Originally an Illinoisan, Dr. Kristen Clark attended Illinois College, earning her bachelor’s degree in biology. She moved to Chicago and graduated in 2011 from the Illinois College of Optometry where she received accolades including the Dean’s list and membership to Golden Key International Honour Society and Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society. Dr. Clark’s professional pursuits focus on delivering eye care in a fast-paced environment while collaborating with ophthalmologists to provide quality care to both surgical and non-surgical patients. From Champaign, Illinois to Las Vegas, Nevada, she managed pre- and post-cataract surgery and laser vision correction patients, as well as provided primary care to patients of all ages, including routine eye care such as prescribing glasses and contact lenses.
Dr. Clark moved to the Olympia/Lacey, Washington area in 2019 to join the Clarus team. Her practice encompasses primary eye care, routine eye exams, treatment and management of ocular diseases such as dry eye, and co-management of post-surgical patients. Due to her experience and expertise, she also specializes in contact lenses, including specialty contact lenses.
When not in the office, Dr. Clark loves spending time with her two kids and husband, exploring, trying new restaurants, and staying fit and healthy.
Dr. Michelle Lee grew up in Federal Way before moving cross-country to the East Coast to attend the prestigious Johns Hopkins University. During her time in Baltimore, Maryland, she was active in neuroscience research, including an internship at the National Institute of Health’s Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, where she investigated drug addiction at the neuronal level. Dr. Lee graduated from Johns Hopkins University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. She received her Doctor of Optometry from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before relocating to the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Dr. Lee’s passion is in comprehensive eye care, where she has the opportunity to care for general ocular diseases. She also has an interest in managing ocular surface disease and specialty contact lenses.
Her hobbies include playing tennis and the guitar. In her spare time, Dr. Lee also likes to visit hiking trails with her two dogs, Twix and Mel.
Dr. Koziczkowski grew up in Southcentral Alaska before relocating to Oregon to pursue her undergraduate studies at the University of Portland. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology, and a minor in Neuroscience. She went on to receive her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Ohio State University College of Optometry, also graduating magna cum laude. While at Ohio State, she earned a Master of Science in Vision Science for her research on a novel pathway of stimulation of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. Throughout her time in Ohio, Dr. Koziczkowski was deeply committed to community service through her involvement in NOSA and SVOSH, two student organizations dedicated to providing eye care to underserved communities. Through these organizations, she participated in numerous vision screenings and eye clinics. She also attended domestic and international service trips.
Dr. Janat Mathew grew up in sunny South Florida and attended Nova Southeastern University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After completing her undergraduate education, she continued her studies at the Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, earning a Bachelor of Science in Vision Science and her Doctor of Optometry. During her time in optometry school, Dr. Mathew enjoyed performing school vision screenings and volunteering with Special Olympics. She even completed an internship at the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel, Alaska, where she got the opportunity to travel throughout the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and provide optometric care to remote villages.
Dr. Mathew is passionate about providing patients with personalized, quality care and compassion. Her main areas of clinical interest include comprehensive eye care, dry eye, contact lens fittings, and co-managing surgical patients.
She moved to the PNW for a short period after completing optometry school, and, after moving back to Florida to be closer to family, she ultimately decided to move back to Washington with her husband. In her free time, Dr. Mathew enjoys hiking, camping, and trying new recipes.
Dr. Yvette Lakkis is from Lacey, Washington, where she spent most of her childhood before moving to California to complete her schooling. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in microbiology and completed her optometric training at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry. In addition to her clinical education at UC Berkeley, Dr. Lakkis also researched gene therapy as a treatment for retinitis pigmentosa. After optometry school, Dr. Lakkis furthered her clinical knowledge by completing her residency in ocular disease, traumatic brain injury, and low vision rehabilitation at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Long Beach, California. While at the VA, Dr. Lakkis had the distinction of being voted for the Veterans Choice Award two times, which exemplifies her dedication to her patients and their eye health.
Dr. Karen Watson was born and raised in Southern California, but with family roots in Federal Way, she spent many school breaks in Washington and ultimately chose to make the Puget Sound area her home to be closer to loved ones.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign before completing her Doctor of Optometry degree at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. During her training, Dr. Watson broadened her experience through externships across the country—including Wyoming, Alaska, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota—fostering her love of travel and diverse patient care.
Following graduation, she returned to Pennsylvania to complete a residency in Ocular Disease and Low Vision Rehabilitation at the Lebanon Veterans Affairs Medical Center. A Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, Dr. Watson is deeply committed to lifelong learning and advancing her field.
Passionate about outreach, she has participated in service trips to Guatemala and Ecuador, where she helped provide free eye care to underserved communities. In her free time, Dr. Watson enjoys hiking, working on jigsaw puzzles, exploring new foods, and spending quality time with her family.