Our Doctors

Undergraduate Education: Radford University. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry. How are you helping your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I always strive to help my patients live their best lives by providing the best comprehensive exams and contact lens fits that maximize my patients’ visual needs. I listen to their concerns and provide options to maximize their visual performance. I have practiced since 1993 in various modalities thru my career. In the early part of my career, I had staff privileges at various hospital in NC where I gathered expertise in managing various ocular disease states. I stay very active in continuing education and professional organizations to ensure I am current on the latest knowledge and technology related to eye care. I also strive to learn the community that I serve and become involved so I can understand community needs. In recent years I have provided care and glasses for children in various DC public charter schools. I’ve also volunteered at health screen days on Capitol Hill. I try to support local charities and I have been involved as an athlete in local cycling, triathlon, swim and row teams. This gives me perspective on how to best serve my patients and community. Hobbies: general physical fitness and nutrition/cycling, running, triathlon, rowing, international hiking and travel, culinary food, and wine excursions.

Undergraduate Education: Stonehill College. Optometry School: New England College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I coached high school baseball, basketball and football and officiated youth baseball games. In the office I provide and educate patients on the optical solutions that will best fit their needs. Hobbies/Interests: I played football at the collegiate level and enjoy playing baseball and basketball. I love to garden and landscape.

Dr. Parisa Foroutan attended the University of Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio with extensive training in primary care, contact lenses—including specialty lenses for keratoconus, vision therapy as well as neurodevelopmental disorders of the eye, management and treatment of glaucoma and Diabetes, and well as ocular traumas including abrasions and infections of the eye. She is now happy to be serving the community she grew up in. She is bilingual in both English and Farsi.

Undergraduate Education: Valparaiso University, BS in Chemistry and Biology Optometry School: Indiana University School of Optometry, 2019. The reason I became an optometrist is: I always knew I wanted to do something in the medical field, and the more I learned about eyes the more I wanted to know. I love being able to specialize in such an interesting area of health, while also helping patients improve their quality of life. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Helping improve their lives! I love seeing the reaction of kids getting a pair of glasses for the first time or finding a solution for a contact lens patient that thought they were out of options. In my spare time, I enjoy: Going to concerts, playing tennis, and spending time with my dog.

Undergrad: UNC-Charlotte- 2010 Graduated top of her class and Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Chemistry, and minors in Biology and Interdisciplinary Health Studies Optometry: Southern College of Optometry, Memphis TN-2015 Graduated Summa Cum Laude Awards: Hayes Center for Practice Excellence Award (SCO-2015) Prioritize Care Award (Myeyedr- 2021) Dr. Raess is currently serving as an officer for NC Optometric Society- Eastern District When not at work, Dr. Raess enjoys spending time at the beach or mountains with her husband, two children, and Aussie Shepherd- Eli! She also enjoys sports of all types, but her favorite is hockey. Go Canes! Dr. Raess has had a passion for optometry since her first eye exam in the 5th grade. After the doctor showed her the pictures of the back of her eye and showed her a patient they recently had seen and sent for possible diabetes, Dr. Raess was fascinated by how such systemic things could manifest in the eye. She left the exam and told her mother that she wanted to be an optometrist when she grew up... and the rest is history.

Undergraduate Education: University of NC-Greensboro Accounting and Business and University of Houston, BS in Physiological Optics. Optometry School: University of Houston College of Optometry. Certifications/Awards: Graduated Magna cum laude, Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society, American Optometric Society, NC Optometric Society, and Piedmont Optometric Society, Member of Lions Club International. I have over 33 years of experience improving my patients’ quality of life by maximizing their ability to see with eyeglasses and/or contact lenses, maintaining and educating them on their ocular and systemic health, and building lifelong relationships. Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, cooking, photography, spending time with my family and friends: husband, Johnny, adult children, Luke (Logistics Army Officer and now corporate logistics manager), and Lindsey (“Dr P.”-she is a dentist in Richmond, VA), walking my dog, Marley, exploring the great outdoors, especially on a hike, the beach or a cruise, paddle board/kayak and boating on Lake Norman, and taking care of my parents and patients.

