Meet Our Optometrists

Dr. Jacklyn Alaquinez completed her undergraduate schooling at the University of the Incarnate Word, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology graduating Summa Cum Laude. She furthered her education by obtaining a Doctorate of Optometry degree from the Rosenberg School of Optometry after completing three optic clinical experiences. Dr. Alaquinez has been practicing since 2015 and joined Hill Country Vision Center the same year. Her favorite part of being an optometrist is working in Floresville and getting to know her patients and seeing the entire family year after year for eye exams. She loves seeing her young patients grow up through the years. Outside of work, Dr. Alaquinez loves spending time with her family, volunteering at church, and dancing ballet folklórico.

Dr. Monica Allison, OD was born in Dallas, TX . She attended college at Angelo State University and graduated with honors with her BS degree. While at Angelo State University she became interested in optometry as a profession. She attended the University of Houston College of Optometry and worked in a private practice in the Woodlands learning more about the profession. Dr. Allison was a member of Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society and the Gold Key Honor Society while at the University of Houston. She was also the recipient of the Health Professions Scholarship Program for the United States Army.

After graduation in 1998, her three year commitment began with the Army. It was while at the Officer Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston that she and her family fell in love with San Antonio. After her three year commitment ended, she returned to San Antonio to begin private practice life. She was able to purchase Stone Oak Vision Source in 2005 and has enjoyed growing the practice.

Dr. Allison is trained in the treatment and detection of ocular disease and is licensed as an optometric glaucoma specialist in Texas. She has updated the office with new equipment to provide comprehensive eye care for all ages. She is a participant in the Infant See program, sponsored by the American Optometric Association and provides comprehensive examinations to children under one year of age at no cost.

In addition, Dr. Allison is past president of the Bexar County Optometric Society. She was previously a member of the board of directors for the Texas Optometric Association and is an active member the American Optometric Association. She is also a Fellow of the Orthokeratology Academy of America. Dr Allison is certified to fit many different designs of corneal molding lenses. She enjoys finding the perfect solution to her patients’ needs whether it be specialty contact lenses, glasses, medical eye care, or a LASIK surgery consultation.

In her free time, Dr. Allison enjoys growing an extensive vegetable garden, traveling, and spending time with her amazing husband and their 5 kids.

Dr. Shelly Blaker completed her undergraduate schooling at the University of Houston, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She furthered her education by obtaining a Doctorate of Optometry degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Blaker has been practicing at Hill Country Vision Center since 2004. She is also a member of the Texas Optometric Society and American Optometric Society. Her favorite part of being an optometrist is interacting with patients on a personal level while discussing their eye care needs. Outside of work, Dr. Blaker’s kids keep her busy with their baseball games, and cheer and dance competitions.

Dr. Pamela Evans received her Doctor of Optometry from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1989 after earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology from McMurry University in her hometown of Abilene, Texas. Dr. Evans’ interest in optometry began while working for an optometrist during her time at McMurry University. She enjoyed direct patient care and the science behind proper eye care, which seemed to make Optometry the perfect career match for her.

Dr. Evans has been practicing since 1989, and her optometric education has provided her the opportunity to work in many diverse settings such as private practices, a military hospital clinic, as well as an ophthalmology surgery clinic. Dr. Evans says that her exposure to different work settings has enhanced her skillsets and allowed her to become a better doctor.

Dr. Kim Ip was born in Hong Kong and moved to Texas to attend O’Conner High School here in San Antonio. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She then received her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Houston College of Optometry. For her clinical rotation, she was trained at the Naval Medical Center at San Diego, California and the South Texas Veterans Eye Clinic in San Antonio, Texas. As a board certified therapeutic optometrist and an optometric glaucoma specialist in Texas, she treats and manages glaucoma, diabetes, dry eye, cataract, macular degeneration, and other eye diseases. She is also a member of the American Optometric Association and Texas Optometric Association. Dr. Ip returned to San Antonio after completing optometry school and is looking forward to becoming a part of the growing community here.

Dr. W. Steve Kroeger completed his undergraduate schooling at the University of Houston, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Optometry. He furthered his education by obtaining a Doctorate of Optometry degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Kroeger has been practicing since 1976 and been with Hill Country Vision Center since 2009. He was inspired to become an optometrist so that he could improve his vision and be able to fly a military aircraft. With over forty years of eye care experience he believes he is at the top of his game! When Dr. Kroeger is not seeing patients, he loves to spend time at his ranch.

