Our Doctors

Dr. Lauren Strohl Zikoski is a board-certified and licensed optometrist in the state of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Optometric Association and Pennsylvania Optometric Association. She completed her undergraduate degree at Widener University in 2019. She graduated cum laude and is a member of Psi Chi Honors Society. She graduated with a Doctor of Optometry degree in 2023 with clinical honors from Salus University (Pennsylvania College of Optometry). She lives in Abington, PA with her husband, Bryan, and their dog, Luna. She enjoys running and hiking in her free time and is an avid reader. She specializes in ocular pathology, contact lenses, and pediatrics.

Undergraduate Education: Marquette University. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Professional Achievements/Associations: Member of the Maryland Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Treatment & management of ocular conditions including Dry Eye, Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration as well as routine eye exams, contact lens fittings, and diabetic eye exams. What drives your passion for optometry? Giving patients the best possible care and experience possible. How are you helping patients live their best lives? I strive to provide my patients with the highest quality of eye care, the latest technology, and resources, and educating them on the importance of healthy habits so that their vision can be the best possible. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring that a patient's vision does not hold them back from living life to the fullest. How are you impacting your local community? I am eager to provide quality eye care to my local community and to give back to the less fortunate. I have been a part of annual medical mission trips to a small village in the Dominican Republic and am excited to provide eye care to those in need. Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, exercising, spending time with family and friends.

I completed my bachelor of science degree in Neuroscience at Lafayette College, and went on to earn my doctorate in optometry at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2016. The reason I became an optometrist is to preserve and improve the eye health and eye sight of my patients! My favorite part of practicing is educating my patients on why eye exams are so important, and how to maintain ocular health by caring for our bodies as well as our eyes. In my spare time, I enjoy reading (and shopping for) books, taking exercise classes, traveling, and spending time with my friends, family, and dog, Milo.

Undergraduate Education: West Virginia University; B.S. Biology. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry; 1982. Professional Achievements and Associations: Member of Illinois Optometric Association. The reason I became an optometrist is: I was always interested in the health fields and found the eye and vision the most challenging. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Diagnosing and treating children's vision at a young age. The impact on their lives can be significant. In my spare time, I enjoy: Boating, golf and traveling.

Undergraduate Education: Northeastern State University; Optometry School: Northeastern State University College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: American Board of Optometry Delegate, Illinois Optometry Association; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: American Board of Optometry Delegate; What drives your passion for optometry? My passion for helping people far exceeds my passion about optometry. Most procedures we do in optometry become routine over time, but people make it exciting and interesting. How are you helping patients live their best lives? It's the golden rule, treat others like you want o be treated. If you offer and give them the same options you would want for yourself, they also get the chance to live their best life. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? It means offering the best thing you can do or prescribe for a patient. It doesn't mean they have to opt for the best, but they at least have the right to know what could make the biggest change in how they see. How are you impacting your local community? I am very involved in the Gurnee community. I have volunteered at PADS, a couple of halfway houses, and the local food pantry. I am also very involved in Grace united Methodist Church. Hobbies/Interests: I teach fitness at the local park district. Classes include Spin, yoga, TRX, bootcamp, Gravity, foam rolling and Muscle Mashup. I have also spent the last 7 years training other doctors in contact lenses, practice management, and practice metrics.

Undergraduate Education: Campbell University, BS, Majoring in Biochemistry; Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: TAOP, AOA; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Full service Optometrist with interest in disease and fitting scleral contact lenses; What drives your passion for optometry? Optometry is one of the most diversified trade and each division helps different groups of individual achieve their goal; How are you helping patients live their best lives? By providing them with the most up-to-date knowledge and services that is available to opt, including specialty contact lenses. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients. How are you impacting your local community? I strive to be the best optometrist and treat everyone fairly and equally. Everyone deserves to have their sight protected. Hobbies/Interests: I own an alpaca farm in Millington, TN. I love being outdoors and anything related to Batman

Undergraduate Education: Ferris State University. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry. Professional Achievements/Associations: American Optometric Association; Michigan Optometric Association. What drives your passion for optometry? I truly enjoy working with patients and building relationships with them. How are you helping patients live their best lives? By helping them find the very best eyewear for their specific needs and lifestyle. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Helping people through compassion and technology. Hobbies/Interests: Traveling with my husband, cooking, golf and reading.

