An estimated 61 million adults in the United States are at risk for serious vision loss, but only half visited an eye doctor in the last 12 months.

– Centers for Disease Control

Meet Our Doctors

At EyeCare Specialties of Pennsylvania, we take your eyes seriously, and your eye health is our main priority. We welcome patients of all ages, and our board-certified doctors and other highly trained eye care specialists will perform a comprehensive eye exam and screening to determine your overall eye health and to identify any eye conditions or diseases. Most eye diseases can be treated or managed successfully if the condition is identified or detected early on. Also, eye exams can reveal a range of other undiagnosed health issues like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes. These undiagnosed conditions can also affect your vision.

Dr. Frank Aulicino

Vision Care Associates

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Frank Aulicino, O.D. received his undergraduate degree from Youngstown State University, where he graduated with honors. He was awarded his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1981. Following residencies at the Eye Institute and Maryland Optometric Center he returned to his home town of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association.

His expertise is in primary eye care, providing routine well vision examinations and specializing in contact lens fitting. He also has extensive experience in the management and treatment of medical eye diseases. His greatest joy as a doctor is helping patients maintain their eye health and see their world clearly.

Dr. Frank Aulicino is devoted to staying up-to-date with the latest medical advancements and breakthrough technologies in the treatment of eye disease. His thorough eye health examination will detect diseases that not only can affect your vision, but your overall well-being.

Dr. Chris Cakanac

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Dr. Chris Cakanac earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He went on to complete a residency in primary eye care from The Eye Institute in Philadelphia, PA. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and has authored numerous articles and papers. He is author of the text Cornea and Conjunctiva, Clinical Procedures. As a nationally recognized lecturer, Dr. Cakanac is also a member of the faculty at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He established and continues to head the Low Vision program at the Westmoreland County Blind Association (WCBA) in Greensburg, PA for patients with permanent visual impairment from chronic disease or trauma. His particular interests include eye disease and vision rehabilitation.

“The word family means a lot to us. our practice is very unique in that all our founding partners are family. As a patient, you can expect to be treated as a member of our family.”

Dr. Randy Cakanac

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Dr. Randy Cakanac received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Before joining Your Family Eye Doctors, Inc., he was a member of the department of eye care at the Allegheny Health Education and Research Foundation, an integrated multidisciplinary Pennsylvania health care system. He has a specific interest in diabetic eye disease.

“It’s an exciting time in eye care. by utilizing the latest technologies, we are able to detect many eye conditions sooner and more accurately than even just a few years ago. We have always tried to adopt meaningful technology early-on.”

Dr. Ron Campana

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Dr. Ron Campana is a western Pennsylvania native, and proud alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh where he studied Microbiology. He went on to receive his Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. His training includes ocular disease rotations at The Eye Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Veterans Affair hospital outside of Hartford, Connecticut. Prior to joining Your Family Eye Doctors Inc. Dr. Campana served as a principal advisor on the Gulf Coast Optometry panel in Tampa Florida. He has a special interest in ocular disease and contact lens practice.

Dr. Ryan Centar

Vision Care Associates (Pleasant Hills)

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Dr. Ryan Centar completed his undergraduate schooling at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology; he furthered his education by obtaining a Doctorate of Optometry degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. He has been practicing optometry since 2015.

Dr. Centar became an optometrist because he worked in the field as a tech and it piqued his interests. What he loves most now is that there is an equal balance between patient interaction and medical decision making, which keeps daily life interesting and different.

Dr. Pamela Houghton

Clear Vision Family EyeCare

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Dr. Pamela Houghton obtained a Doctorate of Optometry degree from Indiana University College of Optometry, and specializes in Lasik and PRK today. She has been practicing optometry for over 20 years, and joined the Clear Vision team in 2020. Dr. Houghton became an optometrist because of her interest in the medical field and her experience with other optometrists. What she loves most now is the feeling she gets when she helps others to achieve their best vision possible.

