Why ICO?
The clinical experience at ICO stands out for its unparalleled patient population at the Illinois Eye Institute, offering an exceptional clinical educational opportunity for our students. As an ICO alumna, I deeply value the comprehensive classroom and clinical education ICO offers, and I am excited to now contribute as clinical faculty, experiencing the institution from a new perspective and with insight from my experience as clinical faculty at another optometry school.
Biography
Alyssa Lancaster graduated from ICO in 2021 and then completed residency at ICO in Ocular Disease/Primary Care in 2022. After residency, Dr. Lancaster became an assistant professor at the New England College of Optometry, where they taught a first year optometry course and examined patient in a community health center setting. In 2023, Dr. Lancaster founded PRIDE ODs, a national organization for LGBTQIA+ optometrists and allies and continues advocacy work for this demographic. Dr. Lancaster is thrilled to return to ICO to begin teaching Clinical Methods and Procedures II for first year students and continue clinical teaching at the IEI. Dr. Lancaster is also the curriculum coordinator for Practice Readiness Curriculum.
Special Interests
Primary Care/Ocular Disease Community Health 2SLGBTQIA+ Eye Care
Education
Residency, Ocular Disease and Primary Care, Illinois College of Optometry
OD, Illinois College of Optometry
BS, Siena College
Experience
Awards & Honors
2026 Humanitarian ICO Alumni Association Award
2022 Fellow, American Academy of Optometry
Professional Organizations
Active Fellow of American Academy of Optometry
Vice Chair for PRIDE SIG
Founder of PRIDE ODs (People Respecting Inclusion, Diversity and Equity of LGBTQIA+ ODs)
Publications
Lancaster A, Brady B, Stone W, Messner L. Case Report: Iatrogenic Papilledema Secondary to Leuprolide Acetate in a Patient Preparing for Hysterectomy. Clinical Insights in Eyecare. 2026;4(3):2-10. doi:10.66574/001c.166400
