Our Team in Maui

Dr. Carlys Higuchi was born and raised in Pukalani, Maui. A 1998 graduate of Maui High School, she went on to pursue her dreams of becoming an optometrist and serving the Maui community. Dr. Higuchi attended Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon where she earned her B.S. in Exercise Science with a Biology minor in 2002 and was then accepted into Pacific University College of Optometry.

She earned her Doctorate in Optometry in 2006. After completing internships in Oklahoma, Alaska, and Washington, she returned home to serve the community she grew up in.

In her spare time, Dr. Higuchi enjoys yoga, reading, sewing, and spending time with her family and friends. She has volunteered in many community service and international outreach programs providing free eye care services to those in need. Dr. Higuchi looks forward to continuing to serve her home community.

Dr. Michael Leong grew up in Nanakuli, on the west side of Oahu. He is a graduate of Iolani School, class of 1994. He attended Santa Clara University, obtaining his B.S. in Biology and a minor in Studio Art. He then attended UC Berkeley obtaining a second B.S. in Vision Science and a Doctorate of Optometry, graduating alongside Dr. Lee in 2003. Dr. Leong completed a residency on cornea disease and contact lenses at the State University of New York, Manhattan.

Dr. Leong is a member of the Kahului Lion’s Club, a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry, and a Board Certified Diplomate with the American Board of Optometry. Dr. Leong participates in free vision screenings locally and internationally. When not practicing, Dr. Leong enjoys spending time with his family.

Dr. Karsten Lee was born in San Francisco and grew up in Dana Point, California. He attended UC Berkeley undergraduate on a merit-based scholarship and earned two Bachelor’s degrees (Biology and Vision Science) while playing intercollegiate volleyball.

Dr. Lee earned his Doctorate in Optometry from UC Berkeley in 2003 along with fellow colleague Dr. Leong. Dr. Lee has worked in the optical field since 1995 and was awarded a Practice Management award, an Ophthalmic Dispensing award, and a Pediatric Vision award while at the School of Optometry.

After graduation, Dr. Lee began practicing Optometry on Oahu and eventually moved to Maui full-time in 2005. Outside of the office, Dr. Lee enjoys his family time, playing beach volleyball and volunteering for outreach eye missions to developing countries. He feels very lucky to have been able to go on 15 international missions to places like Burkina Faso (Africa), Honduras, Nicaragua, Chile, Mexico, Panama, and Thailand.

Born and raised on the island of Maui, Dr. Jamie S. Teshima’s dream of providing eye care to the community that raised her has come true. Dr. Teshima is a compassionate and patient-oriented professional, eager to serve the patients at Maui Optix and play a pivotal role in improving ocular health and wellness within the Maui County community.

Dr. Teshima is an alumnus of H.P. Baldwin High School and also earned her B.S. degree in Biology at Pacific University. She later pursued her childhood dreams of becoming an optometrist at Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Optometry and returned to her roots to focus on her commitment to excellence in patient care.

Her professional goals and passions perfectly align with the Maui Optix mission of sharing aloha through advanced and accessible eye care. In her spare time, Dr. Teshima enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.

Dr. Vanessa Viloria was born and raised in Wailuku and graduated from Maui High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame and her Doctor of Optometry degree from Salus University. She has practiced medical optometry in the greater Philadelphia and Seattle areas and has years of experience working alongside ophthalmologists and cataract surgeons. After spending many years away, she is grateful for the opportunity to return home to work with the Maui Optix ‘ohana to provide care for the people of Maui county.