Doctors
Meet the experienced and friendly doctors who make Vista Eye Care a proud provider of vision care products and services in Green Valley.
Regina Najera, MD
Dr. Najera specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology, premium cataract surgery, glaucoma and laser vision correction. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Najera received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University, a master’s degree in education from Harvard University and her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2001. She also received her MBA from the Eller College of Management in Tucson in 2015.
After college, Dr. Najera began her career in the financial sector and then decided to pursue a career in medicine. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the Eye Institute of the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2006. Dr. Najera speaks Spanish and enjoys learning new languages, book and debate clubs, running and traveling with her husband and three children. She has served on the Board of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and chaired their Health Committee. Dr. Najera is committed to helping patients improve their health through education and she is also active in helping patients gain better access to care by addressing disparities within the larger health care system.
Samantha Nogales, OD, FAAO
Dr. Samantha Nogales is an Arizona native born and raised in Tucson. She is a proud alumni of the University of Arizona and received her doctorate from Southern California College of Optometry where she graduated with honors. She then went on to specialize in ocular disease and low vision by completing a residency at the Southern AZ Veteran’s Administration in Tucson, AZ.
Active in her profession and with an ongoing dedication to provide excellent patient care, Dr. Nogales has published various scientific, ocular disease-related posters and papers, as well as presented continuing education for the local optometry community. She strives to stay current in all aspects of optometric care and attends various optometry and ophthalmology conferences annually. She is licensed by the Arizona Board of Optometry and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.
Dr. Nogales practices full scope optometric care with emphasis on ocular disease treatment and management including diabetes, macular degeneration and glaucoma. She also provides pre and post-op care for iLASIK and cataract surgery; as well as, routine exams and contact lenses.
She lives in Tucson with her husband and three daughters. She enjoys spending time with her family, hiking with their two dogs, and practicing yoga.
Riley Williamson, OD
Dr. Riley Williamson was born and raised in Alberta, Canada. He attended undergraduate school at Brigham Young University in Utah and graduated with a degree in Neuroscience. He later attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. Dr. Williamson received multiple prestigious awards and graduated with Cum Laude Honors in 2012.
Dr. Williamson provides full scope Optometric care including diabetic eye exams, glaucoma treatment, diagnosis and management of cataracts and macular degeneration, treatment of dry eyes and eye infections, and contact lens examinations. He also has a true passion for pediatric eye care, myopia control and ocular nutrition.
Dr. Williamson is an active member of the American Optometric Association, Arizona Optometric Association, Southern Arizona Optometric Society and Ocular Nutrition Society.
He enjoys spending time with his wife and four children exploring the outdoors. When he has free time, he enjoys building naturalistic vivariums for his collection of tropical frogs.
Tayla Meade, OD
Dr. Tayla Meade was born and raised in Ohio where most of her family still resides. She studied Biology at Ohio University and then went on to complete her Doctor of Optometry, graduating with Cum Laude honors from The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Dr. Meade specializes in full scope optometric care, including ocular disease management, contact lens examinations, pre and post-op care for cataract surgery, and pediatric vision care.
Dr. Meade is a member of the Arizona Optometric Association, American Optometric Association and the Southern Arizona Optometric Society. She continues to stay up to date with the latest technology and treatment options.
Although now an Arizona resident, Dr. Meade continues to route for Ohio sports teams, especially Ohio State (Go Bucks!) She enjoys spending time with her husband, son and two dogs. In her free time, she likes to travel, hike & play sand volleyball.
Marcela J. Sierra-Romero, OD
Dr. Marcela Sierra-Romero is an Arizona native, born and raised in Tucson. She is a proud alumnus of the University of Arizona and graduated with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She discovered her passion for Optometry while working as an Ophthalmic Technician, and decided to pursue her Doctorate of Optometry from Western University of Health Science in Pomona, CA. Dr. Sierra-Romero provides full scope Optometric care including ocular disease management.
Dr. Sierra-Romero is a member of the Southern Arizona Optometric Association, Arizona Optometric Association and the American Academy of Optometry. She continues to stay up to date with the latest technology and treatment options. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends. She especially enjoys rooting for the UofA Wildcats and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Connor Christensen, OD
Dr. Christensen, an Arizona native, was born and raised in Gilbert. Having been interested in the eye and visual system since high school, he began his studies at Weber State University in Utah where he graduated with a degree in Microbiology. He continued his studies at The University of Houston College of Optometry, receiving his Doctor of Optometry with Summa Cum Laude honors. Dr. Christensen provides full-scope optometric care and is a member of the American Optometric Association, Arizona Optometric Association, and Gold Key International Optometric Honors Society.
Dr. Christensen loves spending time with his wife and son and enjoys outdoor activities, especially hiking and long-distance running. He is a big sports fan and loves to cheer on the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Suns! He also enjoys playing the piano, guitar, and trumpet.
Zachary Cruz, OD
Dr. Zachary Cruz was born in the Bay Area and raised in a small mountain town in Northern California. He attended his undergraduate studies at San Diego State University prior to completing his Doctorate of Optometry at Southern California College of Optometry. Dr. Cruz completed his clinical training at the Tucson VA Medical Center and Crownpoint, New Mexico IHS Health Care Facility. He also completed a rotation at San Diego Naval Medical Center working with active duty and retired military members and their families.
Dr. Cruz is a member of the American Optometric Association, Arizona Optometric Association and Southern Arizona Optometric Society. Dr. Cruz provides full-scope optometric care. He has experience working for a private practice and a non-profit organization providing free eye exams and glasses for underserved communities.
When not at the office, he loves spending time with his fiancé, family, friends, and of course his dog, Millie.