Our Practice

Steven D. Smith, O.D.

Dr. Smith graduated with a Biology degree in 1984 from Cal State University, Fullerton. He then attended Indiana University School of Optometry where he served as student body president and graduated in 1988. In 1989 he moved to Rancho Santa Margarita with his wife, Stephanie, when it was still transforming into the city it has now become. He founded Rancho Santa Margarita Optometry in February 1990 and in November of 2004 he expanded the practice to include Ladera Ranch Optometry. Dr Smith has a passion for quality and strives daily to improve and perfect every aspect of patient eyecare. He specializes in contact lenses, LASIK pre and post-op management and dry eye disorders. He is an outdoor enthusiast and loves boating and snow skiing. Married since 1986, Dr Smith has three children, Liza, Mallorie and Grant, and his daughter Liza Koepke has recently joined the practice as an optometrist.

Liza Koepke, O.D.

Dr. Liza Koepke, Dr. Steve Smith’s daughter, is excited to be a part of the family business and serving the community she grew up in. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Southern Methodist University in 2007, then attended Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry. She graduated in May 2015 with her Doctor of Optometry degree. Dr. Koepke is a current member of the California Optometric Association and the Orange County Optometric Association. She is trained in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of various ocular diseases, such as glaucoma, dry eye syndrome, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration. She also has experience with refractive surgery as well as fitting soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and specialty contact lenses, such as scleral and multifocal lenses. Dr. Koepke currently lives in San Clemente with her husband, Andrew and two sons, Cole and Blake. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, spin classes, running, and cooking.

Pantea Meghdadi, O.D.

Dr. Meghdadi graduated from the Southern California College of Optometry with her doctorate degree in 2003. She graduated with a Bachelor of Biological Science degree from the University of California, Irvine in 1999. She completed an internship with Los Angeles Veterans (VA) Clinic in 2003. She started wearing and loving contact lenses at the age of 9 years old. In 2005, she had LASIK corrective surgery performed on both her eyes. Her experience provides her with the skills to discuss the options of contact lenses and refractive corrective surgeries, like LASIK and cataract surgery with her patients.
Dr. Meghdadi is a glaucoma-certified optometrist. She is skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and ocular disease. She has been practicing optometry for over 18 years. She's passionate and professional in her patient care. Dr. Meghdadi says, "My goal in optometry is to provide my patients with a detailed comprehensive eye exam, so they know all their options for taking the best care of their vision and eye health."

Stacy Jones, O.D.

Dr. Stacy Jones graduated Cum Laude from the Southern California College of Optometry in 2010 and joined RSM & LR Optometry soon after. For undergraduate studies she attended the University of California, Irvine and graduated with degrees in Chemistry and Molecular biology. While in optometry school she completed internship rotations through the Eye Care Center in Fullerton, Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital, Travis Air Force Base David Grant Medical Center and the Optometric Center of Los Angeles where she developed various skills in diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular diseases, fitting of soft and rigid contact lenses, and pediatric and low vision evaluations. She is certified in the diagnosis, treatment and management of glaucoma and is able to conduct a full examination in Spanish. Currently she is an active member in the California Optometric Association and Orange County Optometric Association. Dr. Jones lives in Wagon Wheel with her husband, 2 daughters, dog and 2 cats. In her free time she enjoys running, boating, and baking.

Natalie Lavinder, O.D.

Dr. Lavinder grew up in the Central Valley of California where she excelled in her pre-college education. It was through her community service with Kiwanis that she realized she wanted to have a career where she could help others. Having worn glasses since she was 8 years old, Dr. Lavinder decided to shadow her childhood optometrist; from then on, she became fascinated with the field of eye care. For her undergraduate studies, Dr. Lavinder attended the University of California, Los Angeles where she obtained a bachelor's degree in Physiological Sciences. In her free time, she became actively involved in the optometric world by volunteering at various optometry offices in Los Angeles County as well as working at the Low Vision Rehabilitation Center in the Jules Stein Eye Institute. After college, Dr. Lavinder attended the Southern California College of Optometry where she earned her Doctor of Optometry Degree. Her clinical training shaped her into a well-rounded eye care provider as she practiced primary eye care at the Travis Air Force Base Hospital, treated ocular pathology at a community clinic in Downtown LA, and worked alongside ophthalmologists in co-managing cataract and refractive surgery patients in Las Vegas. Dr. Lavinder is a glaucoma-certified optometrist and an affiliate of NVISION Eye Center.
Dr. Lavinder also speaks Cantonese and Spanish.

Precious Hwang, O.D.

Dr. Hwang is a Southern California native and graduated from the University of California San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology. She then attended the Southern California College of Optometry and graduated Cum Laude. Dr. Hwang completed her clinical training at Las Vegas Veterans Hospital, University Eye Center Los Angeles, Ketchum Health and San Diego Naval Station. She is trained in the treatment and management of ocular diseases, fitting of hard and soft contact lenses and co-management of cataract and LASIK patients. She is a glaucoma certified optometrist and can speak medical Spanish. Dr. Hwang lives in Orange County with her husband, son and corgi.

Our Staff

Our staff is thoroughly trained and knowledgeable in all aspects of the optical field.