Featuring

A member of the first class from Bonanza High School, a graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas and the Southern California College of Optometry (now Ketchum University), Edward Joseph Malik, originally from Boston, is founder and president of Eyes & Optics Ltd in Downtown Summerlin, one of the most respected practices in America. He is a writer, a drummer and producer with the jam band, Melancholics, and a founding member of KUNV-FM jazz radio. He worked with Monk Montgomery in the Las Vegas Jazz Society, and was a board member with the Nevada Dance Theatre, and is founder of Turtlehead Productions.

In Boston, he studied music at the Don Carr studio, stage design and lighting with producer Fr. Frank Tosti (M.A.S.H), and worked as a technical director in television. While still in middle school, he built a working radio station in a backyard shed.

Malik holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with emphasis on abnormal psychology and cultism, and a minor in chemistry. In 1987, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Visual Psychophysics and a Doctorate in Optometry from the Southern California College of Optometry. His thesis explored the connections between biological vision systems and robotic vision systems. Malik’s professional internships included the Optometric Center of Los Angeles, the VA medical center in Las Vegas under John Potter, O.D., and the Blind Center of Los Angeles, sponsored by Milton Berle. In Las Vegas, he developed the retail concepts Oculus for Caesars Palace and The Shade Brigade Sunglass Company. He has been in private practice for 32 years and resides in the canyons outside Las Vegas with his family.

Background and Early Life

A native of Hawaii, Dr. Scott Kawakami was raised enjoying the state’s vibrant outdoor lifestyle, including its beautiful beaches and scenic mountain trails. Growing up, he developed strong interests in martial arts, science, and technology, and excelled academically during his school years.

Academic Achievements

Dr. Kawakami was accepted into the highly regarded biology program at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. There, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with high honors, graduating at the top of his class, Summa Cum Laude.

He continued his education at the Southern California College of Optometry at Ketchum University, where he obtained his Doctorate in medical optometry with high honors, Magna Cum Laude. Dr. Kawakami is a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society, which recognizes academic excellence in optometry.

Professional Training and Experience

During his medical education, Dr. Kawakami completed internships specializing in ocular disease in Tucson, Arizona and Lawton, Oklahoma, with a focus on dry eye disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetes. In Honolulu, Hawaii, he provided primary care optometric services to U.S. Naval personnel. He also received training in low vision care for the partially sighted and advanced contact lens designs in Fullerton, California.

Career and Specializations

After completing his education and training, Dr. Kawakami spent the next decade in corporate practice, serving patients in Nevada and Idaho. He is now excited to join the city’s premier private practice, where he can focus on exceptional patient care and better service. His areas of specialty include dry eye therapy, aesthetics, preventative eye care, and providing precise binocular refraction to ensure optimal vision correction.