Nate Lighthizer, O.D., F.A.A.O

Born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota, Dr. Nate Lighthizer, O.D., F.A.A.O., is a graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry. Upon graduation, he completed a residency in Family Practice Optometry with an emphasis in Ocular Disease through Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry (NSUOCO). Dr. Lighthizer has since joined the faculty at the Oklahoma College of Optometry and serves as the Chief of Specialty Care Clinics and the Chief of Electrodiagnostics Clinic. In 2014, he founded and now heads the Dry Eye Clinic at the College of Optometry. Also in 2014, he was named the Director of Continuing Education as well as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Care Services at the Oklahoma College of Optometry. Starting in 2020, he was named the Associate Dean of the NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry. He is a founding member, and currently serves as President, of the Intrepid Eye Society which is a group of emerging thought leaders in optometry. He was named a member of PCON 250 – A list of the top 250 optometrists in the country who practice progressively, provide innovative patient care, conduct optometric research or excel in academia and share what they have learned with other optometrists to advance the profession. Dr. Lighthizer lectures nationally on numerous topics, most notably advanced ophthalmic procedures, electrodiagnostics, and ocular disease.

Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA

Dr. Melissa Barnett is a principal optometrist at the University of California, Davis Eye Center in Sacramento and Davis, California. She is an internationally recognized key opinion leader, specializing in dry eye disease and specialty contact lenses. Dr. Barnett lectures globally and publishes extensively on topics including dry eye, anterior segment disease, contact lenses and creating a healthy balance between work and home life for women in optometry. She is Chair of the American Optometric Association Contact Lens and Cornea Section, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry, a Fellow and Global Ambassador of the British Contact Lens Association, serves on the Board of the Gas Permeable Lens Institute, International Society of Contact Lens Specialists and is Past President of The Scleral Lens Education Society. Drs. Melissa Barnett and Lynette Johns authored and edited the book Contemporary Scleral Lenses: Theory and Application with the unique perspectives and contributions of international experts. Dr. Barnett most recently chaired the BCLA CLEAR report on scleral lenses. She is currently serving on the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS): A Lifestyle Epidemic Ocular Surface Disease Workshop. Dr. Barnett was awarded the inaugural Theia Award for Excellence for Mentoring by Women in Optometry. She was granted the Most Influential Women in Optical from Vision Monday in 2019. Dr. Barnett and Dr. Tom Arnold are co-hosts of the popular podcast GlobalEyes. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, yoga, hiking and spending time with her family, Todd Erickson, also an optometrist, and two sons, Alex and Drew.

Derek Cunningham, OD, FAAO

Dr. Cunningham’s advanced research cover a vast spectrum of eye are and neuroscience including; dry eye treatments, glaucoma medications and surgeries, retinal disease, cataract and lasik surgeries, cosmetic treatments and products, vision enhancement and sports vision. His innovative research has been presented at all major meetings ranging from the American Retinal society, the Academies of Ophthalmology and Optometry, to the American College of Sports Medicine. His research has been featured in many medical journals and showcased in publications such as Sports Illustrated and Forbes Magazine.

In addition to having been an associate professor at Texas Tech School of Medicine, Dr. Cunningham also held adjunct professor status at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico and University of Waterloo, University of Houston, and University of Incarnate Word.

Dr. Cunningham is an internationally recognized educator, having provided continuing education lectures to eye doctors throughout the world. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is board certified by the American Board of Optometry.  He is also the founding Chair of the Integrated Ophthalmic Task Force for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 

Dr. Cunningham is the director of the Dry Eye Institute at Dell Laser Consultants (DLC) and is well published in the areas of advanced dry eye treatments and facial aesthetics.  He has presented to and educated leading ophthalmologists, corneal specialist and optometrist in the United States and numerous countries around the world.   Many of Dr. Cunningham’s dry eye protocols are being used by academic institutions around the country and his eye disease grading scales are even research standards in other countries. 

Dry eye milestones
- Cunningham was one of the lead authors for the only peer reviewed published optometric dry eye guidelines in North America.
- Cunningham was a co-host of The Dry Eye Summit. A meeting of the top 50 leading dry eye optometry experts in North America. 

Dr. Cunningham has a special interest in Sports Vision and Performance, and is the former Chair of the American Optometric Association’s Sports Vision Section. He currently consults and provides vision training services to numerous professional and NCAA teams.  This work will often have Dr. Cunningham presenting and attending meetings such as the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Athletic Trainers Association meetings. 

Dr. Cunningham is the creator of a popular line of surgical and ophthalmic instruments including:
- The Cunningham Ring Curette^®
- The Cunningham Punctal Probe^®
- The Cunningham Meibomian Gland Expresser^®

As Director of Optometry and Research at Dell Laser Consultants (DLC), Dr. Cunningham specializes in the evaluation and management of vision correction surgery patients and coordinates DLC’s clinical research studies. He oversees the dry eye clinic, including advanced dry eye and facial rejuvenation programs.