VT Works

For the benefit of our readers, can you explain your current role in Developmental Optometry?

Currently I’m an associate optometrist at Hellerstein and Brenner Vision Center working with patients of all ages. My days consist of completing annual vision care and working with binocular vision dysfunctions and traumatic brain injuries. In this role I treat and co-manage through vision therapy and specialized spectacle prescriptions.

You grew up in Honolulu before eventually attending Purdue University and later Southern College of Optometry. How did those different environments help shape you both personally and professionally?

I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to grow up and live in such diverse regions of the United States. Growing up on Oahu, I was raised with a strong sense of community. Not only do I have a lot of relatives on the island but the deeply rooted Hawaiian values of ‘ohana and caring for our kūpuna, or elderly, instilled a deep sense of empathy for those surrounding me. Hawai’i is commonly coined a “melting pot” due to its diverse population. Maturing in such a multicultural environment allowed me to quickly learn and embrace that everyone has a different story to share.

When I moved across the country to Purdue in Northwest Indiana it was a large, intentional shift out of my comfort zone. I was excited to be a part of a large institution that taught me resilience, independence, and the value of my peers not only academically but socially as well. While I still had a small community from Hawai’i who I could always depend on, this shift proved that I could thrive and build a support system in unfamiliar areas.

The Southern College of Optometry in Memphis was a nice change of pace. I was now a part of a smaller community in a diverse, urban city where I was able to channel all my experiences into my professional identity. Ultimately moving from the Pacific, to the Midwest, to the South before finally settling in Denver made me adaptable and empathetic. It’s allowed me to have a greater understanding and ability to relate to both my patients and those I meet in social interactions.

Your undergraduate background is in Human Development and Family Science with a concentration in Child Development. Do you feel that foundation changed the way you approach patient care as an optometrist?

Absolutely. Optometry is inherently developmental, especially when we are treating the pediatric population. One’s vision has a direct impact on how they interact with their environment on both a physical and social level. Undiagnosed vision issues come in various forms outside of an inability to see clearly and can affect the patient’s motor skills, behavior, learning, and confidence.

My undergraduate experience taught me that I was not just treating the eyes but the whole person, while my graduate experience taught me how to achieve that clinically.

You were awarded the Glen T. Steele, OD and L. Allen Fors, OD Developmental Vision Endowed Scholarship while at SCO. What did that recognition mean to you during your training?

Receiving the Glen T. Steele, OD and L. Allen Fors, OD Developmental Vision Endowed Scholarship was deeply meaningful to me. Having started my optometric journey with a background in Child Development, to be recognized with an award that directly linked that background with optometry was immensely validating. Moreover, Dr. Steele and Dr. Fors are widely recognized throughout SCO for their work in pediatric eye care and vision development. To be associated with their legacy was incredibly humbling and something I’ll carry with me as a reminder of the impact I want to make on my patients’ lives.

Many patients with binocular vision issues or post-concussion symptoms spend years searching for answers. What is it like to be part of that turning point for someone?

Being a part of the turning point for patients is truly amazing. Whether it’s a binocular vision issue or a post-concussion symptom, many of these patients, and parents, are just looking for answers that don’t generally show up during a regular eye exam. For me, the best part is being able to validate their struggle and/or symptoms. Whether that means I’m helping them through vision therapy, prism, changes in their prescription, or even fostering a team with other healthcare professionals or academic support. Providing the answers they’ve been searching for is rewarding, but being an advocate for the support they need to succeed outside the clinic is equally as fulfilling.

In your experience, what are some of the most misunderstood aspects of binocular vision dysfunction by the general public?

In my experience, the most misunderstood aspect of binocular vision dysfunction by the general public is just how much it can affect every aspect of one’s life. A child who struggles when reading, refuses to do their work, or acts out in class is often diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability. Similarly adults who suffer from frequent headaches or get overwhelmed and anxious in a grocery store may spend years avoiding triggers or trying to find answers with their primary care doctors. They don’t realize that while they do have 20/20 vision and they are in good health, our eyes have to successfully work as a team. Otherwise, their brain is working overtime to keep their visual world stable causing strain in other areas of their lives including behavioral shifts and emotional fatigue.

Traumatic brain injury cases can often involve emotional, cognitive, and physical challenges beyond vision alone. How important is collaboration with other professionals in that rehabilitation process?

Collaboration is essential for successful rehabilitation. A traumatic brain injury can completely rattle the processing ability of the brain, and with the visual system being linked to other neurological pathways, visual dysfunction is rarely isolated. If we are only treating the eyes, patients battling with emotional distress, vestibular difficulties, and physical injury alone are being limited in their full recovery potential.

You are involved with organizations including Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association and Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. How valuable have professional organizations been in your growth as a clinician?

Being a part of both OVDRA and NORA has been invaluable to my growth as a clinician. These organizations provide me with a community of mentors and peers who share the same drive to look beyond the traditional eye exam. They provide clinical pearls through workshops and conferences that bridge the gap between what we learn in school and what our patients bring to the exam. Ultimately, these organizations allow me to provide the highest standard of care and connect me to those who are just as passionate about patient success.

Outside the clinic, you enjoy cooking, reading, and traveling. Do you find those interests help you maintain balance and perspective in a demanding profession?

Yes! It’s important to find and have activities that recharge my battery after a demanding day. My hobbies, including cooking, reading, and traveling, allow for a balanced amount of relaxation, physical activity, and decision making. While I do still love a good nap, these activities give me the balance I need to prevent burnout.

For readers who may be unfamiliar with developmental or neuro-optometric care, what is one thing you wish more people understood about the impact vision can have on everyday life?

The one thing I wish people understood more is just how deeply vision impacts every facet of our lives. Throughout my education and through mentors I’ve often heard the statement, “Sight comes from the eyes, but Vision is gained from the brain.”

Sight is your eyes’ anatomical ability to see something clearly, but vision takes that information and integrates it into your motor and emotional output. Vision is not just about seeing clearly, but about how you process and navigate your world.  

Closing Thoughts From Robert – A great thanks to Dr. Amy Overland for taking the time to complete this interview and share both her professional insight and personal journey with our readers. Dr. Overland brings a thoughtful, compassionate perspective to developmental and neuro-optometric care, while reminding us that behind every diagnosis is a person searching for understanding, support, and hope. Her passion for collaboration, patient advocacy, and whole-person care shines throughout her work, and the future of our profession is brighter because of clinicians like her.

Also, a special thanks to the 2026 OVDRA Annual Meeting in Louisville for unintentionally making this interview happen in the first place. Somewhere between the banquet dinner and ensuing chaos on the dance floor, we happened to cross paths almost entirely by accident. It’s proof positive that sometimes the best connections happen when neither person planned for them. Please join me in wishing Dr. Amy Overland continued success in making a meaningful impact on the lives of her patients and on the profession as a whole.