Valley Vista Eye Care Optometric Center

11/11/2025

"The Price of Freedom is Visible Here."
This photo was taken in March 2009 in front of the VA Hospital in Fresno, CA on the last day of my final external rotation for optometry school. The other person in the photo is my classmate and dear friend, Anthony. We chose the Fresno VA rotation because it had a reputation for being one of the toughest rotations, challenging in the best way with complex patients and demanding instructors who'd push us to grow and learn.

The words in that sign above us have stayed with me ever since our time there, just as the veterans I met at the VA left a lasting impression on my heart. Many of them are still burned in my memory. For example, I met a soldier who landed in Normandy one day after D-Day, then stayed with the Allied forces through Europe to the Crow's Nest. History came to life before my eyes that day. (I was scolded for spending too much time on his exam, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was an unforgettable experience!)

It was an honor to provide eyecare for the brave souls behind the meaning of that sign. Grateful today and every day for the courage and sacrifice of all who have paid the price of freedom in service to our American way of life.

10/20/2025

Autumn painted the mountains, and lenses added the final brushstroke. 🍁😎

Polarized lenses don’t just block glare — they reveal nature’s true colors. Swipe 👉🏼 to see a video of a colorful slope with and without the enhancement of brown polarized bronze lenses. Such a neat way to see fall in full detail! 🍂✨

Where is your favorite place to view fall colors? Tell me below in the comments!👇🏼
💛🤎🧡

09/25/2025

Proud to introduce our newest frame line: American Optical. These American-made frames carry a legacy of style and history. Worn by icons like JFK, Neil Armstrong, and Malcolm X, AO lets you see the world through the same lenses as pioneers and presidents.

The frame line dates back to 1833, now handcrafted in a Chicago suburb. Very few ophthalmic frame lines are made in the United States, all the more relevant in current times as vendors are imposing tariff surcharges on nearly everything we purchase for the practice.

Come try on a piece of history—made for 2025. ✨👓

09/17/2025

My team and I strive to make every patient feel comfortable and supported, and it means the world to me when those efforts are reflected back to us. We received multiple 5-star reviews in the past week, and I’ll be sharing some of them here—not just because we’re proud of them, but also because a little positivity and joy can go a long way. Sometimes the smallest reminders of kindness can help us keep moving forward in a world full of so much hurt.

The text pasted below is from a Yelp review that we received over the weekend.

"Valley Vista Eye Care is every single thing an exceptional and outstanding optometry practice is. From a lovely and welcoming office (be sure to read the sign hanging on the wall behind the front desk- every word stands solid!), friendly and helpful staff, to Dr. Heuer - excellence and genuine care is what you'll find when you make an appointment with her, because she is incredible! Kind, empathetic, she takes time to do an exceedingly thorough exam, with any needed follow-ups. Dr. Heuer explains and details until I left the office with quite an interesting education! Valley Vista just plain 'gets it.' The quality of service is something so rare as to be scarce anymore. I have found my ideal eye doctor and at Valley Vista you, too, will find your ideal eye doctor! By the way, the office is located in quaint downtown Woodland. Parking is plentiful and comfortably accessible."

07/26/2025

Say hello to BlinkJoy, an eyelid warming mask designed to elevate dry eye treatments. It's like a comfy & cozy BFF for your eyes. A lot of people use beaded Bruder masks at home, but those masks must be warmed in microwave, so people struggle to keep up while traveling. The BlinkJoy mask has a rechargable battery that makes it incredibly convenient to use at on-the-go or a home. I have been really impressed with this device!😎

I also plan to incorporate the BlinkJoy mask with my IPL treatments, to warm and loosen the meibum prior to expression of the glands. Better prep = better results = more hydrated eyes.

Please reach out if you'd like to make an appointment to discuss. Your eyes will feel the JOY and thank you. ✨👁👁✨

06/07/2025

Sharing three victories from this week because we need to celebrate the wins wherever we can get them these days. (Am I right?)

👁️👁️"These contact lenses are a life saver." Those were the words of a returning patient who was new to our office last year. An exam, contact lens fitting, and a second opinion were requested. There was some pathology that made the fitting more complicated than usual, but those cases are my favorite. We found a great solution, and it was fun to hear how that success carried through the year.

🌻Another person brought flowers after we had a really nice heart-to-heart chat in the exam room. The bouquet was so big that I had to split it into two vases. Photos here show the beautiful blooms.

