Big City Optical - Meet our Optometrists
Dr. Rasa Tamulavichus, OD
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Dr. Rasa has been treating patients in Chicago for over 15 years. She is passionate about travel, fitness, and eye care. Rasa holds a degree from Loyola University and is a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry.
Throughout her studies and professional career she has received several awards recognizing her academic and clinical excellence along with commitment to community service. |
Dr. Diana Li, OD
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Dr. Diana Li's passion for eyes started from a very young age, having had to wear glasses/contacts from the age of 4. As a result, she always emphasizes the importance of annual eye health exams to ensure the best possible vision as well as early diagnoses of possible eye issues. Dr. Li specializes in primary care optometry but is also skilled in diagnosing and managing ocular diseases including: glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. She believes that good education about vision is essential to long-term eye health and strives to provide a warm and personalized experience for each patient.
Dr. Li is originally from New Jersey and moved to the Midwest for her education. She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and her Doctorate from the Illinois College of Optometry. Outside of the office Dr. Li enjoys exploring new restaurants and playing recreational basketball. She has a soft spot for sweets and is always on the hunt for the best donuts in the city! |
Dr. Richard Schrenzel, OD
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Dr. Richard Schrenzel has been practicing optometry since 1978. He is a second generation optometrist after following in the footsteps of his father. Dr. Schrenzel was the founder of the Plaza Vision Center in Wilmette that opened its doors in 1983. In 2018 the Plaza Vision Center joined the Big City Optical team and now operates out of its new space at the Plaza del Lago. In addition to providing primary eye care, Dr. Schrenzel specializes in specialty contact lens fits including keratoconus and orthokeratology.
During his time off he enjoys spending time with his family, mans best friend "Oscar", and on long bike rides with many of north shores road warriors. |
Dr. Rachana Patel-Garud, OD
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Dr. Patel-Garud is a Chicago native who graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a BS in Biology. She then went on to study Optometry at Illinois College of Optometry and obtained her degree in 2005. Dr. Patel did her externships at Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center and the University of Chicago Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine. This broad background of experience makes her uniquely qualified to connect to patients with varying backgrounds. Dr. Patel leads our Evanston store and values the diversity offered to her by the neighboring Northwestern University with all of its students from around the world.
Throughout her 14 year career she has held licenses and practiced in IL, KY, SC, LA and AL. After traveling for so long she came back home to Chicago in 2017 to be closer to family. Dr. Patel enjoys spending time with her children and loves to stay active, travel and cook. |
Dr. Abigail Richie, OD
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Dr. Richie grew up in Eau Claire, WI. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in Duluth, MN where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology. While there she conducted molecular genetic research. She then obtained her Doctorate in Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL.
Dr. Richie’s optometric interests include primary eye care, pediatrics, and contact lenses. Dr. Richie feels strongly that every child should have a comprehensive eye exam before starting school and encourages those who have children who avoid reading to come in for an eye exam. She sees patients primarily at our Andersonville location. Dr. Richie currently resides in Chicago where she enjoys spending time with her friends, trying new restaurants, and despite her love for Chicago, still cheers for the Green Bay Packers. |
Dr. Alicia X. Wong, OD, FAAO
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Dr. Alicia Wong is a Canadian expat having made Chicago her forever home. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and graduated summa cum laude from the Illinois College of Optometry. In addition to standard comprehensive eye care, Dr. Wong is the resident Behavioral Optometrist at Big City Optical and provides comprehensive & innovative Vision Therapy services. By using vanguard techniques backed by the latest research, she is able to help her patients optimize their vision and visual processing. Dr. Wong’s techniques alleviate issues related to sports vision, learning disabilities, developmental abnormalities, and acquired brain injuries. She is committed to continuously advancing her knowledge and practice so she can give the utmost care to patients of all ages. As such she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a member of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, and Tomb and Key Honor Society.
In her free time, she enjoys knitting, hiking and traveling with her husband, and obsessing over her Morkie puppy, Kirby. |
EXPERTISE EXPERIENCED TRUSTED
Our Services
Optical Department
For those patients needing glasses or contact lenses, we offer a complete optical department. We carry a wide selection of high fashion eyewear and designer frames.
For those patients needing glasses or contact lenses, we offer a complete optical department. We carry a wide selection of high fashion eyewear and designer frames.
Comprehensive Vision and Eye Health Examinations
Regular eye exams are an invaluable tool in maintaining healthy eyes by detecting and preventing disease. Some diseases develop slowly without causing pain or vision loss. Early detection of any problems can reduce the risk of further harm and allow for a choice of treatment options. The entire exam process can take an hour depending on the complexity of the problem. Each patient will be evaluated with a refraction, slit lamp, intraocular pressure and a retinal exam.