Dr. Michael Lacina

Clear Vision Family EyeCare

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Dr. Michael Lacina joined Clear Vision Family EyeCare during the Summer of 2013.  He attended Duquesne University and graduated with clinical honors from the Ohio State University College of Optometry.

He practices full scope optometry, ranging from pediatric care, to disease management.  He resides in Cranberry Township with his wife, daughter and sons.

Dr. Maria Shuster

Pediatric & Adult Vision

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Dr. Maria Shuster graduated from Washington and Jefferson college in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a minor in Psychology. She went on to attend Pennsylvania College of Optometry where she earned a Bachelor of Science and her Doctorate of Optometry degree in 2012.

Dr. Shuster became fascinated by the eye once she started wearing glasses and contact lenses at a young age. She held onto that passion of wanting to be an optometrist all throughout her many years of education until it became a reality. Now, Dr. Shuster manages patients with glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetes, and providing routine eye care for glasses and contact lenses.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters.

Dr. Stephanie Sikora
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Stephanie Sikora, O.D. received her Doctor of Optometry from The Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in 2021. Originally from Allegheny Township, PA, she graduated from Kiski Area High School in 2013 and continued her education at the Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Bachelor of Science and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2017.

Dr. Sikora received additional training in dry eye, specialty contacts, myopia control, glaucoma, pediatric binocular vision, and pre/post-operative co-management of cataracts and Lasik through her externships. She specializes in soft contact lenses, including toric and multifocal lenses, ocular disease management, and general primary optometric care.

She is active in the American Optometric Association and the Pennsylvania Optometric Association.
In Dr. Sikora’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Samson, traveling, and hiking.

Dr. Brandon McChesney

Pediatric & Adult Vision

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Dr. Brandon McChesney completed his undergraduate schooling at the University of Pittsburgh, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Med. Additionally, he obtained a Doctorate of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry. Dr. McChesney joined Pediatric Adult Vision Care in 2019. He is excited to have the opportunity to affect change in patients’ lives every day by providing specific needs for each patient.

Dr. Shannon Mihalacki

Clear Vision Family EyeCare

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Dr. Shannon Mihalacki, Optometrist – Dr. Mihalacki was born and raised in Johnstown, PA. She received her Bachelor of Science from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, located in Indiana, PA and a Doctorate in Optometry at Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She has served as the Clinical Director for TLC Laser Eye Centers in Pittsburgh. She is active with the Western Pennsylvania Optometric Society and was named “Young OD of the year” in 2010.

Dr. Mihalacki enjoys providing comprehensive care in regards to all aspects of vision and ocular heath. Her specialties included dry eye management and refractive surgery co-management. Dr. Mihalacki lives in Cranberry Township, PA with her husband,  two sons and two daughter.

Dr. David Monroe

Eyes on Regent Square

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Dr. David Monroe received his Doctor of Optometry and Bachelor of Visual Sciences from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in 1989. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

The aspect Dr. Monroe particularly enjoys about being an Optometrist is being able to provide comprehensive eyecare services to his patients. His special areas of interest are in dry eye treatment and medical eyecare services.

Born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, Dr. Monroe now resides in Plum Boro, Pennsylvania, with his wife and their three children.

Dr. Natalie Noble

Noble Vision Center

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Dr. Natalie Noble, originally from Allegheny Township PA, graduated from Kiski Area High School in 2002, Allegheny College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology in 2006, and The New England College of Optometry in Boston in 2010. She is a 4th generation optometrist and had the unique opportunity to practice with both her uncle and grandfather, Doctors Arthur G. Duppstadt and Arthur O. Duppstadt, in Leechburg for over 5 years.

Dr. Noble is a medical optometrist and enjoys treating patients of all ages. She has a particular interest in keratoconus and specialty contact lenses as well as myopia control for children. When not in the office Dr. Noble can be found on skis at Seven Springs, playing beach volleyball in the summer and looking forward to the first day of trout season each year.

