Lynn K. Matsuda

Dr. Matsuda received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles and went on to graduate with distinction from Southern California College of Optometry in 1990. During her junior year at UCLA, she volunteered at the Jules Stein Eye Institute for Dr. Barry Weissman, who was a diplomat in the cornea and contact lens section of the American Academy of Optometry and taught contact lens fitting to UCLA medical students. This experience solidified her decision to pursue a career in optometry. While attending SCCO, she was a member of the Omega Epsilon Phi Optometric Fraternity, serving as its president and fundraising chair, and the Beta Sigma Kapa Fraternity, where she served as vice-president.  She served on the Student Association Board as the director of community health and organized and oversaw community health screenings and blood drives. She also joined the yearbook staff and worked as a vision therapy assistant for Dr. Julie Ryan. During her undergraduate and graduate degrees, she worked as an optometric technician for Dr. Rodger Kame, a diplomat in the cornea and contact lens section of the AAO, and an adjunct professor at SCCO, who served as her mentor and influenced how she practices to this day. She received the Asian American Optometric Society Award, the SOLA/Barnes Hind Student Recognition Award, and was 1 of 14 students selected for Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Dr. Matsuda is a past president of the Asian American Optometric Society, California’s largest Optometric Society. She became a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO), following an arduous qualifying process. To become a fellow, one is required to write clinical case reports and publish papers in referenced journals and meet stringent professional standards.  A final oral examination requirement is required. Upon successfully completing the oral examination, one is then awarded the fellow status. Only 10% of Optometrists ever become a fellow of the Academy. She is glaucoma certified and is licensed in the use of diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents.

Dr. Matsuda has served as co-investigator in many contact lens studies, including contact lens material/designs, multipurpose disinfecting solutions, and ophthalmic medication. She has published several articles, including her senior research project advised by Dr. Rodger Kame, which was published in the prestigious American Academy of Optometry journal, Optometry and Vision Science.

Dr. Matsuda and her husband, Doug Kato, have 2 children: Halli and Kyle.

Dr. Matsuda’s interests include baking, crafts, quilting, walking, gardening, and competitive hula dancing.  She danced the hula because her mom was a dancer, and her daughter Halli followed in their footsteps. Her most recent endeavors are planting a Japanese garden and baking “naked cakes” for staff birthdays.