Who are the VisionHelp Authors?

Dan L. Fortenbacher, O.D., FCOVD–  Dr. Fortenbacher received his Doctor of Optometry from the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University in 1979.  He is a Board Certified Fellow of COVD and lectures extensively on developmental vision and vision therapy.  Dr. Fortenbacher was an examiner for the International Examination and Certification Board of COVD from 1999 to 2004.  He has served in several leadership positions for the profession on the state and national level. He was elected President of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development in 2007-08. In addition to his private practice in St. Joseph, Michigan, which is dedicated to vision therapy, Dr. Fortenbacher is a Clinical Professor with the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University.

Leonard Press, O.D., FCOVD-  Dr. Press completed a Residency in Pediatric Optometry at the Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1978.  He served as Chief of the Pediatric Unit and was subsequently recruited to be Chief of Vision Therapy Services at the State University of New York’s College of Optometry.  Dr. Press is a Diplomate in Binocular Vision and Perception of the American Academy of Optometry.  A Board Certified Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, Dr. Press is a former President of the organization, and currently serves on its Exam Board.  Dr. Press has served as President of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians (NJSOP) and has twice been honored with their Scientific Achievement of the Year Award, in addition to Optometrist of the Year and Lifetime Service Awards.  He is a consultant on Visual Disabilities to the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME).  Currently serving as Chair of the Pediatrics and Binocular Vision Committee of the American Optometric Association (AOA), Dr. Press is co-author of the AOA’s Practice Guideline on Learning-Related Vision Problems, as well as the Guideline on Amblyopia.  Dr. Press is author of three widely acclaimed textbooks on these and other subjects, and maintains a private practice in New Jersey.

Carole Hong, O.D.,FCOVD–  Dr. Hong received her bachelors of science degree from the University of California at Berkeley and is a 1991 graduate of Southern California College of Optometry, where she received the Homer Hendricks Award for Clinical Excellence in Vision Therapy. After completing her residency in Vision Therapy at State University of New York State College of Optometry, where she served as Chief Resident, she became a faculty member at the University of California at Berkeley School of Optometry. She continues to lecture as a guest speaker at schools and colleges of optometry across the country and serves as an adjunct faculty member of SUNY State College of Optometry, overseeing optometric interns in her private practice.  She is a Board Certified Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, for which she currently serves as Vice President. Dr. Hong  provides comprehensive vision care for children and adults and specializes in pediatric vision care for those with special needs and vision therapy for binocular vision disorders, learning related vision problems, sports enhancement and traumatic brain injured. Her practice,  the Optometric Center of Family Vision Care and Vision Therapy is located in San Carlos, California. Dr. Hong has written numerous articles for California Optometry and Parenting on the Peninsula, a monthly journal for the San Francisco Peninsula and Silicon Valley.

Carl Hillier, O.D., FCOVD– 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. He is an adjunct clinical professor for students for the Southern California College of Optometry and the Illinois College of Optometry. He provides sports vision training with key players on the San Diego Padres Baseball Team.  In 1992 Dr. Hillier helped found the Vision Rehabilitation Clinic at the San Diego Rehabilitation Institute at Alvarado Hospital and is in private practice in San Diego.  He has lectured at every major neuro-rehabilitation hospital in San Diego County. He lectures in Spain, England, Mexico and Canada on topics related to vision and vestibular function in children and adults. He has published articles in the American School Nurse Journal, The National Montessori Reporter, Journal of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, and Brain Injury professionals.He has been honored by the American Optometric Association as Sports Optometrist Of The Year in 2000, and by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development by receiving the Getman Award in 2009.

Stan Appelbaum, O.D. FCOVD – Dr. Appelbaum is a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry. After completing his Residency in Vision Therapy at State University of New York State College of Optometry, he was Clinical Director of The Vision Therapy Clinic at The Optometric Center of Maryland. Dr. Appelbaum is a certified Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and has been in private practice with his wife Barbara Bassin, OTR/L, BCP for over 20 years in Bethesda and Annapolis, Maryland, combining Vision Therapy with Sensory Integration Occupational Therapy in the same office. He is Board Certified in Vision Therapy, and lectures on topics related to infant vision development, visually related learning difficulties, visual problems of special needs children and adults, visual/vestibular problems, bright children and adults who do not like to read or get fatigued when they do read, vision rehabilitation for TBI/stroke, strabismus, amblyopia, and the visual demands of computer use and sports vision. Dr. Appelbaum, author of Eye Power (www.EyePowerBook.com), is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the Southern College of Optometry and has served on the Board of Sensory Integration International. He has also served on the Board of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and has medical staff privileges at the Maryland Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC, where he treats patients with visual problems associated with brain injury.

Barry Tannen, O.D., FCOVD – Dr. Tannen received his bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, where he received the COVD/Skeffington Award for Clinical Excellence in Vision Therapy.  He has written and co-authored numerous optometric publications, including the 1995 book “Eye Movement Basics for the Clinician”.  Dr. Tannen is a Fellow in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and the American Academy of Optometry.  In 2002, he was the recipient of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physician’s Scientific Achievement Award.  Dr. Tannen lectures nationally and internationally on learning related vision disorders, strabismus, amblyopia, and vision therapy. Dr. Tannen is currently in private optometric practice in Hamilton Square, NJ, at EyeCare Professionals, P.C. with Drs. Nicholas Despotidis and Ivan Lee.  Dr. Tannen also maintains an appointment as an Associate Clinical Professor of Optometry at the State University of New York College of Optometry, and an adjunct faculty position at the Southern College of Optometry where he is the Program Supervisor for the Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Private Practice Residency.