Our Practice in California

Dr. Ernie Nghia completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He then left the comfort of sunny southern California for the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia, PA where he received his Doctor of Optometry degree with clinical honors in primary care, ocular disease, and low vision services. He was also nominated for the Joseph Toland Scholarship, awarded for clinical excellence. 

Dr Nghia received training with an emphasis in ocular disease at the Katzen Eye Group in Baltimore, MD, the Eye Centers of South Florida in Miami, FL, and the Veteran Affairs Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. While in Philadelphia, he also furthered his training in Low Vision at the renowned William Feinbloom Low Vision Center as well as Primary Care at The Eye Institute. He then proceeded to receive extensive training in specialty contact lenses at the California Keratoconus Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Dr Nghia is trained and licensed to use diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceuticals for the treatment and management of ocular conditions in addition to being certified to manage and treat glaucoma. He is a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the California Optometric Association (COA), and has participated in Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), delivering eye care to underserved countries without access to health care.  

Jemini Patel OD, FAAO joined Pearl Optometry in 2017. Dr. Patel grew up in Southern California. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology – Immunology and Infectious diseases. She earned her optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts. She completed a primary care residency through the Veterans Affair Hospital and was subsequently hired by the VA.

Dr. Patel has completed her fellowship with the American Academy of Optometry. She is passionate about teaching and imparting knowledge on to the next generation of optometrists. She spent a year helping open an optometry school in Kampala, Uganda hoping to improve sustainable eye care in developing countries. She feels so privileged to be able to return to Southern California and serve the community that she grew up in. In her free time she loves to travel, try new foods and enjoys photography. 

Dr. Kathleen Au joined Pearl Optometry in 2018. Prior to that, she graduated summa cum laude from Pacific University College of Optometry. During that time, she had the pleasure of participating in multiple overseas mission trips to El Salvador, Guyana, and Nicaragua where she helped serve the locals by providing glasses and eye care. 

Upon completion of her Doctorate of Optometry, she went on to complete a year of further training in a U.C. Berkeley residency program at the Fresno VA. Here, she managed a wide variety of eye diseases including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Au is especially passionate about patient education and always appreciates the opportunity to answer questions and alleviate any concerns.

Dr. Au loves to travel and is always anticipating her next adventure. Locally, she enjoys trying new restaurants, seeing theater performances, and spending time with friends and family. She looks forward to providing high-quality care to each of her patients.

Stacie Calvillo, OD, received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley and her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry. Dr. Calvillo has clinical experience in treating patients with moderate to severe dry eye, managing patients with diabetes, co-managing refractive and cataract surgery, and treatment of ocular diseases.

Dr. Calvillo is proud to have served the Lakewood community with Pearl Optometry since 2017.  As a resident of the area herself, Dr. Calvillo and her husband and two Pomeranian dogs often enjoy walks in local parks and hiking trails around LA and Orange County.

Dr. Pearl graduated from the Southern California College of Optometry in 1983. He practiced 15 years at the South Bay Eye Institute in Redondo Beach and Positive Eye Ons in West Hollywood before opening Pearl Optometry in the Norwalk Costco in 1998, in the Lakewood Costco in 2010 and in the El Centro Costco in 2020. 

Besides practicing at all 3 Pearl Optometry offices each week, Dr. Pearl has enjoyed providing free eye exams on over 50 weeklong clinic trips to 6 Central American countries and over 200 weekend clinics throughout California with US optometry students. He has received humanitarian awards from the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness, the  American Academy of Optometry and the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity for his work establishing an optometry college in Nicaragua and two non-profit clinics there.

Dr. Sara Choi O.D. is a board-certified optometrist who graduated from the University of California San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in human biology. She attended Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University where she received her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2018. She worked in various optometric settings during her externships; San Diego Naval Medical Center, VA Southern Nevada, and Castle Eye Center in Atwater. 

Dr. Choi has strong experience in primary care, contact lenses and the treatment and management of ocular diseases. She is glaucoma and TPA certified. She spent a few years living and working in Kauai, HI and has moved back to be closer to family. She is certified to practice in both California and Hawaii. 

In her spare time, Dr. Choi is fond of spending time with her family, traveling, and exploring new places to eat.