Santa Monica Optometrist Expands Eye Health Education Through Book and Nonprofit

May 16, 2026 - 04:53

As daily life becomes increasingly screen driven, from Zoom calls and scrolling to digital classrooms and late night streaming, optometrist Irina Yakubin is working to make eye health education more accessible, approachable, and community centered in Santa Monica.

Yakubin, an optometrist and founder of OptiHealth Optometry, practices within Montana Eyes. She noticed that many patients, especially parents and young professionals, had little understanding of how prolonged screen time affects their vision over the long term. Rather than simply handing out pamphlets during exams, she decided to take a broader approach.

Yakubin recently published a book aimed at explaining eye health in plain language. The book covers common issues like digital eye strain, dry eye syndrome, and the importance of regular exams for children. She also launched a nonprofit organization focused on outreach, offering free vision screenings at local schools and community centers. The goal is to catch problems early and teach people simple habits, like the 20-20-20 rule, to protect their sight.

Her work fills a gap in a city where many residents spend hours staring at screens for work and leisure. By combining a private practice with a nonprofit mission, Yakubin hopes to shift the conversation from reactive treatment to proactive care. She believes that better education today can prevent serious vision problems tomorrow, one patient and one classroom at a time.