Dr. Shirley Yan, OD

About Dr. Yan

Dr. Yan’s first experience in optometry came in the third grade, when she received her first pair of glasses to see the board at school and noticing that she spent more time at the eye doctor than most kids. As she explored her interests in learning how the brain and body work together, she became fascinated by how “we see with our brain and not our eyes.” Ultimately, she was drawn to optometry.

Dr. Shirley Yan received an undergraduate degree in neurobiology, physiology and behavior from University of California, Davis and then a doctorate degree from Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

Some of her first experiences as an optometrist came from helping the underprivileged. On a mission trip in Haiti, Dr. Yan saw over 50 patients per day, providing vision screenings and health care, and finding glasses to help people live better lives. Today, she finds joy in helping everyday patients improve their vision and their quality of life.

Prior to joining 20/20 Optometry, she was a member of two private practices in California. Dr. Yan has provided optometry services around the world, from Pennsylvania to New Hampshire to the Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan.

Dr. Yan provides primary eye care and is particularly interested in ocular diseases and management, contact lens fitting, and pediatric optometry. She is certified for treatment of glaucoma, corneal refractive therapy (CRT), and the use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents.

Dr. Yan is also licensed in lacrimal dilation & irrigation, and has completed advanced studies for contact lenses. She stays abreast of the latest vision care techniques by attending seminars and conferences and reading the latest medical journals.

Dr. Yan aims to put her patients at ease by being their best resources for eye care and vision care knowledge and by demonstrating how much she cares for their health. She enjoys spending extra time with patients, making sure they don’t wait too long to see her, and ensuring they have all their questions answered during their visits.

I remember my first optometry appointment as a child. They helped me see very quickly, and the world became much clearer and brighter. I want to provide that to my patients, so they can see more of the world.

Personal Interests

Dr. Yan takes advantage of all that the Bay Area has to offer, from hiking in Muir Woods to scoping out the newest restaurants in San Jose. She has fun spending time with family and exploring new places with her fiance. Mission trips and volunteer work providing vision care for the Special Olympics are among some of her most memorable experiences in college and graduate school.