Dr. Ria is a residency trained optometrist and a Toronto native who has recently moved back from New York City. She earned her Honours Bachelor of Science Degree, with distinction, from the University of Toronto and received her Doctorate in Optometry from the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry, in Manhattan, in 2007. She continued her advanced clinical training by completing a residency at SUNY, in Primary Care with an emphasis on ocular disease and refractive surgery. Upon completion of her residency, Dr. Mandadakis accepted an appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor at the SUNY College of Optometry. During her tenure as Professor, she co-managed refractive surgery patients at the Laser Eye Institute and oversaw the direct clinical training of interns and residents, while also teaching students in the laboratory. Her clinical time was also spent in the pediatric and vision therapy rehabilitation clinics. She served as a clinical staff member at the Ezra Medical Center (vision therapy and learning related vision problems), East NY Diagnostic and Treatment Center and Woodhull Medical Center, in Brooklyn, NY.
She has trained closely with some renowned optometrists and ophthalmologists where she has gained invaluable experiences in the fields of cataract surgery management, macular and retinal diseases, and advanced glaucoma treatment. In 2007 she was selected as a recipient of the American Academy of Optometry’s Primary Care Section Resident Fellowship. She frequently presents on diseases of the eye at optometric conferences in North America. Dr. Mandadakis is a Fellow in the Academy of Optometry, as well as a member of the Ontario College of Optometrists.