Dr. Avery received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University and took his ophthalmology training there at the highly regarded Wilmer Eye Institute. He completed a vitreoretinal fellowship at Duke University working with Dr. Robert Machemer, who invented the first vitrectomy machine and is considered the father of modern vitreous surgery.Dr. Avery returned to Johns Hopkins as Assistant Chief of Service and head of the trauma unit. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Heed Fellowship, and was the first recipient of the prestigious Ronald G. Michels Fellowship for his contribution to vitreous surgery. Dr. Avery is an examiner for American Board of Ophthalmology, is a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and American Society of Retina Specialists(ASRS) where he serves on the US federal Affairs Committee.He has been the principal investigator for 12 national clinical trials at California Retinal Consultants. His research interests include; macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and surgery for complex vitreoretinal conditions. He has published numerous articles on these subjects in journals such as Ophthalmology, Retina, New England Journal of Medicine, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, American Journal of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Surgery, and Archives of Ophthalmology.He is on the editorial board of Retina Today. He and his colleagues at CRC helped usher in the use of Avastin for eye diseases by publishing 6 peer reviewed articles and a book chapter on intraocular Avastin in 2006. He recently won an award from the ASRS for his video demonstrating a safer surgical technique for sutureless vitrectomy.He lectures internationally on retinal diseases. His basic science research continues at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he holds an appointment in the Neuroscience Research Institute. He is a founder of the California Retina Research Foundation.As a vitreoretinal specialist, I provide comprehensive medical and surgical treatment for all disorders of the retina, macula and vitreous. I focus on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of these conditions. Thus, I do not prescribe glasses nor do we perform cataract or LASIK surgery. I will keep your referring doctor informed of our findings, your treatment and your progress. Dr. Avery is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. His top areas of expertise are Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

Dr Sedeek has an extensive, diverse and inclusive background in specialized diagnosis and treatment of medical and surgical Retinal diseases. He was born in a family of physicians that provided an environment that allowed him to shadow his grandparents, parents and siblings in medical offices early on.At the age of sixteen, he earned a dual Egyptian high school diploma which included a French Baccalaureate from  College De La Salle, a renowned Catholic high school in Cairo, Egypt.  He was also awarded national valedictorian in Biological Sciences from the Egyptian department of Education.He then majored in Biochemistry at University of California, Irvine where he was awarded Phi Beta Kappa Honor and School of Biological Sciences Scholastic Honor. He graduated Magna Cum Laude Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in three years.He then consecrated a year in a Christian seminary in Anaheim, California where he participated in many community services and Christian missions. He attended Yale School of Medicine and graduated Cum Laude Medical Doctor at age 24. He continued his postgraduate training to become a Retinal Surgeon by doing a general surgery internship at UCLA, He continued onto Residency in Ophthalmology surgery  at New York Eye&Ear Infirmary and a Retinal surgery fellowship at the University of California, Davis Eye Center.During his training and clinical service, he continued to publish medical articles in peer- reviewed journals, contribute to clinical trials, teach in lectures at many prestigious institutions and participate in National and International ophthalmic and retinal society meetings. He has special interests in the the understanding of the underlying pathology and the up-to-date treatments of diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disease, age related macular degeneration, vitreomacular interface disease, retinal detachments and inherited retinal diseases as well as advancing the techniques of performing successful minimally invasive restorative retinal surgery.After finishing his training, he co-founded a renowned Retina institute with over 30 locations in Southern California before he decided to relocate to the paradisiacal Central Coast of California in 2017.On a personal note, he is happily married with two daughters and a son. He lives in Arroyo Grande and actively participate in the local Christian community services. His hobbies include playing the guitar, scuba diving, squash, boating, windsurfing, wakeboarding and snowboarding among others. He is fluent in English, French and Arabic, and is practicing his Spanish.Dr. Sedeek is committed to provide the highest standard of eye care for the greater San Luis Obispo area.  His emphasis is on using his competent medical knowledge combined with his extensive surgical  experience  to deliver compassionate committed individualized continuity of retina care for every patient. Dr. Sedeek is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. His top areas of expertise are Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Retinal Detachment.

I strive to provide my patients with the best medical care possible. Dr. Hawkins is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. His top areas of expertise are Autosomal Dominant Partial Epilepsy with Auditory Features, Visceromegaly, Hepatitis C, and Memory Loss.

