Meet the Staff

At Dr. Gary D. Polan, our staff is friendly and professional. We are committed to providing exceptional patient service. We take pride in our personalized care and strive to ensure a comfortable experience for each of our patients. 

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Dr. Gary Polan, O.D. - Dr. Polan has been in solo private practice in Pacific Palisades, CA since 1985. He was elected president of the Los Angeles Optometric Society (LACOS) in 2019. He continues to serve as LACOS Chair of the Education and Clinical Practice Committee since 2017. Dr. Polan was also Editor-in-Chief of the LACOS newspaper for two years. Dr. Polan is co-founder of the Palisades Eye Care Company, which has patented a lint free tissue, LintFree Aquablotters, that aids in the application of contact lenses. 

Media appearances include being a featured guest on Dr. Klapper's Weekend Warrior Radio Show (available on the ESPN LA radio show / July 15, 2017, first hour); being interviewed by Lynda Huey from Meet the Doctors November 28, 2018 (listen here or at meetthedoctors.com); being featured on ABC News in 2000 for his work in sports vision and learning disability therapy; being featured on KFI radio during their Vision Appreciation Month; and appearing on Spike TV as their resident Sports Vision expert. 

Dr. Polan specializes in Sports Vision, Vision Therapy, and Developmental Vision. He has worked with Billie Jean King and World Team Tennis, Gold Medal winning Olympic athletes, and athletes in the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, and NCAA. 

In 1984, Dr. Polan presented the results of a yearlong study on the relationship between contrast sensitivity and Sports Vision. These results were published in the 1984 Journal of the American Optometric Association. In 1996, a five-year study conducted by UCLA's Jules Stein Institute and published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology validated Dr. Polan's pioneering work. 

Dr. Polan received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California in 1978. Postgraduate degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Visual Psychophysics in 1982 and a Doctor of Optometry in 1984, both from the Southern California College of Optometry ('SCCO'). In professional school, additional honors include Editor-in-Chief “Scope” school newspaper two years (nationally honored), Certificate of Completion in Vision Therapy training in 1983 and National Honor Society. Residencies include State University New York College of Optometry in Vision Therapy and Sports Vision, Brentwood Veterans Administration Hospital, Optometric Center of Fullerton, Optometric Center of Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Juvenile Hall Project Vision Therapy (SBJHP). SBJHP was significant in that it reduced recidivism rates from 90% down to 10%.

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Dr. Elizabeth Yeh, O.D. - Dr. Elizabeth Yeh joined our practice in January 2019. She specializes in glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, vision therapy, and comprehensive eye exams. Dr. Yeh grew up in Pacific Palisades and is a proud Palisades Charter High alumna. She graduated from UCLA with a Biology degree before receiving her Doctor of Optometry from the UC Berkeley School of Optometry.

As an optometry student, Dr. Yeh practiced patient care at several VA clinics in Portland and San Francisco. She also trained at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington D.C., where she worked with traumatic brain injury patients, fitted custom scleral lenses, and treated urgent care cases.


Tricia Hummel - Board Certified Optician, National Contact Lens Certified, and Frame Stylist with 20 years of experience 

Brenda Chacon - Accounting and Billing, Optical Technician, Contact Lens Training, Vision Therapist,  Frame Stylist, Web & Social Media Director

Fanny Espinosa - Optical Technician, Front Office, Contact Lens Technician, Frame Stylist, Accounting and Billing

Lilian Blanco Lilian returns to Dr. Polan's Office to be an Ophthalmic Assistant after working here as an intern during her enrollment at Palisades Charter High. Lilian's mother Marta also worked at Dr. Polan's office for 15 years. Lilian will be Pre-Testing, performing Vision Therapy, and acting as an Optical Technician. 

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