Dr. Kelly Kao earned her Doctor of Optometry degree with Clinical Honors from the University of California – Berkeley School of Optometry. After teaching at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry, conducting vision research at Google and Verily, and doing optometric missionary work overseas, she now enjoys helping her patients improve their quality of life through vision therapy and myopia (nearsightedness) control.
She completed a residency program in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation at the SUNY College of Optometry in New York, NY. There, she received advanced training in the evaluation and treatment of strabismus (eye turn), amblyopia (lazy eye), visual skills deficiencies (eye teaming, focusing, and tracking), learning-related deficiencies, and acquired brain injuries.
Dr. Kao is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She is certified to fit Paragon CRT lenses and is excited to serve the young and bright future of Silicon Valley.
Dr. Rachel Schwalbe, a Massachusetts native, earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA. Her longstanding passion for pediatric care led her to complete a concentration program in Pediatric Optometry while earning her doctorate followed by a residency in Pediatric Optometry through the New England College of Optometry. In residency, she trained at several hospitals and health centers in the Boston area including Boston Children’s Hospital, Tufts Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, and Perkins School for the Blind.
Dr. Schwalbe’s clinical interests include strabismus (eye misalignment), amblyopia (lazy eye), binocular vision (eye teaming, focusing, and tracking) disorders, and myopia (nearsightedness) control. She provides comprehensive eye care for children of all ages and enjoys fitting pediatric contact lenses, conducting vision therapy, and working with children with disabilities.
Dr. Karen To earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University – College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Oregon. In her 2nd year of education, she worked as an elementary school screening assistant and nurtured her interest in helping children with their visual needs. She pursued a residency program in Pediatric Optometry, Vision Therapy, and Neurorehabilitation at Vision Northwest—a private practice in Federal Way, WA. During her residency program, she received training in the evaluation and treatment of binocular vision anomalies such as strabismus (eye turn), amblyopia (lazy eye), visual skills deficiencies (eye teaming, focusing, and tracking), and acquired brain injuries.
Dr. To is a member of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and is currently working towards earning her fellowship. She is excited to be back in sunny California and provide vision services to the San Francisco Bay Area community. In her free time, Dr. To enjoys cooking, longboarding, and watching her favorite TV shows (Bones, Gilmore Girls, Grey’s Anatomy).
Becky is our Office Manager at STL Optometry. She attended UC San Diego where she graduated with a degree in Writing and a minor in Music. She comes from a higher-education background, having worked in Student Services at the University of California San Diego, Los Angeles, and Berkeley for many years.
Becky’s strong background in education brings a more comprehensive and well-rounded approach to the care of our patients. She is incredibly understanding and truly enjoys helping our patients improve their vision so they can meet their educational goals. She has grown fond of building relationships with our vision therapy patients and also their families. One of her favorite things at STL Optometry is to assist with our younger patients who are seeing an eye doctor for the very first time!
Outside of work, Becky likes to read lots of books and dance with her young daughters, watch Disney movies with her husband, and play fetch with her dog.
Sharon is our Optometric Assistant at STL Optometry. She grew up in the Dallas area most of her life and pursued her education in Business Administration at the University of North Texas before embarking on a journey that led her to settle in the vibrant Bay Area.
Sharon takes pride in being part of a profession that enhances the quality of life for individuals by addressing their visual needs and ensuring optimal eye health. Some of her favorite things about working at STL Optometry is having the ability to positively impact patients, collaborate with the doctors, and work in a dynamic and fulfilling environment alongside colleagues who also share a common passion for eye care.
In her spare time, Sharon enjoys dancing, hiking, volunteering, sci-fi, comedy, searching for the best spicy foods in town, and exploring her creative side through cooking and baking. Additionally, she loves spending quality time with friends and loved ones, whether it's enjoying outdoor activities or simply engaging in meaningful conversations.
Jina is our Optometric Assistant at STL Optometry. She mostly grew up in Cupertino and majored in Biology at UC Riverside where she found a passion in optometry and giving back to the community. At UC Riverside, she devoted her time to sharing her culture and building a safe community for Asian American students as the Vice President of the Korean American Student Association and a leader of the Asian Pacific Student Programs. She was also involved in the American Medical Student Association where she gained exposure to many health professions.
Jina developed exceptional communication and interpersonal skills as an academic tutor. Jina's transition from academia to the healthcare industry seamlessly blends her educational achievements with her passion for helping others. At STL Optometry, she loves seeing the young patients excitedly pick out their new glasses and is happy to see them do better in school through their newfound vision.
In her spare time, Jina loves to cook any food in Asian cuisine, especially Korean food. She also enjoys going to the gym, and then heading out to try a new hot restaurant in town!
Languages spoken by our staff and doctors: Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese