Associate Professor of Clinical Optometry
Co-Chief, Binocular Vision Clinic
Chief Mentor, Residency in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation
Berkeley Optometry Disability Officer
Dr. Debora (Lee) Chen is an optometrist who cares for patients who have difficulty using their eyes together as a team. This includes binocular vision disorders, such as amblyopia (“lazy eye”), strabismus (an eye turn), eye teaming issues (tracking difficulties), and vision-related learning disorders. Many of these patients also have developmental differences, cortical vision impairment, or have suffered an acquired or traumatic brain injury. She also provides vision therapy and rehabilitation for these conditions. Her research interests include pediatric vision, strabismus, eye movement measurement and disorders, traumatic and acquired brain injury, cerebral visual impairment, and new treatment options for amblyopia, including those using mobile device applications.
Optometry 240, Contributing Instructor and Optometry 240L, Lab co-instructor
Diagnosis and treatment of heterophoria, accommodative, vergence and oculomotor anomalies including sensory anomalies and amblyopia. Rationale and methods for treatment with lenses, prism, occlusion, and vision training. Design and implementation of treatment programs.
Optometry 241L, Lab Co-Instructor
Advanced diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of strabismus, neurologic oculomotor disorders, amblyopia, and other associated sensory anomalies. Assessment and management of developmental and acquired visual perceptual disorders in relationship to learning disabilities. Design and implementation of treatment programs
Optometry 430A, Contributing Instructor
Clinical practice in examination techniques and interpretation of clinical data. Primary care optometric exams.
Optometry 430B, Optometry Clinics
Examination of patients in a specialty setting: binocular vision, visual processing skills, and vision therapy and rehabilitation.
Optometry 441A-C. Specialty Clinics
Examination, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and/or management of patients in specialty clinics: binocular vision, visual processing skills, vision therapy and rehabilitation.
Binocular vision, pediatric/ children’s vision, amblyopia, strabismus, myopia control, traumatic brain injury, cerebral vision impairment, autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions, vision-related learning disorders, community health, barriers to health/ eye care, school-based eye examinations.
Berkeley Optometry Admission Committee
Clinical Curriculum and Instruction Committee
Berkeley Optometry Curriculum Committee
UC Berkeley Faculty Advisory Committee, Disabled Student’s Program
Diversity, Equity, and Campus Climate
Mallios J, Chen D, Wang J, Han S, Summers A, Rice M, Scheiman M, Harb EN, Qureshi R. Interventions for improving adherence to amblyopia treatments in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD015820. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015820.
Baek, S., Johnson, R., Saunders, C., Lee Chen, D., & Lai, K. (2021). AI Democratization in Optometry: Developing a Prototype with Azure Cognitive Services Platform. Journal of Student Research, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i3.1985.
Bilkhu A, Lee Chen, D. “Successful Combination Therapy for Amblyopia secondary to micro-esotropia and anisometropia.” Vision Dev & Rehab 2021; 7(3):197-202.
Nguyen T, Chen, D. “Binocular Diplopia as Ocular Complication of Parkinson’s Disease.” Optometry and Vision Performance. In print.
Bilkhu A, Chen, D. “Vision Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Lenses in Acquired Bilateral Trochlear Nerve Palsy.” Case Series by the Optometric Extension Program Foundation. In print. http://www.coavision.org/files/Education/COMAG0116.pdf. Reprinted in COA Online Sept 2019.
Chen, D. “Updates in Amblyopia Treatment.” California Optometric Association CE@HomeOnline. 2016. http://www.coavision.org/files/Education/COMAG0116.pdf. Reprinted in COA Online Sept 2019.
Lee, D. “Treatment of Convergence Insufficiency.” California Optometry Magazine 2013; 40:4(47-53). Reprinted in COA Online Nov 2018.
Lee, D. “Current Methods of Myopia Control: A literature review and update.” Journal of Behavioral Optometry 2009; 20: 87-93.
Summers AI, Montejo JC, Wu R, de Alba Campomanes AG, Chen DML, Beaulieu WT, Stutz KM, Kraker RT, Weise KK, Hatt SR, Leske DA, Roberts TL, Ameyaw Baah CA, Dallas Hughley FD, Kuhl S, Pineles SL. “Demographics of Participants Enrolled into Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) Studies of Intermittent Exotropia or Amblyopia.” Poster presented at: American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, March 2025.
Greenlee M, Lin YS, Jagle H, Plank T, Lee Chen D, Lu I, Vorobey A, Kashchenevsky A. “Accurate and precise binocular limbus eyetracking with head-mounted device for real-world tasks.” Applied Vision Association Christmas Meeting (Cardiff, UK), December 2024.