Dr. Robert Prazer

Pediatric & Adult Vision

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Dr. Robert Prazer is a Developmental Optometrist who has been involved in evaluating and treating visual dysfunctions since 1984. Dr. Prazer earned a Doctorate of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and specializes in developmental vision care. He also spent four years as an associate at the Reading Center at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. This center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of visual problems related to reading, learning, and performance.

In 1990 he founded Pediatric and Adult Vision Care with the mission of providing full scope vision care in a patient friendly, professional setting. Dr. Prazer saw an increasing need for developmental vision care so he founded the Centers for Vision Development and Rehabilitation, (formerly known as Wexford Developmental Academy), in January 2008. Here, the emphasis is on providing a place for children to develop the visual skills they need for reading and academics, as well as help children and adults with visual difficulties resolve their visual concerns and improve their quality of life.

Through the inspiration and help of Dentistry from the Heart, Dr. Prazer founded Vision Care from the Heart, a non-profit, free event designed to help those in real need with free eye care and glasses. Through his efforts, the first ever Vision Care from the Heart event was held at Pediatric & Adult Vision Care on February 21st, 2014. His hope is that through his example, other Optometrists around the nation will follow suit and offer up one day a year to give back to their communities and provide a much needed service to those in need.

  • Doctorate of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry
  • Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development
  • Member of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association
  • Member of The American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control
  • Certified provider of Paragon CRT for Corneal Refractive Therapy

Dr. Leroy F. Seria

Family EyeCare – Lower Burrell

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Dr. Leroy F Seria is an Optometry Specialist in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania. He graduated with honors from Southern College Of Optometry in 1977.

Having more than 44 years of diverse experiences, especially in optometry, Dr. Seria is one of the most experienced and caring optometrists in all of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Jonathan Skoner, OD, FIAOMC

Pediatric & Adult Vision

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Jonathan Skoner, OD, FIAOMC received his Doctorate of Optometry degree from Salus University (formerly Pennsylvania College of Optometry) where he graduated with academic and clinical honors, he practices full-scope optometry including ocular disease, infant exams and emergency visits.

Dr. Skoner is specialized in myopia control options for young children with progressively worsening eyesight. With over 5 years of post graduate work he completed his fellowship in the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control making him the only doctor in the state of Pennsylvania with this accreditation and one of the most qualified doctors in the region to slow a child’s worsening vision. Dr. Skoner has extensive experience in treating children with atropine, orthokeratology and multifocal optics to correct and slow myopia.

He has been published in the Journal of Asthma and Korean Journal of Asthma, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology regarding ocular complications secondary to inhaled corticosteroid use in patients with asthma.

When Dr. Skoner is not seeing patients he enjoys fishing, tennis and scuba diving.

Memberships

  • International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control
  • Certified Provider of Paragon CRT for Corneal Refractive Therapy

Education

  • B.S. Juniata College, 2009
  • Doctorate of Optometry, Salus University (formerly Pennsylvania College of Optometry)
  • Fellowship in the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control

Dr. Rebecca Woodring

Clear Vision Family EyeCare

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Dr. Rebecca Woodring, Optometrist – Dr. Woodring was born and raised in Gibsonia, PA.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, located in Indiana, PA and a Doctorate in Optometry at Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Woodring has practiced optometry in Colorado and then moved back to Pennsylvania where she spent the past 10 years in private practice. Dr. Woodring enjoys volunteering with organizations such as Mission Vision locally and VOSH- which provides eye care and education to international locations such as Haiti.  Dr. Woodring lives in Mars, PA with her husband, three sons, and two daughters!

Dr. David Strattan

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Originally from Somerset County, Dr. David Strattan earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. While there, he trained in primary eye care at The Eye Institute in Philadelphia and also completed externships with the Public Health Service in South Dakota and at Kenner Army Community Hospital at Fort Lee in Virginia. He was an FDA investigator for the original Boston oxygen permeable contact lens material through Aire-Con laboratories in Pittsburgh. His practice in Cranberry Township centers around the core philosophy established by Drs. Justine Cakanac and Thomas Bartolac in providing comprehensive family eye care, including contact lenses and emergency care.

