• Carl G. Hillier, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.
• Melissa C. Hillier, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.
• Robert B. Sanet, O.D.

Diagnostic And Treatment Services

• Comprehensive Vision Analysis
• Visual-Perceptual Analysis
• Eye Health Examinations
• Contact Lenses
• Optical Boutique
• Visual Causes to Dyslexia and ADD/ADHD
• Strabismus and Amblyopia
• Brain Injury Vision Disorders
• Sports Vision Enhancement
• Myopia Control and Reduction
• Optometric Vision Therapy

The San Diego Center for Vision Care has been providing comprehensive vision care and Optometric vision therapy for children and adults for more than half a century. The doctors' care goes far beyond a simple eye examination.

Drs. Carl and Melissa Hillier along with Dr. Robert Sanet provide the community with comprehensive eye examinations for all ages, including infants and preschoolers. In The Center For Visual Thinking, care is provided through comprehensive vision analysis and visual perceptual analysis for patients with Learning Related Vision Problems, including visual difficulties related to ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Aspergers Syndrome, Autism, reading and tracking problems as well as treatment for Strabismus (eye turns) and Amblyopia (lazy eye).

Visual skill recovery is offered in The Center For Vision Rehabilitation to patients with traumatic brain injuries, stroke, tumor and cerebral palsy. The Center For Sports Vision Training is a very dynamic part of the clinic. Dr. Carl Hillier was the Sports Vision Therapist with the Olympic Volleyball Teams while they were stationed in San Diego, and currently works with several professional baseball players from around the country.

20/20 eyesight does not mean perfect vision. Children and adults with high visual demands often experience visual stress and have undetected visual problems which interfere with their ability to perform. Symptoms such as loss of place, visual fatigue, blur, headaches, reduced comprehension, and difficulty concentrating indicate a developmental and/or visual stress problem. Optometric Vision Therapy can reduce or eliminate these problems so that there is maximum return for the effort expended. It enables children to enjoy learning and become a successful end enthusiastic student.

Learn more about what parents and the National PTA are doing to support children:

• The Students Bill Of Rights
• National PTA's resolution regarding children and vision testing
• A typical scenario for a child with a learning related vision problem
• Why is school so challenging for your child?

Dr. Carl Hillier graduated from the University of California San Diego in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He received a Bachelor of Science degree at Pacific University in 1980 and then graduated as a Doctor of Optometry in 1982.

Dr. Hillier dedicated the summer of 1980 providing vision care to the rural population in Honduras. He traveled to remote areas where he established vision clinics that helped hundreds of visually handicapped people.

Upon his graduation, he was honored with a Naval Scholarship and direct appointment as a lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. He was stationed at Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego. He was in charge of the Vision Therapy Clinic helping active duty dependent families overcome visual problems that surgery, glasses and contact lenses alone could not solve. In addition, Dr. Hillier was responsible for training ophthalmology residents in the fitting of contact lenses.

After completing his tour in the Navy in 1985, Dr. Hillier entered into private practice in Lemon Grove, California. Dr. Hillier practices the functional and developmental approach to treating vision problems and enhancing vision skills, especially with learning disabled children.

Dr. Hillier is actively involved in his profession. His affiliations include the American Optometric Association, California Optometric Association, San Diego County Optometric Society, The Optometric Extension Program Foundation, The College of Optometrists in Vision Development, and the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

Dr. Hillier is a certified Fellow in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. He lectures nationally and internationally on topics relating to vision and learning, sports vision and visual treatment of those who have suffered a brain injury. In addition to his lectures in Europe and throughout the United States, he presents lectures locally to the Departments of Education and Nursing and San Diego State University, California School of Professional Psychology, California Optometric Association, Southern California College of Optometry, Southern California Vision Forum, San Diego rehabilitation hospitals, National Academy of Sports Vision, National University, American Optometric Association, The College of Optometrists in Vision Development, University of San Diego School of Medicine – Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, The Professional Development Program and Parents Active for Vision Education (PAVE).

In 1992 Dr. Hillier founded the Vision Rehabilitation Clinic at the San Diego Rehabilitation Institute at Alvarado Hospital. His innovative clinical techniques are being used today throughout the world. He is also a faculty member of the Southern California College of Optometry. Dr. Hillier provides vision training with professional baseball players throughout the country.

Dr. Melissa C. Hillier has been in private practice in the San Diego area since 1983. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Visual Science and Doctor of Optometry from Pacific University where she graduated with honors. Her doctoral thesis was "Testing Techniques to Evaluate Infant Vision." Dr. Hillier became an associate practitioner at the San Diego Center for Vision Care in 1988. Currently, she shares ownership of the San Diego Center for Vision Care with her husband, Dr. Carl G. Hillier. Dr. Hillier is involved in both general patient care and vision therapy evaluations.

Dr. Melissa Hillier has been active in the professional optometric community. She is a member of the San Diego County Optometric Society, the California Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, and the Optometric Extension Program Foundation. Dr. Hillier has earned Fellowship in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. She has held numerous board positions, including Director of Communications and Treasurer of the San Diego County Optometric Society, and Treasurer of Achievement through Vision.

In addition to private practice, Dr. Hillier is an adjunct clinical professor for the Southern California College of Optometry. Dr. Hillier presently divides her time between practicing optometry and raising the Hillier's' three children, Brent, Drew, and Lauren.