Sam feels fortunate and proud to be part of the eyeQ staff. He has over twenty years of experience as an optician. He has another ten years experience working in the optical lab, where he learned to surface and finish prescription glasses. What he loves most about his job is interacting with patients, helping them select the best frame and lenses that suit their lifestyle, and putting smiles on their faces. He loves playing sports, cooking, painting and wood working. But most importantly, he cherishes spending time with loved ones.
A Santa Cruz local, Amber is the office chameleon who has been an optician at Eye Q Optometry for over a decade. Over the years, you may have seen her with pink, blue, or rainbow hair to accentuate her fabulous sense of style and personality. If you don't see her in the office, it might be because she's out volunteering for Operation Surf or Ride a Wave. Though she used to rock glasses on a daily basis, Amber had Lasik surgery in 2013. She is happy to answer any questions you may have if you're curious about the procedure for yourself!
Ryland has admired eyeQ's frame selection for far longer than he has been part of the team. With an eye for the curious and unique, he's always on the lookout for new and interesting frames. Ryland has a blast selecting the perfect frames for our patients.
He made his way into optics in 2015, working in a lens-manufacturing lab. He became a State licensed optician in 2016. Shortly after that, he found assisting patients face-to-face was much more satisfying and has been helping select amazing frames ever since!
Tyler was born and raised in Santa Cruz and has been wearing glasses since they were a young child. They adore working with children and take great pride in helping their community see. Tyler got their start in Opticianry in private practice and also has experience edging and mounting lenses in a finishing lab. They are passionate about music and animals. They love keeping reptiles, invertebrates, and other creepy crawlies - using them to inspire interest in others about the weird, fascinating wildlife that surrounds us.
Valerie is a seasoned optical professional whom has spent 26+ years helping patients look their best. Beyond optical experience, she has been a yoga instructor, makeup artist, and creative jewelry designer.
Valerie enjoys many hobbies in her free time, from massage therapy to alternative land management to rockhounding. Valerie strives to embody a harmonious blend of professional accomplishment, continuous learning, and a deep connection to the people and world around her.
Aaron has worked in the optical industry for 20 years and is proud to be the eyeQ Office Manager since 2010. His favorite part of working at eyeQ is helping to deliver an exceptional patient experience at every step of your visit. Aaron enjoys looking high and low for exceptional quality eyewear made by environmentally friendly and ethically responsible, family-owned independent manufacturers. When he is not working Aaron loves hiking, cooking, and photography.
Leah is a UCSC graduate and earned her degree in intensive psychology. She has been an optometric technician at eyeQ for 4 years and is currently in the process of learning more about opticianry. Leah is passionate about helping others, and believes that every patient deserves an individualized experience when having their services. In her free time, Leah enjoys road biking, hiking, beach hangs, and nurturing her beloved and nearly blind shih-poo!
Aryn has been a dynamic part of the Eye Q team for 3 years as an optometric technician. With a passion for healthcare and helping others, she takes pride in providing unrivaled service for our clients. Born and raised in Santa Cruz, you can find Aryn at the beach with her four-legged side kick Kai.
Born and raised in Morocco, Lamiae grew up with a fascination with languages that led her to learning English and moving to Santa Cruz in 2012. Lamiae's pride and joy in life is helping others; she takes great care to provide excellent customer service to Eye Q's lovely patients from the moment they enter our practice. Lamiae's commitment to facilitating wonderful and memorable experiences makes her a joy to have in the office, as well as part of our wonderful Eye Q team.
Born and raised in So-Cal, Megan moved to Santa Cruz to study at UCSC where she obtained her degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After graduating she joined the EyeQ team as an optometric technician with the aim to achieve a thorough understanding of the day-to-day operations of eye care while facilitating a meaningful experience for patients. In her free time Megan enjoys time spent in the great outdoors, indulging in activities like backpacking, gardening, and rock climbing.
Born in Germany Karin moved to Santa Cruz in the early 90s. She joined the eyeQ team as a bookkeeper in 2012 and is usually working in the business office. If you don’t see her in the office, she might be out bike riding, rock climbing, gardening, or refereeing a soccer game.
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