Stay informed and inspired with the latest in eye care.

Sarah Douangsavanh

Sarah was born in San Diego, CA, and now lives in Orange, CA, with her husband and their dwarf hamster named Zero. Her favorite pastimes include traveling, relaxing, and spending quality time with family and friends. Sarah transitioned into the eye care field unexpectedly, coming from a dental background of 10 years, and has been with Mission Viejo Optometric Center for almost two years. What she loves most about her work is her coworkers and working alongside Dr. Walsh. She brings artistic and organizational skills to her role, along with maintaining stewardship of the office. A fun fact about her is that she has been a social media content creator since 2020, manages a food podcast, and served as tennis team manager/secretary here in Orange County. She and her coworkers pride themselves on taking the time to get to know their patients and making them feel like they are part of the Mission Viejo Optometric Center family.

Brian Paredes

Brian was born in Orange County, CA, and now lives in Chino Hills with his family and their 13-year-old chihuahua. His favorite pastime is taking weekend trips on his motorcycle. Brian got into the eye care field unexpectedly, starting at Oliver Peoples, and has been in the optical industry for eight years. What he loves most about his work at Mission Viejo Optometric Center is the team—everyone is patient, caring, and fun. The greatest satisfaction comes from helping patients with frame and lens issues, assisting kids, making patients feel comfortable, and seeing their progress. He brings fluent Spanish skills to his role. A fun fact about him is that he builds model robots, including Gunpla, and works on motorcycles. He and his coworkers pride themselves on taking the time to get to know their patients and making them feel like they are part of the Mission Viejo Optometric Center family.

Johnathan Pham

Johnathan was born in Pensacola, FL, and now lives in Westminster with his beautiful angel of a daughter. His favorite pastimes include pickleball, basketball, bowling, cooking, hiking, reading, volunteering, fitness, music, and break dancing. Jonathan has been in the eye care industry for over 10 years, and his brother is an optometrist in Virginia. The part of his job that gives him the most satisfaction is working with patients to educate them and help them fully understand their eye health and insurance. He brings unique skills to his role, including fluency in Vietnamese and Spanish. A fun fact about him is his love for sports like basketball, bowling, and break dancing. He and his coworkers pride themselves on taking the time to get to know their patients and making them feel like they are part of the Mission Viejo Optometric Center family.

Katie Burkland

Katie was born in Anaheim and now calls Mission Viejo home, where she lives with her spouse, their cat, bird, and bearded dragon. Her favorite hobbies include attending indie music concerts, baking, and spending time with her daughter. Katie entered the eye care field accidentally but ended up loving it. She has been in the eye industry for three years. What she loves most about her work is her coworkers and working closely with Dr. Walsh. The greatest satisfaction comes from helping patients put on their glasses and seeing them able to see clearly, making patients feel comfortable, helping kids, and explaining benefits so they feel at ease. As a very artistic person, she brings creative skills to her role and volunteers on projects with kids, like Special Olympics. A fun fact about her is that she likes to find local new music and artists. She and her coworkers pride themselves on taking the time to get to know their patients and making them feel like they are part of the Mission Viejo Optometric Center family.

Dr. Greg Kame

Dr. Greg Kame received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Irvine in 1995. He then graduated in 1999 from the Southern California College of Optometry, where his father graduated 37 years earlier.

Dr. Kame is a fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Optometry. He served on the California State Board of Optometry, accepting 1 of only 6 professional positions appointed by the Governor of California. He is a past president of the Asian American Optometric Society and has served many years on its board. He currently serves as one of its trustees.

Dr. Kame is a past president of the Alumni Association Board at the Southern California College of Optometry. He served many years on its board as a director and vice-president. He was the treasurer and secretary of the nationally renowned contact lens group called the Society of Contact Lens Specialists. Dr. Kame also served as secretary of the Optometric Consultants in contact lenses.