Robert P. Bittel, O.D.

 Bittel Vision Care Center

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Robert P. Bittel, O.D. received his Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1983. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1978. Dr. Bittel has been involved in laser vision consultation since 1998 when the FDA first approved lasers for vision correction. Dr. Bittel has served on the advisory board of a national laser center.

Active in local, state, and national optometric organizations, Dr. Bittel currently serves as a member of the state government relations committee for the American Optometric Association. Dr. Bittel has served on optometric advisory committees for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Highmark Blue Shield. His clinical interests include ocular disease treatment, glaucoma, and specialty contact lenses.

Dr. Bittel has won many awards during his busy career. Most recently, he was awarded the 2022 President’s Medal of Honor from Pennsylvania College of Optometry – Salus University, an award for outstanding service to the visual welfare of the public and the optometry profession. He has also been awarded the 2021 Optometrist of the Year from the Western Optometric Association, an award Dr. Bittel has previously won two other times, and the 2021 Pennsylvania Optometrist of the Year award.

When he is not treating patients, Dr. Bittel enjoys fishing (salt water, fresh water, and ice fishing), boating, and relaxing at Deep Creek Lake.

Matthew R. Bittel, O.D.

 Bittel Vision Care Center

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Matthew R. Bittel, O.D. received his Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, where he was early-accepted after three years at the University of Pittsburgh, University Honors College, with an academic scholarship.

Realizing a passion for diabetic eye care, Dr. Bittel applied for and was accepted into the prestigious Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina (UNC)-Chapel Hill (the number 2 school of public health in the country). As a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Bittel conducted clinical research in diabetic eye care and based his master’s thesis on the results. The title was “Evaluating Patient Knowledge of HbA1c and Disease Duration in Adult Diabetics”. Dr. Bittel graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a Master of Public Health degree in 2013.

In addition to diabetic eye exams, Dr. Bittel diagnoses and treats glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, dry eye disease, and eye injuries and infections. Dr. Bittel removes corneal and conjunctival foreign bodies and rust and works with bandage contact lenses and amniotic stem cells to aid corneal healing. Dr. Bittel treats all ocular emergencies the same day, if possible.

Dr. Bittel is an active member of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. He enjoys patient interaction and improving their lives with vision care. Dr. Bittel is constantly studying and reviewing the latest research, procedures, and therapeutics to stay current and at the top of his field. Dr. Bittel welcomes infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric, and special needs patients.

When he is not treating patients, Dr. Bittel loves children, dogs, music, traveling, Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, fishing, boating, skiing, scuba diving, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. Dr. Bittel is a Christian and an active member of his church and community.

Katherine Mehalik, O.D.

 Bittel Vision Care Center

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Katherine Mehalik, O.D. received her Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown as a Presidential Scholar.

Dr. Mehalik has trained in many practice settings, most notably Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the William Feinbloom Low Vision Center, receiving clinical honors at all her student externships. She also completed a primary care and ocular disease residency at the James H. Quillen VAMC in Mountain Home, Tennessee.

Happy to be a part of the Bittel Vision Care team, Dr. Mehalik’s clinical interests include low vision and ocular disease, particularly in glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

When she is not treating patients, Dr. Mehalik enjoys reading, sewing, and spending time with her family and friends.

Margaret Nikituk, O.D.
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Margaret Nikituk, O.D. received her Doctor of Optometry from The Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2018 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2014.

Dr. Nikituk specializes in ocular disease treatment and dry eye. She says the best things about being an optometrist is developing relationships with her patients and improving their standard of life while broadening her medical knowledge.

When not treating patients, Dr. Nikituk is running her wellness account on Instagram, @the.health.blend, working out, traveling, and spending quality time with her husband and dog.