Vanessa Bachir is a highly skilled and compassionate optometrist, renowned for her expertise in ocular disease management and advanced eye care. Dr. Bachir completed her Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Montreal before further advancing her education with a residency in ocular disease in the USA. During her residency, she received extensive training in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of a broad spectrum of eye diseases, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, dry eye disease and surgical co-management. This advanced training in a hospital setting has equipped her with specialized skills to manage complex cases and collaborate with different health care professionals.
She is passionate about all aspects of ocular disease, particularly neuro-ophthalmic disorders, ocular neuropathic pain and dry eye disease. For over a decade, she has practised in a full-scope multidisciplinary ophthalmology clinic supervising residents, students, as well as providing direct care in multiple areas of co-management.
She is an assistant professor at the University of Montreal School of Optometry since 2020, where she teaches optometry students about various aspects of ocular disease and visual impacts following head trauma. Her research is currently focused on validating biomarkers for Sjogren’s Syndrome using corneal confocal microscopy, evaluating ocular structure and function in neurodegenerative disease, as well as validating clinical tools to improve standardization of concussion management in optometry and ophthalmology.
She received her Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO) in 2018 and her Master’s in Vision Sciences (M.Sc.) in 2019. She is a member of the Comité de l’exercice clinique de l’Ordre des Optométristes du Québec.
Dr. Bachir loves sharing her passion for optometry through lecturing and continuing education, both locally and internationally. She is a consultant and speaker for various pharmaceutical companies in the eye care space.