Dr. Kame is a member of the Orange County Optometric Society, California Optometric Association, Asian American Optometric Society, and American Optometric Association. Dr. Kame has served on the National Professional Advisory Panel coordinated by Vistakon, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. He is also a clinical examiner and grader for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO). The NBEO is a nationwide clinical exam that graduating optometric students must pass to obtain their practicing license.

Dr. Kame is glaucoma certified and is licensed in the use of diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents. He treats eye diseases and conditions such as glaucoma, pink eye, corneal ulcers, conjunctivitis, keratitis, and bacterial infections. He has had extensive clinical experience at Nellis Air Force Base Veterans Hospital in Nevada, the Optometric Center of Los Angeles, the Optometric Center of Fullerton, and the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital.

Dr. Kame is an avid golf and basketball player. He is married to Anna S. Kame, also an optometrist. They have 4 children named Kaitlyn, Brooklyn, Lucas, and Avery.

Audria Tran

Originally from Louisiana, Audria moved to Bakersfield as a child, and now lives in Tustin with her aunt, uncle, and three cousins. She’s a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo and enjoys playing the piano and violin in her spare time. Audria speaks Vietnamese and teaches kids about the Vietnamese culture and Catholic faith as a volunteer youth group leader at her church. As our intern, she’s excited to learn how to provide exceptional eye care to patients by getting hands-on experience using our array of advanced technology.

Jacquilin Nguyen

Jacquilin was drawn to the world of optometry because she wanted to help patients express themselves through their eyewear. Born and raised in Orange County, Jacquilin currently lives in Anaheim. She lends her time to charitable organizations like Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity and Lions Club International. Jacquilin enjoys learning from the team at La Paz Optometric Center because everyone has their own unique skillset and background. She enjoys dancing at concerts, thrift shopping, and traveling — she’s also fluent in Vietnamese!

Dr. Michael Lum

Dr. Lum discovered his passion for optometry while visiting his family optometrist in the 9th grade. His optometrist offered him a shadowing opportunity which turned into a part-time tech position that lasted through highschool and college. Dr. Lum was born in Orange County and raised in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Dr. Lum received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Vanguard University of Southern California and his Doctorate of Optometry from the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University. His professional experiences includes externships at Naval Health Clinic at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu Hawaii, Coastal Vision, OC Retina, University Eye Center Los Angeles, and Ketchum Health.

Dr. Lum is a California State Board Certified Optometrist and is certified to treat and manage Glaucoma. He is also certified to fit Paragon CRT lenses and Zenlens scleral lenses. Dr. Lum has experience diagnosing and managing a large variety of ocular diseases including dry eye, cataracts, and macular degeneration. When time permits, Dr. Lum volunteers at vision screenings hosted by Rotary, Special Olympics, and Care Harbor. Dr. Lum’s goal is always to provide the highest quality eye care as well as educate the patient about their eyes.

When he is not at the office, You’ll most likely find Dr. Lum at Disneyland with his family or in an online battlefield with his gaming crew. He also enjoys searching for new restaurants in Orange County (especially boba), experimenting with different types of wood to cook smoked meats in his family’s smoker, learning how to program games, creating pixel art, and building arcade machines.

Dr. Mimi Truong

Dr. Truong was born and raised in Orange County. She knew early on that she wanted to become an optometrist so after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of California, Irvine, she went on to the Southern California College of Optometry for her Doctor of Optometry degree. While earning her doctorate, she volunteered at the Braille Institute of Orange County and spent time at local schools to teach students about the optometry profession as a National Optometric Student Association liaison. Her training includes professional internships at New Eyes Ophthalmology in Las Vegas, Castle Family Health Center for the underserved population, San Diego Naval Medical Center and Ketchum Health Eye Center. She is licensed by the California State Board of Optometry in the diagnosis of glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome. She is also certified in Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT).