Pediatric Eye Care
We take pride in maintaining the vision of our younger patients in an environment that is lighthearted and fun. We want to insure the good sight, vision, and eye health for the rest of your child's life and take a preventative approach to his/her general health and eye health. We will work with your child's primary care physician to help keep his/her eyes health. It is important that all of our pediatric patients have healthy and efficient visual systems to help make visual demands of learning in school easier and fun.
Contact Lens Exams and Fittings
Thanks to the advances in optical technology, almost everyone is a candidate for contact lens use. This includes patients with astigmatism and also those who prefer bifocal or multifocal lenses. At our office, we offer a comprehensive array of contact lenses to suit each individual patient's needs. We offer daily disposables, extended wear soft lenses to gas permeable contact lenses. We offer regular and custom lens services for both healthy and difficult to fit patients.
Vision Therapy
Vision therapy is the non-surgical alternative to various eye disorders like amblyopia (Lazy Eye), strabismus (Wandering Eye), autism, and sports vision. These conditions typically present themselves during the adolescent years and have the highest likelihood of correction when treated early on. Our doctors prescribe various eye exercises to address various ocular disorders and we supervise the patient through each session working toward a successful outcome.
Orthokeratology
Corneal reshaping with gas permeable molds worn over night. This FDA approved therapy controls myopia progression in younger patients and allows clients to be contact lens and glasses free during waking hours. Our doctors are specially trained to identify those clients that are ideal candidates for this therapy and to design and fit ortho-k molds. Therapy usually lasts for a year.
Regular eye exams are an invaluable tool in maintaining healthy eyes by detecting and preventing disease. Some diseases develop slowly without causing pain or vision loss. Early detection of any problems can reduce the risk of further harm and allow for a choice of treatment options. The entire exam process can take an hour depending on the complexity of the problem. Each patient will be evaluated with a refraction, slit lamp, intraocular pressure and a retinal exam.
Pediatric Eye Care
We take pride in maintaining the vision of our younger patients in an environment that is lighthearted and fun. We want to insure the good sight, vision, and eye health for the rest of your child's life and take a preventative approach to his/her general health and eye health. We will work with your child's primary care physician to help keep his/her eyes health. It is important that all of our pediatric patients have healthy and efficient visual systems to help make visual demands of learning in school easier and fun.
Contact Lens Exams and Fittings
Thanks to the advances in optical technology, almost everyone is a candidate for contact lens use. This includes patients with astigmatism and also those who prefer bifocal or multifocal lenses. At our office, we offer a comprehensive array of contact lenses to suit each individual patient's needs. We offer daily disposables, extended wear soft lenses to gas permeable contact lenses. We offer regular and custom lens services for both healthy and difficult to fit patients.
Vision Therapy
Vision therapy is the non-surgical alternative to various eye disorders like amblyopia (Lazy Eye), strabismus (Wandering Eye), autism, and sports vision. These conditions typically present themselves during the adolescent years and have the highest likelihood of correction when treated early on. Our doctors prescribe various eye exercises to address various ocular disorders and we supervise the patient through each session working toward a successful outcome.
Orthokeratology
Corneal reshaping with gas permeable molds worn over night. This FDA approved therapy controls myopia progression in younger patients and allows clients to be contact lens and glasses free during waking hours. Our doctors are specially trained to identify those clients that are ideal candidates for this therapy and to design and fit ortho-k molds. Therapy usually lasts for a year.
EyeGlass Guide
EyeGlass Guide will help you better understand the many lens choices available to you. This on-line tool will guide you through a series of questions about you, your lifestyle and your specific eyewear needs. At the end, you'll receive eyewear suggestions specifically tailored to meet your needs. EyeGlass Guide is brought to you by Transitions.
Photochromic Demonstrations
View an instant demonstration of Transitions photochromic technology. See how lenses darken and fade back to clear to provide continual visual comfort and protection. Demonstrations brought to you by Transitions.
EyeGlass Guide will help you better understand the many lens choices available to you. This on-line tool will guide you through a series of questions about you, your lifestyle and your specific eyewear needs. At the end, you'll receive eyewear suggestions specifically tailored to meet your needs. EyeGlass Guide is brought to you by Transitions.
Photochromic Demonstrations
View an instant demonstration of Transitions photochromic technology. See how lenses darken and fade back to clear to provide continual visual comfort and protection. Demonstrations brought to you by Transitions.