Mainieri S, Lee Chen D. “Discrepancies in Subjective and Objective Cyclotorsion Measurements from Bilateral Cranial Nerve IV Palsy.” American Academy of Optometry Meeting (Indianapolis), November 2024.
Nguyen V, Fisher J, Lee Chen D. “A Systematic Approach to Managing Acutely Acquired Esotropia Secondary to Hydrocephalus.” American Academy of Optometry Meeting (Indianapolis), November 2024.
Mardi M, Lee D. “Modified Vergence and Tracking Therapy in an Adult Patient with IXT, Visual Snow and CVI.” College of Optometrists in Vision Development / Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation (COVD/ OVDR) Annual Meeting (San Francisco), April 2024.
Mainieri S, Yeung C, Fisher J, Lee Chen D. “Successful Vision Therapy in the Setting of Intermittent Exotropia after Strabismus Surgery.” College of Optometrists in Vision Development/ Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation (COVD/ OVDR) Annual Meeting (San Francisco), April 2024.
Mainieri S, Yeung C, Fisher J, Lee Chen D. “Neuro-optometric Rehabilitation of Convergence Palsy after Hypoxic Brain Injury.” American Academy of Optometry Meeting (New Orleans), October 2023.
Yeung C, Lee Chen D, Fisher J. “An Approach to Treatment of Consecutive Exotropia and Covariance of Normal Correspondence and Harmonious Anomalous Correspondence.” College of Optometrists in Vision Development Meeting (Ohio), April 2022.
Nguyen T, Lee Chen D, Fisher J. “Debilitating Visual Sequelae Secondary to Lateral Medullary Syndrome.” American Academy of Optometry Meeting (Boston), November 2021.
Nguyen T, Fisher J, Lee Chen D. “Cerebral Vision Impairment (CVI) and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC): A Modified Approach to Vision Therapy.” College of Optometrists in Vision Development Meeting (Denver), April 2021.
Lee Chen D. “Pandemic-Era Amblyopia Treatment: A Success Story with Remote Vision Therapy.” American Academy of Optometry Meeting (Nashville), October 2020. Program Number 205055.
Lee Chen D, Bilkhu A. “Divergence Paralysis in an Adult with Cerebellar Dysfunction.” American Academy of Optometry Meeting (Nashville), October 2020. Program Number 205054.
Nguyen T, Lee Chen DM. “Bilateral Superior Oblique Palsy Subsequent from Traumatic Brain Injury.” American Academy of Optometry Meeting (Nashville), October 2020.
El-Khazendar S, Lee D. “Right Homonymous Hemianopia and Visual Agnosia in a Pediatric Patient.” Optometry’s Meeting (Denver), June 2018. Top 5 Author. 2018 Poster.
Chester KR, Lee Chen D, Hoenig MP. “Management of Amblyopia and Coloboma in a Child.” American Academy of Optometry Meeting (Denver), November 2014. Poster.
Chester KR, Lee Chen D, Hoenig MP. “School Based Eye Examinations Make Care Accessible.” American Academy of Optometry Meeting (Denver), November 2014. Poster.
Liu Y, Lee D, Kang P, Wildsoet C. “Accuracy and repeatability of measurements from the Topcon KR1W Aberrometer compared to other clinical instruments.” Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting (Orlando), May 2014. Poster.
Chester KR, Lee D. “Risk of Retinal Detachment in an Adult with Choroidal Coloboma Involving the Optic Disc.” SECO International, LLC, February 2014. Multimedia Poster.
Theis J, Hoenig MP, Lee D. “Iatrogenic Aniseikonia from Surgical Emmetropization of a Pre-Opterative Anisometrope.” SECO International, LLC, February 2014. Multimedia Poster.
Lee D, Hoshi N, Llerena C, Nguyen T, and Walburg M. “A study comparing corneal versus lenticular astigmatism in Spanish-speaking children in Brooklyn, New York.” American Optometric Association Meeting (Washington, D.C.), Posters, June 2009. Poster 67.
Hoshi N, Lee D, Llerena C, Nguyen T, and Walburg, M. “Differences in Refractive Error Among Spanish-Speaking children in Brooklyn, New York.” American Optometric Association Meeting (Washington, D.C.), Posters, June 2009. Poster 83.
Liu S, Lee D, Watson T, Orel-Bixler D. Repeatability and Validity of Refractive Error Screenings in Preschoolers. American Academy of Optometry Meeting (San Diego), December 2005. Poster.