Dr. Truong believes in preventative eyecare. She is passionate in learning about each of her patients and connecting their lifestyle to her findings to provide individualized suggestions that promote better eye health. She enjoys interacting with both her children and adult patients, and the stories that they share with her.

When Dr. Truong is not seeing patients, she enjoys going to Disneyland, re-watching all of the Marvel movies and shows, and spending time with her niece. A fun fact about Dr. Truong is that she memorized the entire script to the 1998 Mulan movie. Go ahead and quiz her on it when you see her!

Dr. Shawn Yamamoto

Dr. Yamamoto earned his Bachelor of Arts in psych-biological sciences from the University of California, Riverside before traveling across the country to attend SUNY College of Optometry in New York City to earn his Doctor of Optometry degree. While earning his doctorate, Dr. Yamamoto actively participated in charity programs that provided vision care for children at local elementary schools. Life in New York opened his eyes to the world around him, allowing him to learn about the latest innovations in the optometric field and granting him the skills that he uses to this day.

Dr. Yamamoto is also a partner in an optometry practice in Long Beach, California. His has experience working with a multitude of optometric practices including hospitals in India and at army bases. He is a member of the American Optometric Association, the California Optometric Association, and his local optometric society. He also serves on the board of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons as their treasurer.

Dr. Yamamoto lives in Fullerton, California with his wife, who works as an attorney for the City of Los Angeles. In his spare time he “tries” to play basketball with a variety of organized leagues and plays golf. One of his ambitions is to one day make the senior PGA tour, but for now, optometry remains his main passion.

Dr. Aaron Sako

Dr. Sako, who was born in Santa Monica and raised in Cerritos, first joined the La Paz Optometric family in 2001. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences in 1995 from the University of California Irvine, before earning his Doctor of Optometry, graduating with honors in 2000 from Nova Southeastern University in South Florida.

Dr. Sako’s current areas of focus are primary care, surgical consultations, surgical co-management, and specialty contact lenses. He is also glaucoma certified and is licensed in the use of therapeutic and diagnostic pharmaceutical agents. Dr. Sako has extensive clinical experience and training, and spent time at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida and the Aker Kasten Cataract and Laser Eye Institute in Boca Raton, Florida, before joining the La Paz Optometric team.

Dr. Sako is an affiliate member of a prominent Orange County laser center, allowing his patients to benefit from his unique understanding of LASIK, which he, himself, has undergone. He has also co-managed thousands of refractive procedures. A proponent of lifelong learning, Dr. Sako is also certified in Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT), which is a non-surgical option for correcting nearsightedness, which involves patients wearing specialty contact lenses during sleep.

Dr. Sako is a member of the American Optometric Association, the California Optometric Association, the Orange County Optometric Association, the Orange County Optometrist Club, and the Asian American Optometric Society. He is currently a member of the executive board for the Asian American Optometric Society and has been since 2004. He is also a member of the prestigious Advisory Board to Vision Laser Eye Centers in Newport Beach, California.

Dr. Sako believes in the importance of community service and always striving for excellence. This former Eagle Scout is currently an active member of the Mission Viejo Rotary Club and provides charitable annual eye exams and care through this organization to children in Baja, Mexico.

Dr. Sako lives in Ladera Ranch with his wife, Mako, and their three children Skylar, Payton, and Colby. When he is not helping patients, Dr. Sako enjoys exercising, skiing, playing golf, and spending time with friends and family. He also has a keen interest in music, and enjoys playing the Tahitian drums and strumming on his ukulele.

Dr. Emerick Nakasone

Dr. Nakasone was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, but currently resides in Santa Ana (North Tustin), California. He has been an optometrist for more than 20 years, and an Orange County resident even longer, so he understands the wants and needs of the eclectic lifestyles here in the OC.

He graduated from Orange County’s very own Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton, CA, is an Eagle Scout, and was enlisted in the United States Army for three years.

Dr. Nakasone is married and has three successful children and five grandchildren (and counting).

