Mayor Recognizes Local Optometrist

COLTON>> Colton Mayor Richard DeLaRosa visited Dr. Lien T.K. Nguyen at her optometry office in Wal-Mart in Colton Aug.18 to present to a plaque for recognition for the work she has done as an optometrist. “It comes at a sweet moment for me because this year marks the 10 year anniversary that I have been practicing as a doctor of optometry,” Nguyen said. At the young age of 12 years old, Nguyen said she knew she wanted to be an eye doctor. Nguyen said her fascination with the human eye and the process of finding the correction of vision with glasses began when she saw her optometrist was caring, detailed and attentive to her eyes and said she did not need glasses. She said she carried this enthusiasm throughout high school and to the University of Manitoba in Canada. She also graduated with top-honors from the New England College of Optometry in Boston. “Nothing is more rewarding than being able to improve one’s quality of life through sight,” Nguyen said. “To have Mayor Richard DeLaRosa acknowledge the hard work that we do here at my practice is an absolute honor. It was a memorable moment because I was surrounded by my whole team that has shaped me into the doctor that I am today. Mayor DeLaRosa had mentioned all of my accomplishments and what we had done for our patients and the community. It was at that moment that I realized that we, as a small team had made a big difference in the lives of all our patients.” She established her private practice inside the Colton Wal-Mart in March 2011. “During the first year, I had invested many hours introducing myself and the practice to the community,” Nguyen said. “This allowed me to become a part of some the top organizations throughout the City of Colton, as well as San Bernardino County.” She has been a part of includes The Gift of Sight Organization since 2006 and the non-profit organization 2nd Chance Kids since 2011, which provided free exams and glasses for under privileged children. Nguyen is also the primary optometrist for The Salvation Army of San Bernardino, that offers free medical services for the men's home; which includes free eye health exams and glasses. For the past 5 years, she said she has participated in the Annual Loma Linda Women's Health Fair, which offers free health screenings for more than 1,000 woman throughout San Bernardino County. “I love what I do,” Nguyen said. “I love being an optometrist and helping people see. The smile on my patients’ face when they can see clearly is my goal each day.”