Kelsey E. Mach, OD, FAAO

I’ve been interested in science from a young age, and when I was in college studying chemistry and biology, I began shadowing healthcare providers to see what areas interested me. When I worked with an optometrist one semester, I saw the positive impact eye care providers have on their patients.

My interest in working with kids started in college, too, when I had the opportunity to work with children with special needs. I enjoyed working with kids, and I realized that helping children as an eye care provider could positively affect the rest of their lives!

I specialize in pediatric optometry and work in the Cincinnati Children’s Anderson and Main Campus outpatient clinics, providing routine and urgent eye care. I see patients from age 2 through 21 for a variety of eye conditions, including:

• Amblyopia (decreased vision development)
• Eye injuries
• Ocular manifestations of systemic conditions (diabetes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and more)
• Red eyes (viral, bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis, also called pink eye)
• Strabismus (lazy eye/eye turn)

My care philosophy is that the patient, their family and myself are all part of a team, with the common goal of taking care of the child as best we can. I ask families what their questions and goals are for our visits so we can direct the appointment appropriately. I also remind parents that they know their child best and if they have questions or concerns at any time, even after our visit is over, they can always reach out to me to clarify or re-discuss any topics regarding their child's care.

I completed my Doctor of Optometry degree in 2017 from the University of Houston College of Optometry. I went on to complete my residency specializing in pediatric optometry at the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2018. Residencies in optometry are a way to further your education within a specific specialty, above and beyond the comprehensive optometric training completed for your doctoral degree.

In 2018, I completed the process of becoming a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. This rigorous process involves both an oral exam as well as intensive case report writing — only a small percentage of optometrists complete this level of training.

As part of our research team, I’m currently involved in studies including amblyopia and myopia treatment.

I am originally from Louisiana, and I have lived in Cincinnati since 2018. I enjoy spending my free time with my husband, our two sons and our pets. Our family loves going running together and exploring our city by going to parks, the zoo and trying new restaurants!