Laura Belle Morel, OD is passionate about managing complex corneal conditions and advancing specialty contact lens care. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology with an emphasis in Medical Humanities from the University of California, Irvine, and went on to complete her Doctor of Optometry at the Southern California College of Optometry.

Following graduation, Dr. Morel pursued advanced residency training as the Michael G. Harris Cornea & Contact Lens Resident at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of California, Berkeley. There, she provided direct patient care in specialty clinics, treated complex corneal conditions such as keratoconus and post-surgical ectasia, and fit a wide range of specialty lenses including sclerals, GPs, hybrids, and impression-based designs. She also gained experience in myopia management, dry eye treatment with technologies such as IPL and LipiFlow, and collaborated in workshops training optometry students on specialty lens techniques.

Dr. Morel has presented her clinical work at national meetings including the American Academy of Optometry and the Global Specialty Lens Symposium. She has authored case reports and posters on topics such as higher-order aberration correction in keratoconus, unconventional orthokeratology, and scleral lens applications for ocular surface disease.

In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr. Morel has experience in academic teaching, student precepting, and telehealth retinal imaging. She is an active member of professional organizations including the American Optometric Association, California Optometric Association, Gas Permeable Lens Institute, and is a Candidate for Fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO).

Dr. Morel is committed to providing compassionate, tailored eye care for patients with both routine and complex vision needs. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with her pets.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Science, Human Biology, University of California, Irvine

• Doctor of Optometry, Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton, CA

• Cornea & Contact Lens Residency, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley

OPTOMETRIC CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

• Salt Lake City VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT

• Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ

• Ketchum Health, Anaheim, CA

• NVISION Eye Centers, Newport Beach, CA

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Candidate for FAAO, Boston 2025

• American Optometric Association

• California Optometric Association

• Orange County Optometric Society

• Alameda and Contra Costa Counties Optometric Society

• Gas Permeable Lens Institute

• Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honors Society

• Omega Delta Fraternity

CASE REPORTS & POSTERS

• Using Higher Order Aberration Correction to Improve Visual Acuity in Keratoconus – UC Berkeley Resident Forum, 2025

• Unconventional Orthokeratology in an Adult Patient – Global Specialty Lens Symposium, 2025

• Tinted Contact Lenses for Photophobia in Cone Dystrophy – American Academy of Optometry, 2024

• Visual Recovery and Corneal Remodeling Using a Hyper Dk Freeform Scleral Lens for HZO Scarring – GSLS, 2024