Our Team

Dr. Paul Phillips is a board-certified Ophthalmologist, specializing in corneal disease, cataracts and intraocular and corneal refractive procedures, such as LASIK and PRK.  He obtained his B.S. in Biology at Stanford University, where he graduated with honors and played varsity soccer.  He received his medical training at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and his ophthalmology residency training at the University of Virginia.  Dr. Phillips completed the highly regarded corneal fellowship at Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon with Dr. Mark Terry, a world pioneer in the field of endothelial corneal transplantation.

Along with multiple publications in peer reviewed journals and text books, Dr. Phillips has been an instructor in Anterior & Posterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Techniques and a presenter at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS), the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) meetings.  In addition to his position here at Sightline, Dr. Phillips has also been an assistant professor at the University of Virginia, where he trained staff and residents to perform Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) and currently lectures to residents at the University of Pittsburgh Ophthalmology program.

Dr. Paul Phillips sees patients for anterior segment pathology and surgical care. Over the last decade Dr. Phillips has performed thousands of laser vision correction procedures in the form of LASIK and PRK and is one of few surgeons in the Pittsburgh region performing Phakic IOL implantations. He has performed over 35,000 cataract surgeries including thousands of specialty intraocular lens implantations to correct astigmatism and presbyopia. Dr. Phillips also performs minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) during cataract surgery to improve pressure control as well as Selective LASER Trabeculoplasties (SLT), and peripheral iridotomies for glaucoma. Additionally, he has performed over 15,000 YAG LASER capsulotomies to treat capsular fibrosis, or “after cataract,” formation.

As a cornea fellowship trained surgeon, Dr. Phillips is one of the busiest in Western Pennsylvania, specializing in performing corneal transplant procedures, including DMEK, DSAEK, and Penetrating Keratoplasty. He has performed over 1,000 of these surgeries while working at SightLine, along with many other corneal procedures to treat an array of pathologic conditions, including corneal crosslinking to treat keratoconus and corneal ectasias.

A native of Pittsburgh, Dr. Paul Phillips and his wife, Gwen, live in Bradford Woods, PA with their two sons, Leo and Alden. In his free time, Dr. Phillips enjoys fly fishing and coaching soccer.

A native of the Pittsburgh area, Dr. Maloney is an optometrist with extensive clinical and academic experience who has been at SightLine since 2006. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland in 1997 and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2001. After graduation, Dr. Maloney completed a residency in Primary Eye Care at The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She then practiced for several years in Charlottesville, Virginia before returning with her family to the Pittsburgh area.

Dr. Maloney is a diplomat of the American Board of Optometry as well as a member of the American Optometric Association, the Pennsylvania Optometric Association, and the Western Pennsylvania Optometric Society. She was an examiner for the National Board of Optometry for several years, and has been published in professional journals. Dr. Maloney performs therapeutic and diagnostic eye care of ocular disease and emergency eye care. She manages patients on referral from eye doctors in the areas of anterior segment disease, glaucoma and retinal disease. Dr. Maloney is also experienced in the field of Laser Vision Correction (co-managing many LASIK and PRK cases), Corneal Crosslinking and Corneal Transplants. She consults with doctors and aids in the management and care of refractive surgery and cataract patients through the pre and post-procedure periods.

She currently resides in the Pittsburgh area with her husband and three children.

Dr. Christopher Carver joined SightLine in May of 2013 after working for 14 years with another large, surgical eye care practice in Western PA.

Dr. Carver attended Clarion University, receiving his B.S. in Education in 1991. After leaving Pittsburgh to teach Physics for three years at Severna Park High School in Maryland, he decided to pursue his career in Optometry. Dr. Carver attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Optometry in 1998, graduating salutatorian of his class.

Having grown up in Zelienople and attending Seneca Valley High School, Dr. Carver moved back to the Pittsburgh area after graduation. His extensive clinical experience includes managing cataract, glaucoma, and laser vision correction patients (such as LASIK and PRK). Dr. Carver is a current board member and a past president of the Western Pennsylvania Optometric Society and is a member of the American Optometric Association.

Dr. Carver, his wife Beth, and their two children Brady and Brooke currently reside in the Pittsburgh suburb of Kennedy Twp. In his spare time, Dr. Carver enjoys cooking, traveling with his family, and rooting for all of the Pittsburgh sports teams.

Dr. James Adam Lawson arrives in Pittsburgh as a native of the Hoosier State of Indiana. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Chemistry from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), receiving recognition as a Dean of Faculties Scholarship awardee, a recipient of the outstanding undergraduate analytical chemistry award, and nomination as a top 100 academic student. While at IUPUI, Dr.Lawson developed an interest in teaching and worked as a class and laboratory instructor. Then while attending Indiana University School Of Optometry, he continued teaching as an optics associate instructor and received recognition as Associate Instructor of the year and Outstanding Optometry Instructor for second year optometry students.

