About Us Staff Biographies
To read about each staff member, click on her name.
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Sandra Akamine Davidson, OD, FAAO
After earning her Summa cum laude Bachelors degree in visual science in 1987, Dr. Akamine Davidson graduated from Southern California College of Optometry in 1989, with the distinction of being in the top 10% of her class.
Dr. Akamine Davidson started her current optometry practice in Riverside in 1999, taking over the reins first held by Carl Click, O.D., who practiced in Riverside for 44 years.
Dr. Akamine Davidson is:
- Past president of the Inland Empire Optometric Society
- A Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, whose membership is limited to only the highest-qualified optometrists
- A Member of the American Optometric Association
- A Member of the California Optometric Association
- Clinical Instructor at Loma Linda University Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology
- Adjunct Clinical Faculty at the Western University Health Sciences College of Optometry
She has been married to Richard Davidson since 2005. The couple enjoys sharing hobbies such as scuba diving, water and snow skiing, bicycle riding, running, and piloting the small plane they built together.
Dr. Akamine Davidson says her staff’s goal is to exceed patients’ expectations by providing the most thorough and friendliest eye exam experience possible.
“We really want to get to know you, your work, your interests, hobbies and activities, so that we can customize all of our recommendations to meet your unique visual needs. Eye Focus on You.”
~Sandra Akamine Davidson, OD |
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Leanna M. Parisi, OD
Dr. Leanna Parisi has been in private practice in the Inland Empire since 1987. An honors graduate of Apple Valley High School, she received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Riverside and graduated from the Southern California College of Optometry with a Doctor of Optometry degree. While there, she received the Harold C. Kohn Student Research Symposium Award.
Dr. Parisi is a past-president of the IEOS and has been married to her husband, James F. Tierney III, for 22 years. They have a teenage daughter, Erin.
The Tierney family resides in San Bernardino with their yellow lab, Larry, and their cat, Max. Leanna, Jim and Erin love to travel, snow and water ski, golf, and attend the theatre. The whole family is very involved with the Looking Glass Studio of Performing Arts as well as the Junior University Musical Theatre.
Dr. Parisi provides comprehensive vision examinations, treats eye diseases and prescribes eyeglasses and contact lenses for people of all ages.
Dr. Parisi is a member of:
- California Optometric Association
- American Optometric Association
- Inland Empire Optometric Association
- College of Optometrists in Vision Development
- Optometric Extension Program
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Idalia Gonzales, Optician
Idalia happily helps patients find the perfect frame for their face shape and prescription. There are several reasons that this is not as easy as it sounds. Did you know that if your prescription is very high because you are extremely near-sighted or far-sighted, you should choose frames that are small and centered directly in front of your eyes, to minimize the thickness of the lens? Also, for progressives or bifocals, the vertical depth of the frame has to be deep enough so there is enough space to give you the reading prescription. There are also different materials such as polycarbonate, high index and of course the standard plastic.
Idalia is an expert on all of the above as well as in the various materials and coatings used for different lenses. These include anti-reflection coating, polarized lenses and TransitionsTM photochromic. There are also different materials such as polycarbonate, high index and the new individual, high-definition progressive addition lenses.
A part of the Akamine Davidson team since 2007, Idalia has been an optician for 11 years. Her favorite part of the job is seeing patients’ reactions when they try on their new glasses for the first time. She always goes above and beyond the call of duty to meet patients’ needs.
When she isn’t at the office, Idalia is at her kids’ cheerleading or basketball practice. She also enjoys spending time with her family.
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Martha Sanchez, Office Manager
Martha is the organizational glue that holds the office together. Since 1999, her responsibilities as office manager have included overseeing absolutely everything to make sure the office runs smoothly. As a result of her experience and aptitudes, she is capable of covering virtually every work station in the office. She has been an optician for more than 15 years, and is known as the office trouble-shooter.
Like Idalia and April, Martha helps patients with insurance matters, selecting frames, billing insurance companies; and manages employee schedules. Martha also recommends coatings and lens treatments which can make the glasses meet all of the patient’s visual needs. She believes that catering to patients' needs makes for great patient care.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family. |
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Larissa Flores, Optometric Assistant
Larissa is Dr. Akamine Davidson’s ever-ready office assistant and optician. She’s been with Dr. Akamine Davidson since she graduated from high school. You might know her from her super sweet phone voice and “can-do” attitude. Larissa’s job is to make sure the glasses that arrive from the lab arrive as prescribed. She handles quality control matters with ease. She also helps patients select frames and does some of the preliminary testing such as taking patients’ medical histories, taking visual acuity measurements, running the visual field screening test and the auto-refractor, which provides the doctor with measurements of the corneal curvature and objective refractive error. Larissa also analyzes the prescription in patients’ current glasses.
Along with glasses quality control, Larissa also helps out with the analyzing of rigid gas permeable contact lenses, checking the base curves, diameters, and powers to assist the doctor in ensuring the best fit possible.
A graduate of the University of California, Riverside, Larissa has a Bachelor of Science degree. Larissa believes that the key to great patient care is maintaining a friendly attitude and making sure that patients are getting the help they need. In her free time, Larissa enjoys volunteering in the community, traveling, and singing karaoke…a lot. |
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April Craig, Receptionist
When you call the office of Dr. Akamine Davidson, the cheery voice you hear on the other end of the phone is most likely that of April Craig, who has been our receptionist since 2007.
April greets patients when they arrive at our office and makes sure they complete all of their initial paperwork. If you are anticipating a visit to our office in the near future, you might want to download these documents, fill them out, and bring them with you to your appointment.
Click here to download documents.
April’s duties also include scheduling appointments and, most importantly, helping patients with their vision insurance coverage. To make sure you are getting the highest benefit amount you are entitled to, it will greatly aid April’s efforts if you can determine which vision insurance you have before scheduling your appointment. The reason this is so important is because there are so many companies that offer vision insurance. Major carriers include VSP, Medical Eye Services, EyeMed, Spectera/Optimum, and PrimeCare. And there are dozens more.
Click here to verify your insurance coverage if you have VSP, MESVision or Eyemed.
April believes that, by focusing on patients’ needs, she can provide great patient care. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time at home with her family. |
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