Maria Liu, OD, PhD, MPH, MBA

Maria is an associate professor of clinical optometry at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the founder and chief of the Myopia Control Clinic - the first of its kind in a teaching clinic, which now serves as a model for optometry schools across the country.  

Maria is also the founder and co-director of Berkeley's Myopia Management Academy.

Originally from Beijing, Maria practiced as an ophthalmologist in China before relocating to the United States in 2000. She obtained her MBA in financial management prior to her OD training at Pacific University, College of Optometry. Maria also completed an MPH with an emphasis in biostatistics and clinical study design, and a PhD in physiological optics at UC Berkeley and shortly afterwards became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.The emphasis of her research and clinical expertise has been on the investigation and utilization of novel contact lens designs and pharmaceuticals in myopia control. 

Maria enjoys teaching both in didactic and clinical settings. She has years of experience in teaching basic and clinical pharmacology, ocular disease, epidemiology, as well as comparative studies on the similarity and difference of primary vision care in developed vs. developing countries. Last but not the least, Maria is very enthusiastic about humanitarian services and helped organize as well as served as the attending doctor for multiple VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity) trips to China. 

Teaching (current):

• OPT213  Evidence-based Optometry 

• OPT226 Systemic and Ocular Pharmacology

• Clinical Instruction: Myopia and Advanced CL Clinic