Our Team
Thu Ai Phan, OD
Dr. Thu Ai Phan earned her bachelor of science degree in General Biology with a minor in Cognitive Science from UC San Diego. After graduating, she worked at the UCSD Shiley EyeMobile for Children, a non-profit mobile eye clinic that provides free eye care to underserved preschoolers in San Diego county. She then worked in private practice as an optician before moving to Chicago to earn her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Illinois College of Optometry. Dr. Phan completed her training in full scope family practice as well as training at the Illinois Eye Institute, the Cornea and Contact Lens Institute of Minnesota, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.
Dr. Phan is passionate about helping patients achieve their fullest visual potential. She completed vision therapy for her eye misalignment and uses orthoK overnight retainer contacts to correct her vision and help with her dry eyes. She enjoys myopia management, fitting specialty contact lenses, and is passionate about early binocular vision intervention.
Hi, my name is Thu, pronounced two, I grew up in Orange County, CA and graduated from Los Amigos High School. I started wearing glasses in the second grade when my optometrist diagnosed me with nearsightedness or myopia. I hated them but my first generation immigrant parents believed that contacts would damage my eyes so I wasn’t allowed to wear contacts. During my 4th year in college, I realized that I was an adult and made my own money so I set up an appointment with my optometrist and got fitted for contacts. I was blown away! Contacts gave me a new sense of freedom and confidence I hadn't felt before. When I went back for my follow up, I decided that I wanted to be an optometrist so I can give others the confidence I felt.
After graduating from the Illinois College of Optometry, I moved back to Orange County to be closer to family and the community I love. When I’m not thinking about eyes, I enjoy yoga, craft breweries, board games, Angels baseball and trying to get my cat, Meredith Grey, to go on walks. I’m trying to hike all of Orange County so suggestions are welcome!"