Our Mission
At Ottawa Valley Vision, our mission is to provide comprehensive eye care in a compassionate environment to people of all ages and from all walks of life. We understand that your vision is essential to all aspects of your life, from walking or driving to work, reading, playing sports, and to seeing the faces of those you love. We are committed to preserving and enhancing your visual health because we recognize how precious your sight is and its impact on your quality of life.
We take a holistic and collaborative approach to eye care, acknowledging the intricate connection between your eyes and the rest of your body, including the immune, neurological, and vascular systems. Our dedicated team of professionals, including our eye doctors and support staff, work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the most advanced and personalized care possible.
At Ottawa Valley Vision, we are passionate about helping you achieve your potential and live life to the fullest by optimizing your vision and visual performance. We are dedicated to providing exceptional services, including adult and pediatric eye exams, vision therapy, eyeglasses, dry eye treatment, and myopia control. Our commitment to excellence, combined with our welcoming and professional atmosphere, makes Ottawa Valley Vision the premier choice for all your eye care needs.
DR. KRISTEL JEFFERIES
Optometrist
Visual rehabilitation and vision therapy have been Dr. Jefferies’ passion since her second year of schooling when she became fascinated by the neurology behind the visual process. She has focussed her practice on behavioural optometry and the treatment of binocular vision disorders since began her career in 2013. Having suffered a concussion herself, Dr. Jefferies understands first-hand the important role that visual neuro-rehabilitative therapy can play in achieving a full recovery from a traumatic brain injury. She also offers vision therapy to individuals with eye turns and amblyopia, sports vision treatments to athletes, and developmental optometry services to children with autism, dyslexia, non-specific reading disabilities and other academic difficulties. Dr. Jefferies is privileged to have assisted hundreds of patients to improve the quality of their vision. She is thrilled to provide care to the community of Pembroke and surrounding areas.
Dr. Jefferies obtained a baccalaureate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Guelph in 2008. In 2013, she graduated with her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Jefferies started a binocular vision and vision therapy practice in Ottawa, Ontario. During her training, Dr. Jefferies was the recipient of several awards including the W. Ross Andrews Prize for Clinical Optometry, the Essilor Low Vision Award, and the Reginald Williams Memorial Scholarship for Academic Excellence. She was also the Vice President of her graduating class and remains a strong advocate for volunteer work and community involvement. Dr. Jefferies has been an integral part of many optometric mission trips to under-developed countries including Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and Ghana, where she provided free eye-care to citizens in need.
Dr. Jefferies received her Fellowship with the College of Optometrists in Vision Development in 2020. She is also an active board member of Vision Therapy Canada and serves the College of Optometrists of Ontario in a volunteer role. Dr. Jefferies also consults on legal cases of vision and traumatic brain injury and provides independent medical assessments in the Optometric field.
Dr. Jefferies moved to Pembroke in 2015 with her family. She is a proud mother to two children and one horse! She enjoys spending her leisure time outdoors through activities such as camping, hiking, running and biking. As a young adult, she was a competitive soccer player and horseback rider. Dr. Jefferies remains a horse enthusiast but now enjoys these sports as hobbies.
DR. NICOLE MAIONE
Optometrist
Dr. Nicole Maione grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Honours Specialization in Chemistry from the University of Western Ontario in 2015. She then moved to Waterloo to complete her Optometry degree as part of the graduating class of 2019 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry and Vision Science where she received the Dr. Howard A. Backman Award and GP Contact Lens Clinical Excellence Award.
After completing her second year of Optometry school, Dr. Maione’s curiosity and interest for perception and neurophysiology inspired her to become a research assistant in Drs. Bobier and Thompson’s lab group. The goal of the research was towards developing new treatment plans for patients with convergence insufficiency (CI), or post concussion and stroke patients that have difficulty with the vergence system. To further apply research and its relation to clinical practice, she attends the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) Academy Meeting annually and is currently working toward her Fellowship with the AAO.
In her final year of studies, Dr. Maione had the privilege of receiving advanced ocular disease training at Houston Eye Associates in Houston, Texas. She gained experience managing ocular conditions with a special focus in cataract and laser refractive surgery, corneal disorders, uveitis, pediatrics and glaucoma management.
Dr. Maione’s passion for giving back to the community led her to take part in a humanitarian mission trip with Volunteer Optometric Students to Humanity (VOSH). With VOSH, she provided eye care with the VOSH team to over 3000 patients in underserved communities in Ecuador in 2017. In her spare time, Dr. Maione enjoys outdoor adventures, sports, yoga, dancing, travelling and spending time with her family and friends. Her passion for the outdoors, volunteering and sport guided her to accomplish her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in 2015. Dr. Maione is excited to join Dr. Jefferies along with the rest of the Ottawa Valley Vision Team to provide eye care to the Pembroke community and surrounding areas.
