Optometric Scholar of the Month - Sonya Apinyavat, OD

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Please provide a brief summary of your background.

I grew up in Simi Valley, California, with my amazing parents and two sisters. Growing up, I was an avid swimmer and loved reading books. My love for hiking and the beach came from spending my summers along the California coast with my dad, who was a plein air watercolor artist.

My love for my Thai heritage and food comes from my mom, who is one of the most hard-working people I know. My two sisters have been my greatest support system as I pursued my bachelor’s degree at the University of California Los Angeles and my Doctor of Optometry at the University of California Berkeley.

Describe your current situation.

I am completing my residency in primary care and ocular disease at Sepulveda VA Medical Center in sunny Southern California. It has been an incredible year seeing many unique cases and learning from my two incredible mentors, Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, and Brenda Yeh, OD, FAAO. I have been fortunate to build relationships with my patients and grow as a clinician alongside my two co-residents.

Managing ocular disease has truly become an important part of practicing optometry for me. I even found a brain tumor in a patient based on choroidal fold findings on a dilated eye exam! I am fortunate that this program allows me to focus on patient care encounters and expand my critical thinking when it comes to working up patients for different ocular findings.

What sparked your interest in optometry?

Growing up, I was fortunate to have a great optometrist whom my family trusted and enjoyed seeing. He fit me in rigid gas permeable contact lenses, and I have been extremely happy with my vision since. This experience made me want to go into the field of optometry to help preserve and perfect vision for all.

What causes or specialties are you passionate about?

I am passionate about helping low-income communities get access to health care. As an optometrist, I believe strongly in patient education, not only about their immediate ocular health, but also about how their systemic health affects their eyes. I believe low-income communities get the least patient education, and I plan to change that. I am excited to bring my ocular disease training to help low-income communities.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your training so far?

I find educating my patients about their eyes rewarding. I see my patient’s eyes light up with understanding when I thoroughly explain their ocular health findings, and it makes taking the extra time to do so worth it. From dry eyes to glaucoma, it is so important for patients to understand why they use the eye drops they do and how it can affect them in the long term. It is so fulfilling to hear a patient say they finally understand what is going on with their ocular health.

What have you found most challenging in your optometric journey?

During my time in optometry school, my father unexpectedly passed away. It was truly a shock for me and my family. He was a huge part of my journey through optometry, and his passing in the middle of my schooling was very difficult to process. It was a challenge to go through exams and transition into patient care after that. However, I knew that my dad would want me to finish my schooling, and I worked hard to make him proud. Even though he was not at my optometry school graduation, he will always be a huge reason I was able to get my Doctor of Optometry degree.

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? Fifteen years from now?

I see myself working in a hospital-based setting because I love practicing optometry to its full scope. This setting will afford me access to a patient’s overall health chart, allowing me to treat the patient as a whole—beyond their immediate ocular concern. I hope to work in a community in which I can make a big impact on every patient, regardless of their socioeconomic standing.