Our Doctors

Dr. Robert Rainer

Dr. Robert Rainer is a Richmond native and graduate of J.R. Tucker High School. He attended the University of Richmond and Virginia Military Institute on wrestling scholarships and is a member of J.R. Tucker’s Sports Hall of Fame. He graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1989 with clinical honors.

His clinical background includes medical eye care, glaucoma treatment, and co-management of refractive surgery. He has served as the eye doctor for University of Richmond athletics since 1989 and has been involved with the American Optometric Association, Virginia Optometric Association, and Richmond Optometric Society. He was also recognized with first place in Our Health Magazine’s Best Bedside Manner Awards.

Outside the office, Dr. Rainer enjoys time with his wife and family, gardening, fitness, and Richmond’s restaurants and breweries. His interests also include whitewater rafting, hiking, and scuba diving.

Dr. Alex Vakili

Dr. Alex Vakili provides comprehensive vision and medical eye care with an emphasis on helping patients understand their eye health and make informed decisions about their care. A Richmond native, he attended Mills E. Godwin High School, earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Virginia Tech, and completed his Doctor of Optometry degree at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

His clinical training encompasses primary eye care, pediatric optometry, binocular vision disorders, glaucoma, advanced ocular disease, and care before and after cataract and refractive surgery. Through rotations at Mercy Medical Center, The Eye Institute, the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, and private specialty practices, he gained experience caring for patients with a wide range of visual and medical needs.

Whether discussing a new prescription or a more complex eye health concern, Dr. Vakili’s goal is to provide clear explanations and thoughtful recommendations tailored to the individual. He values helping patients understand both their examination findings and the next steps in their care.

His professional affiliations include the Virginia Optometric Association and American Optometric Association. Outside the office, he enjoys traveling, cooking, staying active, and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Seth Gorman

Dr. Seth Gorman grew up in Richmond’s West End and attended J.R. Tucker High School. Wearing glasses and contact lenses from an early age sparked his interest in eye care and led him to become a licensed optician after high school.

After several years working as an optician, he returned to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. He then attended the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago.

Dr. Gorman has a particular interest in helping patients understand their prescriptions and eye conditions. His background in optical care informs his work with patients and their vision needs. In his free time, he enjoys visiting local breweries, playing golf, and watching sports.

Dr. Katherine Straley

Dr. Katherine Straley was born and raised in Kansas and earned her bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University. She continued her education at the Southern California College of Optometry.

Her clinical externships included Veterans Health Administration facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Tucson, Arizona, as well as Indian Health Services in Lawton, Oklahoma. These rotations provided extensive training in ocular disease and pediatric eye care. She especially enjoys caring for children at their first eye examination, including infants.

Dr. Straley and her husband moved from Texas to the Richmond area to explore Virginia. Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, baking, and discovering new coffee shops.

Dr. Sarah Spangler

Dr. Sarah Spangler is originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at East Carolina University. Having been interested in optometry since middle school, she went on to attend the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.

During optometry school, she volunteered on international mission trips and completed clinical rotations in primary eye care in Kansas City, Missouri, and ocular disease with Veterans Affairs in Greenville, North Carolina. She enjoys helping patients explore vision correction options that suit their daily activities, with a particular interest in contact lenses.

Her professional affiliations include the Virginia Optometric Association and American Optometric Association. Outside the office, Dr. Spangler enjoys reading, caring for her plants, watching a good series, and working on yarn crafts.