What vision or eye care services do you offer?

Vision and Eye Care Center │Akron Children's

Specializing In:

Myopia Control, Nystagmus & Adult Strabismus

The only children's hospital to offer a clinic dedicated solely to pediatric scleral lenses. Learn more

We’ve treated patients from 47 countries and 45 states.

Tanvi Benipal, OD

Dr. Tanvi Benipal is a pediatric optometrist with advanced training in vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation. She specializes in diagnosing and treating vision issues that can affect reading, learning, attention, coordination, and overall quality of life. Dr. Benipal is particularly passionate about helping children and individuals recover visual function following brain injuries, including concussions.

Meet Tanvi Benipal, OD

Sarah Guillette, OD, FAAO

Dr. Guillette is a pediatric optometrist at Akron Children’s Hospital, where she’s been practicing since 2021. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Optometry in Worcester, Massachusetts and completed her pediatric optometry residency at Akron Children’s Hospital. Dr. Guillette is a member of the American Academy of Optometry, earning her Fellowship in the Academy in 2021. While she has helped to educate the optometry residents since joining our faculty in 2021, she recently took over as the Director of the Pediatric Optometry Residency Program in 2025.

Meet Sarah Guillette, OD, FAAO

Nancy Hanna, MD

Dr. Nancy Hanna is a dedicated pediatric ophthalmologist at Akron Children’s Vision Center, where she has been caring for patients since 2012. A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, she went on to complete her ophthalmology residency at Summa Health and a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at Akron Children’s. Dr. Hanna provides expert evaluation and treatment for a wide range of eye and visual system disorders for patients in infancy through adolescence with vision disorders that are critical to be treated in childhood. She is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and serves as co-investigator on several active research studies, contributing to advances in pediatric eye care. Her clinical interests include amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus, tear duct disorders, cataracts, retinopathy of prematurity, and uveitis. Committed to using the latest surgical techniques and technologies, Dr. Hanna ensures her patients receive the highest standard of care. In addition, she is passionate about education, actively teaching residents and fellows to prepare the next generation of physicians. Dr. Hanna is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

Meet Nancy Hanna, MD

William Lawhon, MD

Dr. Lawhon is a pediatric ophthalmologist at The Vision Center at Akron Children’s Hospital. He completed his medical training at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and residency in ophthalmology at The Havener Eye Institute at The Ohio State University. Dr. Lawhon went on to complete his fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at UTSW Children's Medical Center Dallas before joining Akron Children’s Hospital in 2012. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a member of both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Dr. Lawhon serves as Director of Quality and Safety of the Vision Center at Akron Children’s Hospital and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Meet William Lawhon, MD

Casandra Solis, OD, FAAO

A graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry, Dr. Casandra Solis became the first optometrist employed at Akron Children’s Hospital when she joined the Vision Center in 2014. To help further her dedication to younger patients, she completed a residency in Pediatric Optometry at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Solis provides eye exams and helps patients with everything from ocular disease to contact lenses. An avid proponent of continual learning, she became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 2014. In 2020, in collaboration with The Ohio State University College of Optometry, she implemented the Pediatric Optometry Residency Program at Akron Children's Hospital, one of only 7 programs within a stand-alone children’s hospital. With the increase in optometry providers, Dr. Solis was recently named Director of Optometry to help continue the excellent optometric services provided at Akron Children’s.

Meet Casandra Solis, OD, FAAO

Palak Wall, MD

Dr Wall is a pediatric ophthalmologist who has been practicing since 2013. She joined the staff at the Akron Children's Vision Center in 2017. A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, she completed a residency in ophthalmology at the Ohio State University Medical Center, and a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. Her special interests are pediatric ophthalmology, adult strabismus and retinopathy of prematurity. She is board certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Meet Palak Wall, MD

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We treat infants, children and teens with a wide range of vision symptoms and disorders, including:

Amblyopia (lazy eye)
Congenital ocular abnormalities
Cataracts
Double vision
Glaucoma
Ocular allergies
Refractive errors (glasses prescriptions)
Retinal disorders
Retinopathy of prematurity
Ptosis (droopy eyelid)

We also treat infants, children, teens and adults with:

Nystagmus
Strabismus (crossed eyes)

The Vision Center features an experienced, skilled team including ophthalmologists, optometrists, an orthoptist, a nurse, ophthalmic techs and scientists. They offer the latest in diagnostics and care for patients with vision problems, no matter how simple or complex.

Our advanced treatment for rare eye diseases, such as infantile nystagmus, draws patients from all over the world. Our team also specializes in caring for children with disabilities.

Vision, Akron

Akron Children's Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Akron
Considine Professional Building
215 West Bowery Street
Level 2
Akron, Ohio 44308
Map & directions
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Appointments: 330-543-2778

Department: 330-543-5290

Vision, Boardman

Akron Children's Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Boardman
Building C
6505 Market Street
Suite 1100
Boardman, Ohio 44512
Map & directions
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Appointments: 330-543-2778

Department: 330-746-9480

Vision, Boston Heights

Akron Children's Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Boston Heights
Akron Children's Health Center, Boston Heights
328 East Hines Hill Road
Boston Heights, Ohio 44236
Map & directions
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Appointments: 330-543-2778

Vision, Medina

Akron Children's Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Medina
Akron Children's Health Center, Medina
3778 Medina Road
Medina, Ohio 44256
Map & directions
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Appointments: 330-543-2778

Department: 330-722-2468

Vision, North Canton

Akron Children's Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Canton
Akron Children's Health Center, North Canton
6076 Whipple Avenue
North Canton, Ohio 44720
Map & directions
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Appointments: 330-543-2778

DEPARTMENT HEADS:

Accepting new patients

Faruk Örge, MD, MBA, FAAO, FAAP

Director, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology; Dr. Boomer and Jill Burnstine Endowed Chair in Pediatric Ophthalmology

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

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NURSE PRACTITIONERS/PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS:

Accepting new patients

Valerie Russell, PA-C

Physician Assistant

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The vision experts at Akron Children’s specialize in the comprehensive evaluation, coordinated care and cutting-edge treatment of eye disease and visual system disorders in infants, children, teens and adults who have remaining vision disorders due to childhood eye diseases.
This Akron Children’s Center features an experienced, skilled team of ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, ophthalmic techs, and scientists. They offer the latest in diagnostics and care for children with vision problems, no matter how simple or complex.

Insurance coverage for vision is dependent upon diagnosis and can involve your medical insurance and/or vision care insurance. A diagnosis can only be determined by the provider at the completion of the exam. In addition, coverage varies by company. Please review your insurance plan benefits for vision care in advance of your appointment. In addition, there is a specific test that is done at each yearly exam and possibly each visit depending on the patient's diagnosis (CPT 92015 Refraction). This is often not paid by insurance. For questions about your individual plan please contact your insurance carrier.

Akron Children’s Vision Center prides itself on a commitment to medical education. We offer two fellowship programs, one in optometry and one in ophthalmology, to provide training for the next generation of health care providers.

From a patient family perspective, this means that there will likely be a student present at your appointment. We thank you for your understanding as we take the time to allow these students the opportunity to learn and grow in their medical and health care pursuits.

More information on our optometry fellowship can be found here, and more information on our ophthalmology fellowship can be found here.

Vision Center