Dr. Francia graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2008 with degrees in biochemistry and psychology. In 2012, she earned her Doctorate of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Francia completed a residency in primary eye care at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Virginia in 2013. Her areas of special interest include primary eye care and ocular disease management.

Undergraduate Education: Boston University. Optometry School: New England College of Optometry. Professional Achievements/Associations: Ocular Disease Residency / New Hampshire Optometric Association. Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Diplomate, American Board of Optometry / Glaucoma management. What drives your passion for optometry? The opportunity to care for our community’s most important sense. How are you helping patients live their best lives? I focus on understanding the unique visual needs of my patients and then delivering the best solution based on my experience. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Identifying the ways, I can significantly help my patients and then effectively sharing the information that makes change possible. How are you impacting your local community? Delivering a valuable service to the community is the joy of my career. I have been lucky enough to serve the Merrimack community for 17+ years. Hobbies/Interests: My wife and two daughters keep me active while I am not at work. You will find us enjoying the great outdoors playing sports!

Undergraduate Education: Michigan State University - Bachelor of Science in Human Biology; Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry- Doctorate of Optometry; Professional Achievements and Associations: Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians- council member for student society, American Optometric Association, Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity-student chapter, Leadership Collierville; Clinical Recognition: Johnson & Johnson Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care. I became an optometrist to help people live their best lives. I want to partner with my patients to deliver thorough and individualized eyecare. I love being able to help my patients find solutions to their eyecare needs that may not have been discussed or offered in the past. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my husband, Andrew and daughter, Rigsby. We also enjoy thrifting/antiquing- you never know what treasure you might find!

Undergraduate Education: Attended Michigan State University. Optometry School: New England College of Optometry Specializing in Ortho Keratology to slow the progression of myopia in Children and Scleral Contact lenses for Keratoconus, high Astigmatism and Presbyopia. And by providing comprehensive care to all ages and ensuring the best possible visual outcome for each patient. Hobbies/Interests: Golf, hiking, and travel.

Undergraduate Education: Washington College; Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Primary Care & Pediatrics; What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients.

Undergraduate Education: University of North Carolina, Asheville. Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. Clinical Certifications & Specialties: diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and ocular diseases. What drives your passion for optometry? When I was a child and could not see well, I went to see an eye doctor, and he prescribed glasses for me. That’s when I knew wanted to help people to see and live a disease-free life. How are you helping patients live their best lives? It brings me joy to help my patients attain their best vision and quality of life. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? It lifts my heart to help a child no longer struggle in school. How are you impacting your local community? By providing access to quality vision care. Hobbies/Interests: I love playing golf with my father as well as playing guitar. I also love dogs, and I have three, German shepherd, huskimo, and a Pomeranian.

Undergraduate Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I can help patients live their best lives by taking their specific needs and lifestyles into account so that I can provide the best treatment for the individual. Hobbies/Interests: Reading, spending time with family and friends.

Undergraduate Education: Queens College, NY. Optometry School: SUNY. Hobbies/Interests: animals, horses, history, and experiencing new places.

Dr. Kenny Fritz Jr. attended Cardinal Stritch University and is a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry. He’s an optometrist at MyEyeDr. in West Allis, WI and looks forward to serving his community with excellent eye care for of all their vision health needs.

Undergraduate Education: Angelo State University. Optometry School: University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? As a San Angelo native, I want to ensure that everyone here attains the best vision possible in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. I encourage all my patients to ask any questions they have about vision, so that they may better understand their eyes.

A New Hampshire native, Dr. Fuller graduated from The University of New Hampshire with a Biology degree in 2012. He completed his Optometry training at the New England College of Optometry in Boston. His doctoral training included externships at the VA in Manchester, NH; The Dorcester House Community Health Center; and special populations in the Boston area including low vision and pediatric communities. Dr. Fuller is interested in the management of diabetic eye disease, pediatric eye care, and glaucoma. Dr. Fuller is a member of the American Optometric Association and the New Hampshire Optometric Association. Dr. Fuller lives in Dover with his wife and two young children. Dr. Fuller is an avid golfer, Boston sports fan, and loves trying out new recipes in the kitchen.