In his spare time, Dr. Nakasone loves track racing, even getting the fastest time at 1st Performance Driving School at Willow Springs Raceway.

Dr. Justine Hsieh

Dr. Hsieh is a born and raised Orange County native. She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology before traveling to the Bay Area to earn her Doctor of Optometry degree from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley. Her extensive training includes clinical externships at San Francisco VA Medical Center, Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, CA, Alameda Health System in Oakland, CA, Meredith Morgan Eye Center in Berkeley, CA, and OMNI Eye Services in New Jersey.

Dr. Hsieh is a glaucoma certified optometrist, licensed by the State Board of Optometry in California. She is experienced in the detection, treatment, and management of eye diseases including glaucoma, cataracts, allergies, and dry eyes. In addition to prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses, Dr. Hsieh provides high-quality care for patients with a wide variety of eye conditions, as well as patients who have undergone LASIK and cataract surgery. Dr. Hsieh is a member of the American Optometric Association, California Optometric Association, and Orange County Optometric Society.

Dr. Hsieh is dedicated to providing quality care and education to patients of their vision and eye health. When not caring for her patients, she enjoys traveling, trying out new restaurants, drinking coffee, and spending quality time with her fiancé, friends, and family.

Travis Yu

Travis chose the optometric space for his career so he could help others improve their vision, and especially cherishes being an important part of a child’s clear sight journey. His first language is Cantonese, and he’s proud to spend his days in a diverse office among friendly people who put their patients needs above all else. Though he’s from the Bay Area, Travis now resides in Irvine with his best friend, and someday hopes to add a golden retriever to his chosen family. His hobbies include gaming, cooking, playing sports, and traveling.

Sao Mai Nguyen

A California native, Sao Mai was born in Los Angeles, grew up in Mission Viejo, and now lives in Santa Ana with her longtime partner and their two “cat children,” Ramona and Juno. She attended the University of California, Riverside, and then began an internship at an optometry practice, where she fell in love with eye care. Since then, she’s enjoyed being an integral part of each patients’ ability to see clearly, and sharing in the joy and confidence a custom-fitted pair of glasses brings.

Sao Mai speaks elementary Vietnamese and Spanish, and in her spare time likes staying up on the latest fashion, playing video games, and watching television shows.

Jennifer Orozco

Originally from Santa Ana, Jennifer lives in Tustin now with her son. Ever since being presented with an opportunity at age 21 to start a career in eye care, she has loved it and never looked back. Jennifer enjoys connecting with patients of all ages on a deeper level to help them achieve amazing vision with the right eyewear. She is grateful to work with her with her fellow staff members — who she calls family — and getting to have their morning coffee together to prep for the day.

Michael Navas

Michael was born in Queens, NY, and has lived in in Foothill Ranch for 23 years with his wife and daughter. In his free time, he stays active on the trails in Orange County near his home, and is an avid mountain biker. In Michael’s 25-plus years as a licensed optician, one of his favorite things is helping a child with a high prescription put on their first pair of glasses to see the world clearly for the first time. He and his coworkers pride themselves on taking time to get to know their patients and making them feel like they are part of the Mission Viejo Optometric Center family.

April Reyes Padilla

Born and raised in the Bay Area, April moved to Southern California in 2015 to attend college, and now lives in Orange County with her boyfriend and 15-year-old dog, Luna. When not assisting patients at Mission Viejo Optometric Center, she loves listening to medical and true crime podcasts, as well as exploring the arts through ceramics and painting classes. April can also help a wider variety of patients because she’s bilingual in Spanish!

Dr. Amanda Walsh

Dr. Amanda Walsh is a graduate of Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry, where she earned her Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree. She served as the Class President, President of the Christian Medical and Dental Association and Vice President of the Gold Key Honor Society. A Southern California native, Dr. Walsh received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from California State University San Marcos.