👀Finally, a patient we saw last November desperately needed cataract surgery but did not have insurance. We had been trying to help him get enlisted with various assistance programs because he was unable to work or drive as is. After numerous roadblocks, I met a local surgeon in March who was running a clinic for free cataract surgeries through Kaiser. His surgery *finally* occurred over the weekend, and the result is fantastic. She texted me a picture of them together on Sunday, and it made my heart burst out of my chest.

With 16 years under my belt in this field, I have learned cling onto these moments. They are what makes all of the other stuff -- the awful BS stuff! -- worthwhile. It's especially critical during this rip-roaring tumultuous period that we are navigating as science, humanity, and decency have been discarded by our so-called leaders.

If you've had a prominent victory recently, please tell me in the comments. I'd love to hear it!

04/01/2025

April 1st marks the 14th anniversary of serving our community in Yolo county! We are beyond grateful for the trust and support of our incredible patients. Your kind words and loyalty mean the world to us.

To mark the occasion, I am sharing a recent review that a patient left for us on Google. Love that this review gives kudos to my whole team because like he said, they really are amazing and indispensable.

Thank you for allowing us to care for your vision year after year. Here's to many more! 🎉💚🩵💫

11/25/2024

Thanksgiving is almost here! Our office will be closing early on Wednesday, so stop in before noon if you need anything!
🧡🤎💛
Photo by Lisa Heuer, Bishop Creek Canyon on October 5, 2024

07/05/2024

"May our thoughts and deeds be true and be worthy of your stripes ... red, white and blue." -Dolly Parton, Color Me America
❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙
Wishing you all a fun-filled celebration and quality time with loved ones.
❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙

07/04/2024

This is a picture of me at age 3 on America's bicentennial in 1976. Aside from the crazy midriff-baring top, guess what else about the photo would make me cringe?

No eye protection!! 🥽⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Yes, we were wild and crazy in those days with no bike helmets and rash guards, but I hope you'd agree with me that there is a place for eye protection with respect to July 4th activities.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 9,700 emergency room visits in 2022 attributed to fireworks. Eye injuries accounted for 19% of those visits! The American Optometric Association recommends the following tips to protect and preserve eyesight during the Fourth of July holiday:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

🎇Discuss fireworks safety with children and teens prior to the Fourth of July holiday.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Do not allow kids to handle fireworks, and never leave them unsupervised near fireworks.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Wear protective eyewear when lighting and handling fireworks of any kind.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Store fireworks, matches and lighters in a secure place where children won't find them.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Be aware of your surroundings and only light fireworks when family, friends and children are at a safe distance.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Refrain from purchasing sparklers. Heating up to 2,000 degrees or hotter, sparklers are the No. 1 cause of firework injuries to children requiring trips to the emergency room. The CPSC reported that sparklers accounted for more than half of the total estimated injuries to children under age 5.

Yikes, who knew that sparklers could be so dangerous? The neighborhood fireworks show is looking more appealing after reading all of those statistics. Who’s with me?

Aside from all that, what do you think of my nifty pink and purple bike? I loved it, training wheels and all.

Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks

07/04/2024

This is a picture of me at age 3 on America’s bicentennial in 1976. Aside from the crazy midriff-baring top, guess what else about the photo would make me cringe?

No eye protection!! 🥽⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Yes, we were wild and crazy in those days with no bike helmets and rash guards, but I hope you’d agree with me that there is a place for eye protection with respect to July 4th activities.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 9,700 emergency room visits in 2022 attributed to fireworks. Eye injuries accounted for 19% of those visits! The American Optometric Association recommends the following tips to protect and preserve eyesight during the Fourth of July holiday:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

🎇Discuss fireworks safety with children and teens prior to the Fourth of July holiday.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Do not allow kids to handle fireworks, and never leave them unsupervised near fireworks.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Wear protective eyewear when lighting and handling fireworks of any kind.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Store fireworks, matches and lighters in a secure place where children won’t find them.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Be aware of your surroundings and only light fireworks when family, friends and children are at a safe distance.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🎇Refrain from purchasing sparklers. Heating up to 2,000 degrees or hotter, sparklers are the No. 1 cause of firework injuries to children requiring trips to the emergency room. The CPSC reported that sparklers accounted for more than half of the total estimated injuries to children under age 5.

Yikes, who knew that sparklers could be so dangerous? The neighborhood fireworks show is looking more appealing after reading all of those statistics. Who’s with me?

Aside from all that, what do you think of my nifty pink and purple bike? I loved it, training wheels and all.

Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks

06/23/2024