About Our Practice in Albuquerque

A proud native of Albuquerque and a graduate of St. Pius X High School, Dr. Melisa Hockett embarked on her journey in optometry with a Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University. She furthered her education, earning a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where her accomplishments included receiving several research awards, notably the American Optometric Association Cornea and Contact Lens Student Research Award.

Dr. Hockett specializes in two key areas of Optometry – Specialty Contact Lenses and Dry Eye care. With extensive training, she excels in fitting challenging contact lens cases, including keratoconus, post-surgical/irregular corneas, multifocals and lenses for high astigmatism. She holds various certifications for orthokeratology contact lenses for myopia control. Dr. Hockett employs advanced SMap technology to custom-fit scleral lenses with precision. Dr. Hockett’s commitment to staying at the forefront of her field and providing personalized care underscores her dedication to delivering exceptional eye care solutions.

As a dry eye specialist, Dr. Hockett offers a comprehensive array of therapies at her clinic, encompassing LipiFlow, IPL, Low-Level Light Therapy, amniotic membranes, Oxervate, punctal plugs, and diverse drop therapies. Her patient-centric approach focuses on providing a solid foundation for understanding conditions and treatments, ensuring optimal care and education for her patients.

Dr. Hockett joined the Sandia Vision Clinic team in 2012. She became an owner in 2021 and had the immense privilege of taking the reins from the founder, Dr. Frank Chinisci in 2023. The transfer of ownership isn’t merely a professional transition for Dr. Hockett; it’s a commitment to the community she serves. Her patient-centered philosophy, reflected in her comprehensive approach to eye care, is now a cornerstone of SVC’s continued legacy. 

Friends –

I am writing to announce my retirement as of November 1, 2024. That date is fast approaching, and it feels like the right decision for me, at the right time. I feel fortunate that, over the past year or so, I have been able to say “good bye” to many of you in person during our time in the clinic together. I am sorry that I have not been able to visit with everyone, but please know that I have enjoyed the time spent, and the relationships built, with all of you! I have also been lucky to find enjoyable colleagues, a great workplace, and a rewarding career – thank you, as patients, for being a big part of those experiences.

Sandia Vision Clinic will continue to deliver top quality eye care to you and your families. I have worked closely with Drs. Hockett, Byington, Estrada, Sandoval and Marquez through the years, and I trust their judgement and expertise. All my records, photos, letters and special tests will be immediately available to help them in your ongoing care. Our staff will assist you in finding a doctor that has a convenient schedule, or specialty of care, that meets your needs.

It has been a pleasure to work with all of you, and I wish you the very best.

Sincerely –
Dr. David Magnus

Dr. Lauren Byington earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Louisiana State University. She continued her education at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Byington was a member of Beta Sigma Kappa honor society and was awarded the 3rd year Clinician Award. She was granted a research fellowship in Vision Therapy and presented a poster at the COVD conference in 2012. She currently has a large pediatric patient base, with specificity in binocular vision exams.

She was a member of the Student Volunteer of Optometric Services to Humanity and participated in mission trips to Colombia and Honduras. They performed free eye exams and dispensed donated eyeglasses. She has a working knowledge of Spanish from these travels. She was active in the Lion’s Club during school and is still active here in Albuquerque.

She is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, making her an avid LSU tiger and a Saint’s fan. She moved to Albuquerque in 2013 and joined Sandia Vision Clinic in 2016. She is a mother of two children, a son and a daughter. She loves living in the mountains and enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, and spending time with my family. She practices yoga regularly at Blissful Spirits. New Mexico food culture has made her feel at home; green chile is a main component now in all her New Orleans cuisine!

Dr. Estrada, a native of Albuquerque, obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of New Mexico in 2011. In 2016, she achieved her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Optometry in Southern California.

As a proud member of the American Optometric Association and the New Mexico Optometric Association, Dr. Estrada was honored as the Optometrist of the Year by the New Mexico Optometric Association in 2022. Beyond her passion for optometry, she enjoys exploring new destinations and quality time with her family.

Dr. Lyndsey A. Sandoval went to Rio Grande High School in the South Valley of Albuquerque, where she graduated in the top 10 of her class. She then completed a double major with honors at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. She continued her education at the University of Houston for optometry school and graduated summa cum laude. She is a second-generation optometrist with her father (now retired) and uncle being optometrists.

During her time in optometry school, Dr. Sandoval was mentored by neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Rosa Tang seeing traumatic head injury, optic neuritis, and neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis. She was also mentored under Dr. Kassaundra Johnston for Brain Injury Vision Assessment & Rehabilitation Service. Dr. Sandoval had an internship at Kirtland Air Force Base where she learned how to do binocular examinations for pilots. Her second internship was at Indian Health Services.

Dr. Sandoval did a double residency at the Audie Murphy VA in San Antonio, Tx. She did her residency in Ocular Disease focusing on cataract post-ops, glaucoma treatment, diabetic retinopathy, and low vision exams. She worked closely with the ophthalmologists to co-manage the patients. Her second residency was in Brain Injury and Vision Rehabilitation where she would provide inpatient care for individuals who had suffered from strokes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and neurodegenerative disorders. At the neurorehabilitation hospital in the VA she worked with Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist to focus on improving binocular vision and give aid to low vision and blind patients.

Dr. Sandoval returned to New Mexico and focused on ocular disease as well as specialty contact lenses. She was trained by Dr. Chinisci and Dr. Hockett to evaluate and treat keratoconus and post-surgical corneal ectasia. Dr. Sandoval does binocular vision evaluations for children and adults.

Dr. Aitana Marquez was born and raised in Albuquerque and received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of New Mexico. She went on to graduate from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, where she was a recipient of the Underrepresented Populations Scholarship.

During her time in school, she was the co-president of Queer Eye, a club focused on supporting LGBTQ+ optometry students, as well as an Academic Coach. She was a recipient of the Clinical Excellence Award for demonstrating outstanding patient care during her externship rotations as a fourth-year student. Dr. Marquez also collaborated on a research paper entitled ‘Effect of Extensive Near Work on Binocular and Accommodative Systems’ that was presented at the American Academy of Optometry meeting in 2022.

While she loved living in the Windy City, she is excited to be back home in the Land of Enchantment, serving her community.