Meet The Team

Dr. Patricia Poma-Nowinski is a Michigan native and co-owner of Birmingham Vision Care since January 2006. She received a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. While an undergraduate student, she spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy. She also worked at the Kellogg Eye Center doing genetic research on retinitis pigmentosa, a devastating disease that may lead to blindness.

While attending the Ohio State University’s College of Optometry in Columbus, OH, Dr. Poma was honored to work with veterans at the Chillicothe Veterans Administration Hospital. Dr. Poma was selected as the sole recipient of the Eschenbach Low Vision Award.

Dr. Poma earned her post-doctorate fellowship in pediatric visual development (FOVDR) in 2010. She particularly enjoys working with children, helping them become successful students through vision therapy. She works hard to identify and treat binocular vision dysfunction which includes, but is not limited to, prescribing prism.  She also helps treat visual dysfunctions that occur due to concussions, TBI, and vertigo. Dr. Poma has a real gift for making every child feel comfortable while getting their eyes examined.

She is an international speaker and key opinion leader/consultant for Johnson and Johnson, Neurolens, PECAA, and MD Elite, teaching doctors across the country about the latest innovations in eye care, including dry eye, binocular dysfunction, and contact lenses. She spends a lot of her time mentoring other optometrists and students in both communication skills and practice development.

Dr. Poma has been the principal investigator in contact lens clinical trials for Johnson and Johnson, Bausch & Lomb, and Alcon Pharmaceuticals. This allows Birmingham Vision to be the first to receive the latest contact lens innovations, sometimes years ahead of other practices across the globe.

Dr. Poma is fluent in Italian and relatively articulate in Spanish. She is happily married and enjoys time with her two sons. She enjoys traveling to Italy to visit family and is passionate about holistic health, fitness, and wellness.

I have been a vision therapist for over 15 years all of which was at the Vision Development Center. It's so special for me to experience the journey between sad tears and happy tears. 
Fun fact about me is my daughter is my best friend and my favorite place in the world is whatever room she is in.

There is something incredibly special about watching a child’s confidence grow as they progress in vision therapy. Initially, many children come in with frustrations or feelings of inadequacy—whether it’s struggling in school, facing difficulties with sports, or simply not feeling as capable as their peers. However, with each small success, I can see their confidence rise, their smile brighten, and their belief in their abilities strengthen.