She has completed several advanced internships specializing in primary care, pediatrics, contact lenses, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, low vision, binocular vision disorders and pre- and post-operative care for LASIK and cataract surgery patients. She interned at the Phoenix Veterans Hospital, Midwestern Eye Institute and Accent Eyecare and Sports Vision Therapy Clinic.

As part of her training, Dr. Walsh conducted research with a focus on the effect of blue light exposure on human retinal cells. Her special interests include myopia management, dry eye treatment and specialty contact lenses. She is a member of the American Optometric Association and California Optometric Association. Additionally, she enjoys volunteering with the Illumination Foundation, Neighborhood Christian Clinic and Girl Scouts of America.

Dr. Walsh is excited to be a primary eye care provider in her home state and serve the communities of south Orange County. She treats every patient like family and provides them with the highest quality of care using the latest technology. When not seeing patients, Dr. Walsh enjoys spending time with her husband trying new food places, exploring the parks at Disneyland and traveling.

Dr. Justine Hsieh

Dr. Hsieh is a born and raised Orange County native. She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology before traveling to the Bay Area to earn her Doctor of Optometry degree from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley. Her extensive training includes clinical externships at San Francisco VA Medical Center, Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, CA, Alameda Health System in Oakland, CA, Meredith Morgan Eye Center in Berkeley, CA, and OMNI Eye Services in New Jersey.

Dr. Hsieh is a glaucoma certified optometrist, licensed by the State Board of Optometry in California. She is experienced in the detection, treatment, and management of eye diseases including glaucoma, cataracts, allergies, and dry eyes. In addition to prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses, Dr. Hsieh provides high-quality care for patients with a wide variety of eye conditions, as well as patients who have undergone LASIK and cataract surgery. Dr. Hsieh is a member of the American Optometric Association, California Optometric Association, and Orange County Optometric Society.

Dr. Hsieh is dedicated to providing quality care and education to patients of their vision and eye health. When not caring for her patients, she enjoys traveling, trying out new restaurants, drinking coffee, and spending quality time with her fiancé, friends, and family.

Nancy Jansen

Nancy has over 30 years of experience in providing patients with stunningly clear vision and personalized care. She treats every patient like a treasured family member, and devotes herself to their satisfaction. Raised in Orange County — where she currently lives with her granddaughter, dog, cat, and hamster — Nancy is well-traveled, previously living in Colorado, Wyoming, and Virginia. When not making sure her patients get quality service and the best glasses or contacts for their unique eyes, she finds joy in gardening and soccer.

Lina Pham

Lina began her eye care journey 12-plus years ago, and has stuck with it ever since. As someone who profoundly values her patients’ comfort, she takes her time to put them at ease while tailoring their eyewear to suit their needs. The talents and dedication of the staff here are a few of the reasons she’s proud to be part of our team. Lina lives in Stanton with husband, their two daughters, and dog named Theo. She leads an active, adventurous lifestyle through hiking, exploring, snowboarding, and goes to the gym five days a week to powerlift.

Jakub Awadallah

A California native, Jakub lives in coastal Orange County, and is a self-professed “foodie” who loves trying new local restaurants, as well as spending time outdoors. He finds it most fulfilling to fit children with their first pair of glasses, adding to his love of helping patients find the perfect eyewear. Jakub is patient and compassionate in his approach, and enjoys seeing new and familiar faces walking through our doors, and being there for all their eye care needs. Another feather in his cap is that he is bilingual, speaking English and Polish.

Daniel Cabanas

Originally from Orange, Daniel still lives in his hometown and spends his free time immersed in music, and even plays five different instruments. He chose to work in optical because he loves helping people get the eyewear they deserve. Daniel is fluent in Spanish, which allows him to provide invaluable support and guidance to Spanish-only speaking patients, as well as his team so they can deliver the best care. A bonus for him is working alongside people from various backgrounds who care deeply about their patients and make every day interesting.