Meet Dr. Grace Tran Chi

Dr. Grace Tran Chi, OD, FAAO

Dr. Tran Chi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a specialist in low vision rehabilitation. With more than 15 years of experience providing patient care in the field of low vision rehabilitation and advocating for children and adult challenged by vision impairment in diverse urban and rural communities, her goals are to help patients and their families find creative ways to maximize visual potential.

Born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, Dr. Tran Chi received her undergraduate degree from the University of California Irvine with a major in Biology and minor in Art History. She earned her optometry degree at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL. During her doctoral training, she received the William Feinbloom Low Vision Award for outstanding clinical work in the area of low vision. Her National Eye Institute funded research focusing on the spatial compression of the low vision telescope was published in the peer-reviewed journal Optometry Vision Sciences. Dr. Tran Chi completed her residency at the SUNY College of Optometry and Lighthouse International (currently known as Lighthouse Guild) in New York, NY, to specialize in low vision rehabilitation. In this collaborative setting of low vision specialists (e.g., orientation and mobility specialists, certified low vision therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers), she also served as an assistant clinical instructor to optometry students in the low vision clinic.

Dr. Tran Chi believes in a tailored management approach to patient care. She views each of her patients as unique and deserving of compassionate, individualized attention she works towards developing an effective low vision rehabilitation plan. She also believes in a team approach to rehabilitation and considers it a privilege to be a part of each patient’s healthcare team and support system. Dr. Tran Chi’s approach to care is the product of her diverse experience. As a provider in the Oregon Health and Science University–Casey Eye Institute, she worked in the Low Vision Department and also provided consultation services for other branches of the hospital, such as the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitative Services, and the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center. As a provider in the Veteran’s Administration (VA) Health System (VA Connecticut, VA Long Beach), she administered low vision rehabilitation interventions for the Eastern and Western Blind Rehabilitation Centers. At the VA Long Beach, Dr. Tran Chi was also involved in the early development of the Low Vision and Brain Injury Residency Program of the Optometry Clinic. These experiences have fostered Dr. Tran Chi’s passion for working with patients and their families, especially in supporting them in their journey for greater quality of life.

In her free time, Dr. Tran Chi enjoys discovering new neighborhoods and diving into adventure with her family. She also appreciates the opportunity to stay current with art and photography. She is a lover of art history, ever interested in how artists perceive the world, which links her passion for science and art.