Jacqueline Theis

Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO is an optometrist with residency training in neuro-optometry, who treats patients with visual complaints and double vision due to brain injury and neurological disease.  She is nationally recognized as a leader in her field for diagnosis and management of oculomotor dysfunction in concussion, as well as prismatic correction of acquired and developmental double vision.  Dr. Theis’s mission is to provide a comprehensive neuro-optometric eye examination to help patient’s understand their visual system and provide functional, evidence-based optometric treatment options to enhance a patient’s quality of life.  In addition to patient care, Dr. Theis also lectures nationally to optometrists and non-optometric healthcare providers in the field of neuro-optometry, concussion and oculomotor dysfunction, as well as consults healthcare systems on how to prevent fall risk for this patient population.

​Education:

Dr. Theis graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa fromBucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology. She then moved across the country and completed both her Doctorate in Optometry and residency training in Neuro-optometry, Binocular Vision (double vision/strabismus) and Vision Rehabilitation at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry.

Experience:

During her residency, Dr. Theis focused her training on evaluating and treating patients with visual problems due to traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and Parkinson’s disease.  Additionally, she led clinical research with the UC Berkeley Sports Medicine department evaluating the effects of concussion on the oculomotor system in Division 1 intercollegiate varsity athletes.  After her residency, she continued her research and became an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry, as well as the founding Chief of the UC Berkeley Sports Vision Clinic- which provides clinical research and patient care in sports vision performance and optometric post-concussion management.

Once the UC Berkeley Sports Vision Clinic was operational and self-sustaining, Dr. Theis continued her career by transitioning her services to Kaiser Permanente.  For the next five years, Dr Theis worked assiduously to improve quality of care for patients with post-concussion oculomotor dysfunction, double vision, and atypical visual complaints.  Using her previous experience she was able to integrate home-based concussion vision therapy and rehab in a fast-paced outpatient hospital setting.  She worked efficiently and cooperatively with a team of physicians to pioneer post-concussive, multi-disciplinary active rehabilitation treatment in inpatient and outpatient settings for patients across Northern California.

In addition to her work in research and clinical care, Dr Theis also enjoys lecturing nationally, providing continuing education for optometrists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals in the areas of post-concussion vision rehabilitation, neurological visual field loss, and double vision.  For her dedication and work in neuro-optometry, Dr. Theis received the California Optometric Association’s Young Optometrist of the Year Award in 2019.

​Current Practice:

With a love for adventure and the outdoors, Dr. Theis has decided to relocate and call Richmond, Virginia her new home. She will be seeing patients in private practice through both telemedicine and office visits at the Concussion Care Centre of Virginia, LTD.  Dr Theis looks forward to co-managing patients in a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care and being a part of your healthcare team.

Hobbies and Interests:

Weather permitting, you can usually find Dr. Theis doing something active outside – snowboarding, surfing, trail running, or hiking with her dog.  She also enjoys frequenting museums, yoga, trying new restaurants, painting, and reading a good book.

Professional Affiliations:

• American Academy of Optometry, Fellow
• American Optometric Association
• Virginia Optometric Association
• California Optometric Association
• Richmond Optometric Society
• Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association

​Selected Publications:

• Theis J. Retinal Artery Occlusion: A Sign of Stroke. Modern Optometry. December 2020
• Theis J. A Lesson on Neurological Visual Field Loss. Modern Optometry. September 2020
• Theis J. The Real-World Cataract Evaluation. Continuing Education Article. Rev Optometry.June 2019
• Sheehy CK, Beaudry-Richard A, Bensinger E, Theis J, Green AJ. Methods to assess ocular motor dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.  J Neuro-Ophthalmol.2018:38:488-493
• Theis J. “Sports Vision – Lens Tints.” Rosenfield M, Goodwin D, Lee EM. Clinical Cases in Eye Care. 2019.  23-26. Wolters Kluwer. Philadelphia
• Theis J. Concussion in Kids, Different from Adults. Advanced Ocular Care. Sept 2016. 25-27.
• Grimaldo S, Yuen D, Theis J, Ng M, Ecoiffier T, Chen L. MicroRNA-184 regulates corneal lymphangiogenesis.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.2015: 56:7209-7213.
• Theis J, Hoenig P., Lee Chen D. “Iatrogenic Aniseikonia from Surgical Emmetropization of a Pre-Operative Anisometrope.” UC Berkeley Optometry. 2014  SECO Conference, Multimedia Poster.
• Theis J, Hoenig P. “Superior Oblique Palsy of Compound Etiology” UC Berkeley Optometry. 2013 AAO Conference Seattle, Poster #9
• Theis J.  “Sports Vision Therapy: How to optometrically treat athletes, from one OD to another.” California Optometry.July/August 2013. 40(4):42-43
• Grimaldo S, Theis J, Chen L. “MicroRNA-184 Regulates Corneal Lymphangiogenesis”. UC Berkeley Optometry. 2011 ARVO Conference, Poster #D856

Awards:

• California Optometric Association Young Optometrist of the Year
• Marvin R Poston VSP Excellence in Primary Care Scholarship Award 2019