Dr. Lawson was awarded a Kendrick Foundation Scholarship for academic excellence and community service. He received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Indiana University School of Optometry, Bloomington, Indiana in 2015. Dr. Lawson is a board member of the Western Pennsylvania Optometric Society and is a member of the American Optometric Association. He also has a special interest in managing cataract, glaucoma and laser vision correction / refractive surgery cases.

Dr. Lawson resides in Cranberry Township, PA with his wife, Kirsten (a Pittsburgh native) and their two children, Palmer and Paxton.  He has a special interest in photographing and exploring Pittsburgh. The Steel City has afforded opportunity for him to spend time with family and run and bike the many hills of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Ladan Espandar is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in corneal surgery and pathology, as well as cataract surgery and all forms of refractive surgery, including LASIK, PRK and ICL’s. Dr. Espandar completed an ophthalmic pathology fellowship at Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, UT and an ophthalmology residency at Tulane University, New Orleans, LA., followed by a two-year corneal fellowship at Duke University, Durham, NC.

After moving to Pittsburgh four years ago, Dr. Espandar served as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Eye Center and worked in clinical care at the Eye and Ear Institute. Along with more than 40 publications in peer-reviewed journals, Dr. Espandar has also presented her research at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS), the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS).

Dr. Espandar performs all the surgical procedures offered at Sightline Ophthalmic Associates including all forms of corneal transplantation, cataract surgery, as well as both intraocular procedures and laser vision correction.  More information available by clicking here.

Dr. Espandar and her husband, a petrochemical engineer, live just outside of Pittsburgh in Sewickley Hills, PA. They both enjoy running, biking, hiking and climbing. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Marisa Ciamacca graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Pennsylvania State University in 2013, receiving her B.S. in Biology. In 2017, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Ohio State University College of Optometry with a dual Doctorate of Optometry and Master of Vision Science. She is a proud recipient of the Ocular Instruments Award of Excellence, as well as the Vincent J. Ellerbrock Memorial Award, thanks to her research focusing on imaging specific tissues of the retina and utilizing these tools in future eye care to detect early neurodegenerative changes.

Dr. Ciamacca completed a residency focused in ocular disease and surgical co-management at the Maryland Veterans Association Hospital and Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, MD. In 2019 she became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry after exhibiting high standards of professional competence and clinical knowledge. She has presented research at American Academy of Optometry meetings and also lectures for optometrists on the treatment and management of ocular diseases. Her experience includes treating and co-managing glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and corneal diseases. Surgical co-management experience includes cataract, refractive surgeries (LASIK and PRK), corneal and glaucoma surgeries, including MIGS and SLT.

She is a board member of the Western Pennsylvania Optometric Society and currently holds the position of communicating secretary.  She is a member of the American Optometric Association as well as the Pennsylvania Optometric Association and serves on the Keyperson Committee of the POA.  She maintains a passion for the advocacy of the scope of optometric practice and enjoys lobbying with local and national representatives.

Originally from Aliquippa, Dr. Ciamacca now resides in Ellwood City. She enjoys napping, eating, traveling and spending time with her husband, Luke, and their two Scottish terriers.

Dr. Derek Leale is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and refractive surgery. He completed his residency training at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. During his training he gained valuable experience and expertise at renowned institutions including the Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and Cincinnati VA Medical Center. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, Michigan, where he was inducted as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, earned with honors at the University of California, Davis.

Dr. Leale specializes in cataract surgery with a wide range of intraocular lenses including advanced technology presbyopia-correcting IOLs. He offers a variety of minimally-invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) at the time of cataract surgery to decrease intraocular pressure. Dr. Leale also offers his patients multiple laser vision correction procedures such as PRK and LASIK.  He excels at YAG Laser capsulotomy to treat capsular opacification. Additionally, Dr. Leale treats a breadth of corneal pathology such as keratoconus and corneal ectasia with corneal crosslinking.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Leale is an avid photographer with experience in both darkroom and digital photography. His passion for baking and pastry-making allows him to showcase his creativity and he also enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and cycling.

Born and raised in California, Dr. Derek Leale moved to Pennsylvania with his fiancée Kimberly, who is a Pittsburgh native, and their two cats: Pip and Tazo. Dr. Leale and his fiancée live in Cranberry Township, PA and look forward to starting a family together.

Dr. Kara Lynn Varga graduated Magna Cum Laude from Youngstown State University in 2011 with a BS in Biology. In 2016, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. She completed a residency in primary eye care in 2017, at the VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

After her residency, Dr. Varga returned to western Pennsylvania to work in a medically focused ophthalmic clinic. Her extensive experience includes co-managing cataract surgeries, YAG laser capsulotomies, urgent corneal conditions (ulcers, abrasions, foreign bodies, etc) and keratoconus. These attributes make her a valuable addition to Sightline. She is also experienced in both the visual and medical aspects of optometry, and enjoys addressing the often challenging characteristics of the geriatric population.

Originally from Youngstown, Dr. Varga currently resides in Economy Borough with her husband, Nick, and their two children. Outside of the office, she enjoys cooking, boating on the many waterways the area has to offer, as well as hiking with her Catahoula Leopard Dog, Niro.