Nicole Woito
Vision Therapist
Nicole was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley. She has a long background in recreation therapy and has experience with a variety of populations in community and healthcare settings. A recent graduate of Laurentian University, Nicole became inspired by Dr. Jefferies to help patients achieve their visual goals and life potential through Optometric Vision Therapy. Nicole joined the Ottawa Valley Vision team in September 2021. When Nicole isn’t at work you can find her with her family, pets and spending time on the water.
Samantha pell
Licensed Optician & Optical Manager
Samantha is new to the Ottawa Valley as she recently relocated to our area from Southern Ontario. Samantha has been working as an Optician for over 10 years and is passionate about providing our patients with highly personalized care for their specific visual needs. She loves to learn the technical details of all the high quality lenses that Ottawa Valley Vision offers so she can tailor her recommendations to the requirements and values of each patient. As a licensed Optician, she is qualified to fit both spectacle and contact lenses.
When Samantha is not in the office, she is guaranteed to be keeping busy with her two dogs or visiting with family and friends. Samantha enjoys being outside and is excited to explore her new home in the Ottawa Valley. Samantha joined the Ottawa Valley Vision team in 2021 and looks forward to growing with her role as an Optician at the clinic.
Tasha Bates
Vision Therapist & Optical Consultant
Tasha moved to Pembroke in 2019 with her family of 4 children. Her roles at Ottawa Valley Vision are diverse as she is knowledgeable in many areas of our products and services. Tasha primarily provides Optometric Vision Therapy to our patients but can also be found in our eyewear boutique and is always happy to answer your questions about our services or help you book your next eye exam.
Tasha’s hobbies include camping, hiking, reading, LEGO, and spending countless hours at the hockey rink as a hockey mom.
Jody Graham
Optical Consultant
Jody was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley. Jody joined the Ottawa Valley Vision team in 2021. She has a strong desire to help improve people's quality of life through providing them the best vision they can achieve.
Since entering the field, she has discovered a passion for the optical industry and is now pursuing the Opticianry course to become a certified Optician in Ontario. Jody hopes to spend the remainder of her career and continue to grow with Ottawa Valley Vision.
Megan nephin
Office Manager & Vision Therapist
Megan was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley. She became interested in vision therapy after meeting with Dr. Jefferies and seeing what an impact this type of therapy had on her patients and their everyday lives. Megan was trained in the provision of Optometric Vision Therapy by Dr. Jefferies and has been working with the Ottawa Valley Vision team since early 2018.
She graduated from the Canadian Practical Vision Therapy Accreditation Program with Vision Therapy Canada in 2020. When she is not in the office, Megan can be found with her growing family while they dance to music or play games. She is also involved with recreational sports in the community.
karen lee
Eyewear & Optical Consultant
Karen was born and raised in the Ottawa Valley. Although she moved away for a while, she returned to the community of Pembroke with her family many years ago . Karen has been working in the industry as an eyewear and optical consultant for over a decade and is passionate about her job.
Karen enjoys how the optical industry is a delicate merger between health and retail and loves making a difference in our patients’ lives by enhancing the quality of their vision. Karen is proud to have joined the Ottawa Valley Vision team in 2021.
sarah currie
Medical Receptionist & Optometric Assistant
Sarah began her working life in the food industry but always had a passion for healthcare. Sarah became a valued member of the Ottawa Valley Vision team in 2020 and describes her job as being joyful, rewarding and inspirational.
She is a constant source of laughter and cheerfulness for both our patients and our team of staff. Sarah loves being the person to greet you at our door with a smiling face or to perform your optometric testing prior to seeing one of our doctors.
When Sarah isn’t at work, you might find her on a cleaning spree or working on a home building project. Sarah lives in Pembroke with her sister and their precious pets.
The Importance of Eye Health in Our Daily Lives
Eye health is of paramount importance as it plays a significant role in our daily lives, enabling us to function effectively and enjoy the beauty of the world around us. Good vision contributes to our overall well-being, safety, and quality of life. By prioritizing eye health, we can prevent many common eye problems and maintain optimal vision throughout our lives. Regular eye exams are essential in detecting and treating eye conditions early, allowing for timely intervention and better outcomes. Furthermore, eye health is closely linked to other aspects of our general health, making it critical to take a holistic approach to maintain optimal visual and physical well-being.

Give Your Eyes the Attention They Deserve
Don't wait any longer to prioritize your eye health! Book an appointment for your eye exam at Ottawa Valley Vision today and experience the difference our passion-driven and professional care can make. Our dedicated team is ready to help you maintain and improve your vision, ensuring you enjoy the best possible quality of life. Whether it's time for a routine check-up or you have concerns about your eye health, we are here to assist you every step of the way.
