Our Doctors
The doctors at Auburn Eye Care Associates Optometry are committed to providing the best care for your vision and eye health. Beyond their extensive training and education, our doctors continue to advance their knowledge and skills to keep up with the newest developments and advancements in eye health and vision care. They participate in progressive continuing education forums and collaborate with other leading eye health professionals worldwide. Their ability to share this information with their patients sets them apart from other professionals.
Daniel A. Belajic, O.D., F.A.A.O.
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Dr. Dan Belajic is a Placer High School and University of San Diego graduate. He spent 6 years as a cancer research & design scientist for Dow Chemical and Johnson & Johnson. He decided to return to school with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. During his training, he was selected into an international optometric honor society, assisted the Institutional Review Board overseeing all National Institute of Health research proposals, and served as Student Clinical Coordinator. He also contributed to international relief efforts in Guatemala by providing eye and vision care.
Dr. Dan completed all clinical rotations with honors, crossing regions of the country learning from internationally recognized instructors in topics of eye disease, emergent ocular management, diabetes, glaucoma, contact lens, and low vision. In 2014, he earned peer recognition as a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. |
Melissa Paragas, O.D.
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Dr. Melissa Paragas joined Auburn Eye Care Associates in 2022. She earned her Doctorate of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry where she was awarded membership to the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society and was the recipient of the Eschenbach Low Vision Award.
Dr. Paragas completed a Primary Care residency program, with an emphasis in Ocular Disease and Low Vision Rehabilitation, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tallahassee, FL. She is therapeutically licensed to diagnose, treat, and manage ocular diseases, and has a particular interest in treating dry eye disease with advanced technologies available at Auburn Eye Care Associates. |
Robert D. Belajic, O.D.
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Dr. Robert Belajic graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Biological Sciences. He earned Doctor of Optometry from Southern California College of Optometry where he was awarded the prestigious Albert Sheard Award for Clinical Excellence. He completed extensive post-graduate training thru University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry for certifications in therapeutic pharmaceutical agents and glaucoma treatment. Additional training in laser vision correction management was accomplished through Pacific University College of Optometry in Oregon. Dr. Belajic began providing services to the Auburn community in 1976. By 1978, he founded Auburn Eye Care Associates Optometry. His enthusiasm to alleviate the burden of glasses for others with laser vision correction led to becoming a principle founder of the Pacific Laser Eye Center.
Dr. Belajic has shared his experiences through lectures in optometric management and laser vision patient care. |
Peter Andrews, M.D.
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A fellowship-trained corneal specialist, Dr. Andrews earned his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, and spent his internship year at the Carilion Health System hospitals in Virginia. Upon completion of his residency and corneal fellowship at the University of Florida in 2004, Dr. Andrews gained invaluable experience performing surgeries for a multi-location practice in Tennessee. While raising his family in Boulder, Colorado, Dr. Andrews practiced for 12 years as a partner in a multi-specialty group, providing more than 20 types of surgeries and helping thousands of patients attain better vision.
Among his accolades, he has been an adjunct assistant professor at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in California, an invited speaker for various corneal technologies, has a patent for a surgical tool of his own invention, and has lectured nationwide at many prominent meetings, ophthalmology residency programs, and optometry schools. As the son of a teacher and a professor, he especially enjoys being a clinical instructor and mentor for optometry students and ophthalmology residents. Dr. Andrews and his family participate annually in medical mission trips to Jamaica with the Eye Health Institute, where he has served on the Board since 2009. He enjoys hiking, snow skiing, surfing, and is an avid DIYer. He and his wife, Kelye, a career educator, have two adult children: Elysse, an epidemiologist with a Master’s degree in Public Health, and Sam, an Honors student studying Environmental Science at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. |
Eye Care Professionals
- Doctors of Optometry (O.D.) are independent primary health care professionals for the eye.
- Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures including systemic conditions affecting the eye.
- Ophthalmologists are physicians (M.D. or D.O.) that have specialized in eye care; particularly with surgical intervention.
- Our unique integration of both specialties maximizes the care our patients receive.
- Our multi-disciplinary professionals perform at the peak of their specialized training due to the support from a well-trained and organized staff.
- Staff development is important to our patient care so we encourage nationally recognized paraoptometric certification through the American Optometry Association (CPO/CPOA/CPOT/CPOC).