Skip to main content Skip to main content

Vision Center

Featured Image

Led by renowned pediatric ophthalmologist Richard Hertle, the vision experts at Akron Children’s Hospital 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 of Excellence 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.

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

We also offer specialty programs that allow patients to attend multiple appointments in one day, including clinics for uveitis, nystagmus and adult strabismus.

Why Akron Children's

Specializing In:
Uveitis, 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 8 countries and 34 states.

Richard Hertle, MD, FAAO, FACS, FAAP

Dr. Richard Hertle is an investigator in the areas of nystagmus and eye movement disorder.  His current titles include, Professor of Ophthalmology, Northeast Ohio Medical College, SUMMA Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology, Director, The Children’s Vision Center and Chief of Ophthalmology, Akron Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Akron, Ohio, USA.

Dr. Hertle received his Bachelor’s Degree from The Ohio State University and his Medical Degree from Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine.  Following medical school, Dr. Hertle completed fellowships and residencies in Ocular Motility, Emergency Medicine, Ophthalmology, and Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at a variety of medical centers around the country.  Dr. Hertle came to Akron in 2010 to grow the Pediatric Ophthalmology service after six years as Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Professor of Ophthalmology and Bioengineering at The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. 

He has been principal investigator on a number of NIH-funded research projects, including ongoing studies on the treatment of strabismus, nystagmus and amblyopia. An avid researcher and publisher, Dr. Hertle has over 200 referred publications and almost as many abstracts, editorials, reviews and invited lectures.  He currently serves as a reviewer for multiple journals and has been a recipient of over a million dollars of research funding.

Meet Richard Hertle, MD, FAAO, FACS, FAAP

Ian Boydstun, DO

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

Meet Ian Boydstun, DO

Tanvi Chauhan, OD

Optometrist

Meet Tanvi Chauhan, OD

Sarah Guillette, OD

Dr. Guillette is a pediatric ophthalmologist at Akron Children’s Hospital, where she’s been practicing since 2021. She earned her medical degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Optometry in Worcester, Mass. and completed her pediatric optometry residency at Akron Children’s. Dr. Guillette is a member of the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association and the Ohio Optometric Association.

Meet Sarah Guillette, OD

Nancy Hanna, MD

Dr. Hanna is a pediatric ophthalmologist at Akron Children’s Hospital Vision Center, where she’s been practicing since 2012. A graduate of The Ohio State University School of Medicine, she completed her ophthalmology residency at Summa Health Systems and a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at Akron Children’s Hospital. Dr. Hanna offers comprehensive evaluation and treatment of eye disease and visual system disorders in infants, children, teens and adults who have remaining vision disorders due to childhood eye diseases. She is board certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She’s also the co-investigator of several current research studies and 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 has been practicing since 2012. He began the same year at Akron Children’s Hospital as a pediatric ophthalmologist where he specializes in caring for patients with strabismus, retinopathy of prematurity, eyelid disorders, cataract, uveitis, general pediatric ophthalmology and vision care. He received his medical degree from The Ohio State University, where he also completed his residency in ophthalmology. He also completed a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at the UTSW Dallas Children’s Hospital. He is certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is an assistant clinical professor at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Meet William Lawhon, MD

Casandra Solis, OD

Dr. Solis has been practicing since 2013. She joined Akron Children’s Hospital as an optometrist where she provides eye exams and helps patients with vision needs - from ocular disease to contact lenses. After graduating from Pacific University College of Optometry, she completed her residency in pediatric optometry at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, MO. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Meet Casandra Solis, OD

Palak Wall, MD

Dr Wall is a pediatric ophthalmologist who has been practicing since 2013. She joined the staff at the Akron Children's Hospital 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

Dr. Richard Hertle is one of the only physicians in the world who performs the horizontal tenotomy to improve congenital nystagmus.

Related Video
"Vision screenings" - Tips to Grow By
Related Video
"Contact lenses" - Tips to Grow By
Related Story
Josh’s winning spirit
Josh’s winning spirit

Locations

Contact Vision Center

330-543-5290

Location Small Image
Vision
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Akron
Considine Professional Building
215 West Bowery Street
Level 2
Akron, Ohio 44308
More about this location...
Map & directions
Location Small Image
Vision, Amherst
Akron Children's Hospital Vision, Amherst
Akron Children's Health Center, Amherst
47185 Cooper Foster Park Road
Amherst, Ohio 44001
More about this location...
Map & directions
Location Small Image
Vision, Boardman
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Boardman
Building C
6505 Market Street
Suite 1100
Boardman, Ohio 44512
More about this location...
Map & directions
Location Small Image
Vision, Boston Heights
Akron Children's Hospital Vision, Boston Heights
Akron Children's Health Center, Boston Heights
328 East Hines Hill Road
Boston Heights, Ohio 44236
More about this location...
Map & directions
Location Small Image
Vision, Medina
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Medina
Akron Children's Health Center, Medina
3443 Medina Road
Door 1 (Suite 108)
Medina, Ohio 44256
More about this location...
Map & directions
Location Small Image
Vision, North Canton
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Ophthalmology & Optometry, Canton
Akron Children's Health Center, North Canton
6076 Whipple Avenue
North Canton, Ohio 44720
More about this location...
Map & directions

Our Doctors/Providers

Department Heads:
Richard Hertle
Richard Hertle, MD, FAAO, FACS, FAAP

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

Loading patient reviews...
Physicians/Providers:

Samiha Abusharekh, OD

Optometrist

loading...

Ian Boydstun, DO

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

loading...

Tanvi Chauhan, OD

Optometrist

loading...

Sarah Guillette, OD

Optometrist

loading...

Nancy Hanna, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

loading...

William Lawhon, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

loading...

Casandra Solis, OD

Pediatric Optometrist

loading...

Palak Wall, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

loading...
Other Providers:

Laura King, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

About Insurance

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.

Education

Akron Children’s Hospital’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


Some of the Conditions We Treat...

Amblyopia, aphakia, astigmatism, blindness, cataracts, congenital glaucoma, congenital nystagmus, crossed eyes, farsightedness, hyperopia, infantile cataracts, juvenile glaucoma, lazy eye, myopia, nearsightedness, pediatric cataracts, refractive errors, retinal disorders, retinoblastoma, retinopathy of prematurity, strabismus, uveitis, vision defects



Related Stories

What next?

Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
There are 10 nurses in the picture.

And we have many more pediatric primary care providers in Northeast Ohio. You can meet some of them here.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The five differences are:
– Phone color
– Coat pocket
– Stethoscope earpiece color
– Stethoscope bell dot
– Clipboard paper color

Need help finding a doctor, choosing a location or getting a general question about Akron Children's answered? Call us or fill out the form and we'll help in any way we can.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The two matching doctors are 9 and 14.

With virtual visits, you can see our pediatric experts from the comfort of home or wherever you are.
Summit Mall Play Area
Answer Key:
Click to expand
The correct path:
The Correct Path
We offer many ways to get pediatric care all over Northeast Ohio. Use this page to find the right kind of care and the most convenient location for you.