Dr. Agnes Palys is a 1976 graduate of the New England College of Optometry. She served five years as an Army Staff Optometrist at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. during which time she was appointed President of the Armed Forces Optometric Society. In 1979, she was honored in the Congressional Record for “dedication to patient care in the military.”

After making San Antonio her home in 1981, she started her practice and became part of the Vision Source network in 1993. She has earned the prestigious distinction of Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Noteworthy Practitioner. She became a Diplomat of the American Board of Optometry in January 2012.

Dr. Palys served as Chancellor of Beta Sigma Kappa, President of Women in Business, on the Board of the Battered Women’s Shelter and as a mentor for the Northside Independent School District. Dr. Palys is continually attending advanced training & continuing education to provide her patients with the best care possible. She is an Adjunct Professor at the Rosenberg School of Optometry at the University of the Incarnate Word.

In her spare time, Dr. Palys enjoys gardening and volunteering as a Bexar County Master Gardener. She has two wonderful grandchildren that keep her busy as well. She loves traveling and exploring distant countries. She has explored over 82 countries during her world travels with trips in 2018 to Jamaica, Michigan, and Canada. Trips to Cuba, Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong and Korea are planned in 2019.

Dr. Amy Schnegg received her Doctor of Optometry from the Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2012 and her Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana. Dr. Schnegg has been practicing Optometry since 2012 and is an Optometric Glaucoma Specialist, Certified Specialty and Medical Contact Lens Fitter, and Prescriber.

Dr. Schnegg’s interest in Optometry began on the recommendation of her optometrist and her strong comprehension of science in high school. She developed a desire to help patients achieve a higher quality of life through clearer vision as well as helping preserve their clear vision through the treatment of eye diseases and other eye conditions. Dr. Schnegg especially enjoys helping patients improve their quality of life by helping them achieve clearer and more dynamic vision.

Dr. Schnegg is active in community service on both the local and international levels. She proudly participates in yearly outreach eye surgery trips to Guatemala where she helps provide blindness-preventing cataract surgeries and other needed eye procedures.

Dr. Tasha Ward is a Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist licensed by the Texas Optometry Board in the treatment and management of ocular disease, myopia progression, as well as prescribing glasses and contact lenses. Dr. Ward was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas on her grandparents farm, attending William H. Taft High School. She advanced to The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She then went on to pursue her Doctorate of Optometry at The University of the Incarnate Word Rosenburg School of Optometry (UIWRSO), here in San Antonio, where she was involved in the Private Practice and Contact Lens Club. She completed her training at Salem Virginia Veterans Affair clinic in Salem, Virginia and at Sharp Eye Consultants here in San Antonio. Before graduating, she completed a rotation with Gregory Parkhurst, MD at Parkhurst NuVision where she received the Parkhurst Nuvision Excellence in Patient Care Award for going above and beyond in patient care.

She works hard to provide a higher standard of care and to take the time to listen to your individual visual needs. Outside of work, Dr. Ward enjoys spending time outdoors hunting and fishing with her husband and children.

Dr. Ally Zuercher is a Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist licensed in the state of Texas that is happy to serve San Antonio by providing all types of eye care services, from prescribing glasses and contact lenses to treating and managing many different types of ocular disease. Dr. Zuercher was born just south of San Antonio in the small town of Devine, Texas and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. Afterward she obtained her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry (UIWRSO) here in San Antonio, where she was active in the school’s Private Practice Club, student chapter of the Texas Optometric Association, and a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society. Lastly, she continued her education by pursuing an Optometric Residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease through UIWRSO, where she spent a year working with various optometry and ophthalmology specialties to further her knowledge as an eye care provider. Throughout this time, she has also been an active volunteer in vision screenings at the Special Olympics of Texas and has been involved with two mission trips to the Texas Valley, providing hundreds of Texans with eye care.

She is a caring listener who not only provides quality eye care and services but also strives to be the kind of eye doctor you can count on for years to come. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming at Medina Lake with family and friends, trying new restaurants and coffee shops in town, playing board games, and spending the evenings with her husband and her sweet beagle, Finley.