Q2 2026 - Mattingly Low Vision Newsletter

The Illuminator

“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

 -Franklin D. Roosevelt

Encouraging Emerging Professionals in the Field of Low Vision

At Mattingly Low Vision, we are proud to highlight two bright stars in our industry each year. Established in 2016 to support and encourage emerging professionals in the field of low vision, the Bill Mattingly Memorial Scholarship Fund honors our founder’s memory and rewards those dedicating their studies and career to low vision innovation. Mattingly Low Vision provides a $2500 and $1000 scholarship annually to a low vision resident and an optometry student with a demonstrated interest in the field.

Many thanks go to the committee of low-vision faculty members and doctors who assisted with reviewing applications this spring! Additional gratitude goes to the Paso Del Norte Community Foundation that partners with Mattingly Low Vision to disburse the funds and manage donations.

We are excited to announce that we had more campuses represented than ever before for our scholarship program this year! After careful and thoughtful review, the 2026 winners are: Amber Naqvi and Andrew Vanacore. Congratulations!

Below is more information about each of the winners, their experience, and their passion for optometry:

Dr. Amber Naqvi is a Low Vision and Ocular Disease Resident at the Illinois College of Optometry, where she serves as an attending optometrist and laboratory instructor for optometry students. Her clinical interests center on vision rehabilitation and improving functional outcomes for individuals with visual impairment. Through experience in nonprofit, community-based, and international clinical settings, Dr. Naqvi has developed a strong commitment to expanding access to eye care and supporting underserved and special needs populations. She is particularly passionate about interdisciplinary low vision care, specialty contact lens treatment, patient advocacy, and education for both patients and future clinicians.

“I am committed to becoming a clinician who not only treats ocular disease but also restores independence, confidence, and quality of life to those living with visual impairment. Through clinical excellence, patient advocacy, education, and community engagement, I hope to honor the values this scholarship represents throughout my career.”
-Amber Naqvi

Andrew Vanacore is a 3rd year combined OD/MS student at the Ohio State University College of Optometry. His thesis within the Dougherty Lab focuses on strategies to train drivers with vision impairment to gain their bioptic license. His journey into optometry was shaped early by his grandmother’s experience with central vision loss. Her optometrist helped her understand her remaining functional vision and introduced strategies and tools that allowed her to continue engaging in the daily activities that meant the most to her. This showed him that optometry “extends far beyond diagnosis; it can be transformative when focused on function and patient-centered goals.”

“A Low Vision practice is important to me because it prioritizes what matters most to patients: their goals. Rather than focusing solely on diagnosis or visual acuity, Low Vision care asks how patients want to live, move, read, work, and connect with others. I believe strongly in a goal-oriented approach that begins by understanding a patient’s daily challenges, previous rehabilitation experiences, and personal aspirations.”
- Andrew Vanacore

To learn more about The Bill Mattingly Memorial Scholarship Fund, click here.

Team Member Spotlight: Fernie Contreras

Fernie Contreras joined Mattingly Low Vision after 20+ years of working in warehouses. Three years in, he says he likes what he does now for Mattingly 200% better! He finds joy in each moment and loves to crack jokes and make his team members laugh.

Every day, Fernie cuts Magnabrite domes from acrylic cylinders on a lathe machine, then sands them by hand so they have a smooth finish. Next, he puts the domes in a polishing machine one at a time until they have zero imperfections. No scratches are allowed! Each Magnabrite dome is handmade by Fernie.

In the beginning, the company only made about 10 domes a week. Now Fernie creates about 70 domes a day! There are 4 different sizes of domes varying from 2” to 4.5”, and we also offer engraving on the domes.

Fernie’s favorite thing about his job is the team he works with. “We’re not perfect. When mistakes are made, we learn from them. We analyze what went wrong, and how we can fix it. Customer service comes first and foremost. Customers are the ones who hold us up.”

In his free time, Fernie loves to go fishing, camping, and to sporting events with his son. He brings integrity and positivity to any space he walks into. Mattingly is lucky to have Fernie on our team. In his words, “At Mattingly Low Vision, your opinion is valued. I take pride in my work. I hope I have 20 more years of working here!”

Thank you for choosing us for your low vision needs!

Mattingly Low Vision 
Company Headquarters | 111 Rio Flor Place | El Paso, TX 79912