, and life advice, it’s a great way to connect on a more personal level.

We’ll also continue collecting responses at upcoming CE meetings, so if you haven’t participated yet, we’d love for you to join in!

We hope this new section helps strengthen our sense of community and gives you a chance to get to know your colleagues in a fun and meaningful way.

Stay tuned for our first Member Spotlight below!

SDCOS Member Spotlight: Dr. Jocelyn Ou

We’re excited to feature Dr. Jocelyn Ou in this month’s Member Spotlight!

Dr. Ou practices in an OD/MD setting with a focus on cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, and ocular disease. She earned her degree from SUNY College of Optometry in 2018 and completed a cornea and specialty contact lens residency at SCCO in 2019.

Her favorite aspect of optometry is building meaningful connections with patients through education and interaction—something that truly reflects the heart of our profession.

If she weren’t an optometrist, Dr. Ou would be running a bakery (and her staff are lucky enough to already enjoy her homemade treats!).

Recently, she enjoyed reading Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross.

Outside of work, Dr. Ou loves exploring new coffee shops and breweries around San Diego with her pup.

Her advice to her younger self? Use your PTO and travel whenever you can!

*Photo: Switzerland 2025

When Headlines Roar, Discipline Matters Most

Brought to you by: Nichole Mayer & Will Hage

In moments of geopolitical tension, it’s easy to feel that markets are on the brink. War, energy shocks, and global instability dominate headlines and with them, investor anxiety rises. Yet history tells a more measured, and ultimately more reassuring, story.

A review of nearly a century of market data shows that while conflicts often spark short-term volatility, they have not derailed long term market progress. In fact, across major geopolitical events since 1926, markets have more often delivered positive returns than negative ones even within months of conflict onset. Over longer periods, the pattern becomes even clearer: three year returns following these events were consistently positive, averaging over 12% annually (1).

This is not to dismiss the real risks. Markets do react to uncertainty, and outcomes are influenced by broader economic conditions. Conflicts layered on top of weak economies such as during the 1970s oil crisis can amplify downside pressures. But even then, the longarc of market behavior has bent toward recovery and growth. What’s striking is the consistency of this pattern globally. U.S., developed international, and emerging markets all show similar resilience. Short-term dispersion exists, long-term discipline wins.

The lesson is both simple and difficult: do not let emotion dictate strategy. Investors are human, and fear is natural, but history does not support wholesale portfolio shifts based on geopolitical events alone.

Well-constructed portfolios are designed with uncertainty in mind. Diversification, global exposure, and long-term orientation are not just theoretical ideals, they are practical defenses against moments like these.

In times of crisis, the greatest risk may not be the market itself, but the decisions made in response to it.

Sources:
(1) Ken French Data Library.

The information contained in this article is general in nature and is not legal, tax or financial advice. For information regarding your particular situation, contact an attorney or a tax or financial professional. The information in this newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, tax or financial advice. In specific cases, clients should consult their legal, accounting, tax or financial professional. This article is not intended to give advice or to represent our firm as being qualified to give advice in all areas of professional services. Exit Planning is a discipline that typically requires the collaboration of multiple professional advisors. To the extent that our firm does not have the expertise required on a particular matter, we will always work closely with you to help you gain access to the resources and professional advice that you need.

This is an opt-in newsletter published by Efficient Advisors, LLC., and presented to you by our firm. We appreciate your interest.

Any examples provided are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Examples include fictitious names and do not represent any particular person or entity.

Nichole Mayer & Will Hage are Registered Representatives and Financial Advisors of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representatives of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. WestPac Wealth Partners LLC is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. Insurance products offered through WestPac Wealth Partners and Insurance Services, LLC, a DBA of WestPac Wealth Partners, LLC. | Mayer CA Insurance License #0F54659 | Hage CA Insurance License #0D97541