AMPLIFY EYECARE - Key Persons
Dr. Carl Garbus, FAAO has served patients in Santa Clarita since 1980. The practice is a full scope medical and specialty eye care clinic that emphasizes care for children and adults with vision deficits from traumatic brain injury, stroke and developmental and learning problems. The practice has the latest technology to provide advanced medical eye care services including low vision, specialty contact lenses, myopia management, ocular disease, dry eye and routine eye care/optical.
His experience includes:
Setting up in-patient vision programs at 4 rehabilitation hospitals and serving as a leading referral practice for neuro optometric rehabilitation.
Seeing thousands of infants, children, and special needs patients as a children's vision office for over 35 years.
43 years fitting medically necessary contact lenses including ortho-k lenses, contact lenses for dry eye patients, scleral contact lenses, and hard to fit patients.
Dr. Carl Garbus, FAAO has a passion for working with the expanded care team and does extensive work with the leading rehabilitation hospitals around the greater Los Angeles area. He has made various presentations and in-services to optometric societies, occupational therapy groups, and PTA groups regarding vision problems. Another area of interest is working with children who have learning problems. Autism is on the rise and these children have many vision issues that need to be addressed. Dr. Carl Garbus, FAAO serves as the vice president on the board for the Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) and was the president of the organization in 2010.
Dr. Christopher Appel, OD was born and raise in Susanville, CA, Dr. Appel has always had a passion for helping people improve their quality of life. With a Doctorate in Optometry, he has dedicated his career to ensuring his patients receive the best eye care possible.
Dr. Appel has extensive experience in the full scope of eye care including routine eye exams, ocular disease management, contact lenses, pediatric eye exams, and surgical co-management, dry eye, specialty contact lenses, and eye emergencies. One of his most fulfilling experiences as an optometrist involved detecting retinal birthmarks, which led to the discovery and treatment of a patient's gastrointestinal polyps. This life-changing experience serves as a reminder of the impact a routine eye exam can have on a patient's overall health.
Before pursuing a career in optometry, Dr. Appel worked as an automotive mechanic, a skill he still puts to good use by working on his own cars. When he's not at the clinic or under the hood of a car, he enjoys hiking, camping, and motorcycle riding. Music is also a big part of his life, as he plays the guitar and is currently practicing vocals with hopes of joining a local band.
Although Dr. Appel doesn't follow any particular sports teams, he enjoys watching motorsports. His ultimate goal in life is to help people gain the ability to live better lives, whether it's through driving safely, learning to read, or simply walking around their home with ease.
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the College of Optometrists
Dr. Eric Ikeda graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and then earned his Doctor of Optometry degree at the Southern California College of Optometry in 1986. He is a leading optometrist in the field of neuro optometric rehabilitation & developmental optometry. He has made profound contributions to the field over the years and uses these expertise to provide the highest quality of eye care to his patients.
Dr. Ikeda became a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Developmental Optometry (FCOVD) in 1992. He also completed his Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents (TPA) certification in 1996 and completed Levels I and II of the Clinical Skills Building Program of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. He is Past-President of the San Gabriel Valley Optometric Society and of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA). He also received the "Founding Fathers Medal" for his continued service to NORA. Dr. Ikeda was recognized as "Physician of the Year" by the Rehabilitation Nurses Society in 2012 and currently serves as program director for the Neuro Optometry Clinic at Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation in Pomona. He provides clinical staff services at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center (Downey). Dr. Ikeda was appointed to the American Optometric Association Vision Rehabilitation Committee and to the TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) Task Force.
Dr. Ikeda has been awarded the 2022 Skeffington Legacy Award by the Optometric Extension Program Foundation board. The award was given for his "leadership, insights, time and resources to guide us through key turning moments".
Originally from Arizona, Levi received his Bachelor's of Science in Zoology from Northern Arizona University and his Doctorate in Optometry from Pacific University in Oregon. He is board certified in developmental vision and vision therapy by COVD. He purchased the practice from the Inversos in 2012. He likes spending time with his family (wife and two children,) mountain biking, and undertaking creative projects. He wrote the vision therapy software used by the clinic, retinal camera software, and the computerized eye-chart used for exams.
Dr Lilia Babakhan was raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from California State University of Los Angeles, where she earned a Bachelor of science in Biology. She completed her Doctorate of Optometry at Western University of Health Science in Pomona, California.
Throughout her internship Dr. Babakhan gained Extensive training in primary Optometric Care with focus on Specialty contact lenses such as Scleral & RGP fit in patients with Keratoconus, Corneal transplants, Irregular astigmatism & Severe Dry eyes. She was awarded the American Optometric Foundation Vision Care Award of Excellence in Contact Lenses for her dedication and care to patients with Keratoconus.