Jennifer Spiegel is an Ophthalmologist in Santa Maria, California. Dr. Spiegel has been practicing medicine for over 17 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. Her top areas of expertise are Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Retinal Artery Occlusion, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Vitrectomy.

Striving to distinguish our practice through patient commitment and our community. I pride myself in delivering the highest level of care combined with the same level of outstanding service that has grown our practice. Dr. Merrill is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. His top areas of expertise are Glaucoma, Cataract, Interstitial Keratitis, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).

A published author on the topic of macular degeneration and diseases of the retina, Dr. Dan Shepard is also specially trained in medical and surgical treatment of eye trauma and the eye’s vitreous body.Dr. Shepard received his Medical Doctor degree and his Master’s degree in Public Health, Administrative Management from the George Washington University. At Texas Tech University he completed his ophthalmology training, prior to embarking on a two-year fellowship program in medical and surgical issues of retinal and vitreous diseases at Tulane University.A member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Surgeons, Dr. Shepard dedicates time and attention to the treatment of diabetes-related diseases of the eye and to cutting-edge issues in macular degeneration.Raised in Santa Maria, Dr. Shepard returned to the Central Coast after his medical training. He is raising his two sons in the area and are active participants in many local organizations.Practices in the Santa Maria and Lompoc clinicsBoard-Certified OphthalmologistMaster in Public Health, Administrative ManagemenOur Santa Maria and Lompoc optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians are proud to offer some of the best eye care services in the area. For over 40 years, the caring, highly trained professionals at Shepard Eye Center in Santa Maria have provided comprehensive eye care using the most current, state-of-the-art techniques and procedures. Today, the tradition of dedication continues. At Shepard Eye Center and Kendall-Shepard Eye Center in Lompoc we are committed to providing exceptional care, an experience that combines the highest degree of professionalism with warmth, openness and understanding. Dr. Shepard is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. His top areas of expertise are Diabetic Retinopathy, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, and Retinal Artery Occlusion.

Ahmad Amir is an Ophthalmologist in Santa Maria, California. Dr. Amir is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. His top areas of expertise are Cataract, Interstitial Keratitis, Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). Dr. Amir is currently accepting new patients.

Nancy Kitson is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Nipomo, California. Dr. Kitson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. Her top areas of expertise are Vascular Dementia, Dementia, Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Dr. Kitson is currently accepting new patients.

Internationally recognized for his leadership in eye care, Dr. Stephen Bylsma specializes in state-of-the-art vision-correction surgery including LASIK and intraocular implants as well as cataract, glaucoma and cosmetic eyelid surgery. Dr. Bylsma is a member of the clinical faculty at UCLA, Department of Ophthalmology associated with the Jules Stein Eye Institute.Dr. Bylsma received his Medical Doctor degree from the Oregon Health Services University and completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Bylsma is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. He serves on the editorial board for the peer-reviewed journal, Annals of Ophthalmology/Glaucoma.Dr. Bylsma has been a principal investigator for numerous FDA investigational studies, including the Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL), the AquaFlow implant for glaucoma and the Collamer Intraocular Lens. He continues this work with ongoing FDA studies involving Viscoshield viscoelastic substance and the new Hoya intraocular lens. He has been an author in numerous textbooks, scientific journals and ophthalmology magazines. He holds a patent on an apparatus used throughout the world in cataract surgery, and has been invited worldwide to teach his eye surgery techniques.Dr. Bylsma enjoys his time with his two children, and participates in a variety of hobbies and community activities on the Central Coast.Practices in the Santa Maria clinicBoard-certified OphthalmologistOur mission statement is to provide the widest range of eye care with excellence in order to promote the best outcomes and the finest patient experience. We always opperate in the best interest of the patient while showing the highest degree of caring, ethics and respect to our patients and each other. Dr. Bylsma is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. His top areas of expertise are Glaucoma, Cataract, Parinaud Oculoglandular Syndrome, and Pterygium.

Steve Clarke is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Nipomo, California. Dr. Clarke is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. His top areas of expertise are Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Familial Hypertension.

Ben Cooke is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Nipomo, California. Dr. Cooke has been practicing medicine for over 10 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuroretinitis. His top areas of expertise are Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Familial Hypertension.