Dr. Swartz graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree and then with a Doctor of Optometry Degree. She was awarded the Outstanding Clinician award, which is voted on by both her peers and professors & awarded to the top clinician in her graduating class. Dr. Swartz is married to her husband Darrell, an account executive for a large information technology company in Okemos, Michigan. Together, they have three wonderful children, Alexandra, Megan and Jacob. In her free time, Dr. Swartz enjoys coaching sports, traveling, volunteering in her community and enjoying her family.

Dr. Rachel Swearingen obtained her Associates Degree in Biology at the St Petersburg College and her Bachelors in Biomedical Science at the University of South Florida. She then moved to Memphis, TN where she completed her Doctorate of Optometry at the Southern College of Optometry with honors. She is a current member of the Pinellas County Optometric Association and the American Optometry Association. When she’s not in clinic, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Undergraduate Education: State University of New York at Geneseo. Optometry School: Nova Southeastern University. Professional Achievements/Associations: Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Clinical Certifications & Specialties: primary care, ocular disease, refractive surgery. Hobbies/Interests: I love being a father and spending time with my family. Most weekends you can find us outside enjoying nature. When I have free time, I enjoy playing the bass guitar.

Dr. Sweet received her Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Indiana School of Optometry. Following graduation, she worked in ophthalmology settings for seven years where she provided primary care eye exams and post-operative care for cataract surgery. Dr. Sweet is board certified in the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease and is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Indiana Optometric Association. Dr. Sweet and her husband reside in Fishers where they raised their three children. During her free time, she enjoys traveling, exercising and spending time with friends, family and her doodles.

Undergraduate Education: George Mason University. Optometry School: Salus University. Certifications/Awards: NBEO board certified. Hobbies/Interests: traveling, hiking, cooking.

Undergraduate Education: St. Vincent College BA Chemistry. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry 1984. The reason I became an optometrist is: To provide the best care possible and help patients see their best. My favorite part of helping my patients is: The look on a child's face when they see clearly for the first time. In my spare time, I enjoy: Reading and spending time with family.

Dr. Sylvester, a board-certified Therapeutic Optometrist, also holds Bachelors Degrees in Physics and Biology, as well as a Masters Degree in Chemistry. He uses his extensive knowledge to explain not just the whats, but also the hows and whys and to answer any questions you may have. Informed patients are happy patients – and happy patients come back year after year. Many of Dr. Sylvester’s patients travel to see him, some from out of state and even out of the country!

Undergraduate Education: BS in biology from Wilkes College. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry. Professional Achievements/Associations: American Optometric Association, Michigan Optometric Association, West Michigan Optometric Association, past speaker at the Global Contact Lens Symposium in Las Vegas. How are you impacting your local community? Hockey coach for disabled children for the West Michigan Special Hockey Association. Hobbies/Interests: Hockey, golf, cycling and gardening.

Undergraduate Education: Saint Michael's College; Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: American Optometric Association, Connecticut Association of Optometrists; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Contact lenses including difficult to fit cases; What drives your passion for optometry? The desire to help people see their very best for a lifetime. How are you helping patients live their best lives? By helping patients find individualized solutions to visual demands in their lives. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients. How are you impacting your local community? Chamber of Commerce Member, Industrial Vision Screening; Hobbies/Interests: hiking, international travel, spending time with my pet dog

Undergraduate Education: Indiana University; B.S. Ocular Sciences. Optometry School: Indiana University School of Optometry 1992. Professional Achievements and Associations: American Optometric Association; Georgia Optometric Association. Clinical Certifications and Specialties: Primary Care/Ocular Disease. The reason I became an optometrist is: I enjoy helping people realize their best ocular health and vision to allow them to achieve their best goals. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Hearing from a Patient that their examination and experience was very thorough, and that they learned something about the eye/their eye that they were not aware of. In my spare time, I enjoy: Spending time with Family and Friends.

Undergraduate Education: University of Toronto; Optometry School: Illinois college of optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: Graduated cum laude; What drives your passion for optometry? Helping people see. How are you helping patients live their best lives? By focusing on an individualized plan based on visual demands of each patient. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Helping someone see like they have never seen before. How are you impacting your local community? By helping people see, I hope to help them live their best lives at work or at home. Hobbies/Interests: Trying new restaurants, and playing with my dogs.