Our Practice
in Ladera Ranch

Dr. Smith graduated with a biology degree in 1984 from Cal State University, Fullerton. He continued his education at the Indiana University School of Optometry, where he served as student body president and graduated in 1988. He founded Rancho Santa Margarita Optometry in February 1990. In November of 2004, Dr. Smith decided to expand his practice to include Ladera Ranch Optometry.

Dr. Smith has a passion for quality and strives daily to perfect every aspect of patient eye care, with specialties in contact lenses, LASIK pre and post-op management, and dry eye disorders.

Dr. Smith is also an outdoor enthusiast with a fondness for boating and snow skiing. Married in 1986, Dr. Smith has 3 children, Liza, Mallorie, and Grant. His daughter Liza Smith Koepke has recently joined the practice as an optometrist.

Dr. Liza Koepke (Dr. Steve Smith’s daughter!) is excited to be a part of the family business and is very happy to serve her childhood community. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Southern Methodist University in 2007, then attended Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry. Dr. Koepke graduated in May 2015 with her Doctor of Optometry degree.

She is a current member of the California Optometric Association and the Orange County Optometric Association. She has experience diagnosing, treating, and managing various ocular diseases, such as glaucoma, dry eye syndrome, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration. Her considerable knowledge includes refractive surgery, fitting soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses, and specialty contact lenses, such as scleral and multifocal lenses.

Dr. Koepke currently lives in San Clemente with her husband, Andrew, and her 2 sons, Cole and Blake. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, spin classes, running, and cooking.

Dr. Stacy Jones graduated cum laude from the Southern California College of Optometry and joined RSM & LR Optometry soon after. She attended the University of California, Irvine, graduating with degrees in chemistry and molecular biology for her undergraduate studies. While in optometry school, Dr. Jones completed her internship rotations through the Eye Care Center in Fullerton, Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital, Travis Air Force Base David Grant Medical Center, and the Optometric Center of Los Angeles. There, she developed various skills in diagnosing, treating/managing ocular diseases, fitting soft and rigid contact lenses, and pediatric and low vision evaluations. She is certified in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of glaucoma. Dr. Jones can conduct a complete exam in Spanish.

Currently, she is an active member of the California Optometric Association and Orange County Optometric Association. Dr. Jones lives in Wagon Wheel with her husband, daughter, dog, and 2 cats. In her free time, she enjoys running, boating, and baking.

Dr. Meghdadi graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Biological Science degree from the University of California, Irvine. Following this, she graduated from the Southern California College of Optometry with her doctorate in 2003 and then completed an internship with Los Angeles Veterans (VA) Clinic. She started wearing and loving contact lenses at the age of 9 years old!  In 2005, she had LASIK corrective surgery performed on both her eyes. Her experience provides a specialized skill when discussing contact lenses and refractive corrective surgeries, like LASIK and cataract surgery with her patients. Dr. Meghdadi is a glaucoma-certified optometrist. She is skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and ocular disease. She has been practicing optometry for over 15 years. Her goal is to provide patients with detailed, comprehensive eye exams as a preventive care approach. She is passionate and professional in her patient care.

​Dr. Lavinder grew up in the Central Valley of California, where she excelled in her pre-college education. Through her community service with Kiwanis, she realized she wanted to have a career where she could help others. Having worn glasses from the age of 8, Dr. Lavinder decided to shadow her childhood optometrist. It was then that she became fascinated with the field of eye care.

For her undergraduate studies, Dr. Lavinder attended the University of California, Los Angeles, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in physiological sciences. In her free time, she became actively involved in the optometric world by volunteering at various optometry offices in Los Angeles County and working at the Low Vision Rehabilitation Center in the Jules Stein Eye Institute.

After college, Dr. Lavinder attended the Southern California College of Optometry, earning her Doctor of Optometry degree. Her clinical training shaped her into a well-rounded eye care provider, practicing primary eye care at the Travis Air Force Base Hospital, treating ocular pathology at a community clinic in Downtown LA. She has worked closely alongside ophthalmologists, co-managing cataract and refractive surgery patients in Las Vegas. Dr. Lavinder is a glaucoma-certified optometrist and an affiliate of NVISION Eye Center.

Dr. Lavinder speaks Cantonese and Spanish.

Dr. Hwang is a Southern California native who graduated from the University of California San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in human biology. She went on to attend the Southern California College of Optometry and graduated cum laude. Dr. Hwang completed her clinical training at Las Vegas Veterans Hospital, University Eye Center Los Angeles, Ketchum Health, and San Diego Naval Station. She specializes in treating and managing ocular diseases, fitting hard and soft contact lenses, and co-managing cataract and LASIK patients.

A glaucoma-certified optometrist who can speak medical Spanish, Dr. Hwang lives in Orange County with her husband, son, and corgi.