Dr. Erin Frillarte is celebrating first year at Optic Gallery’s new locationB
y Kirk Kern
Dr. Erin Frillarte grew up in northwest Las Vegas, so when it came time to open up her first optometrist office, she stayed close to home, choosing a shopping center in Skye Canyon.
“I live in the Centennial area and had the luck of finding an opportunity in 2016 to work at our sister Optic Gallery locations in Centennial Hills. As this city has continued to grow and expand, especially here in Skye Canyon, it was a great opportunity to expand the Optic Gallery foundation.
“I’ve found it to be a great neighborhood to provide the care for patients who I’ve met and continue to treat throughout my career. Most patients are grateful to have found our office with just a quick drive, or walk if the weather allows, from their home.”
Frillarte is a first-generation Filipino-American and was born and raised in Las Vegas. She graduated from Cimarron-Memorial High School in 2004 and then the University of Nevada-Reno in 2008 with a degree in biology and a minor in psychology.
She then attended optometry school at Southern California College of Optometry at Ketchum University in Fullerton, California. She graduated in 2012 and pursued a residency program in Ocular Disease and Low Vision at the Tucson Veterans Administration Medical Center.
She moved back to Las Vegas to be closer to family in 2014.
“I knew I wanted to be in the medical field at a very young age,” she said. “I realized in high school I wanted to be an optometrist since I enjoyed getting my eyes checked every year. I primarily wore contact lenses then, and I always left satisfied with my vision much clearer than when I arrived.
“It’s amazing to be able to serve my community in providing that same care I received when I was younger.”
Frillarte decided on the Skye Canyon office location in April of 2021, but the Grand Canyon Village Shopping Center was still in the construction phase so the internal office construction didn’t start until January of 2024. Optic Gallery opened it doors on May 1, 2024.
“We are officially at our one-year anniversary, so there is a lot to celebrate,” she said.
Optic Gallery opened with three staff members, but has grown to six employees as they’ve found more areas to expand and provide products and services for its patients. In November, Optic Gallery added digital retinal imaging and optical coherence tomography, which are photos and scans of the internal structures of the eyes.
“It provides detailed views of their retinal issues and is highly recommended for patients with particular systemic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and other diseases that can manifest in the eyes,” Frillarte said.
She said her practice has also been able to expand its variety of frames.
“We’re passionate in giving the best quality care and help patients based on their needs and budget,” she said.
Frillarte said she’s received great feedback from patients about their experience in getting their vision checked, along with new glasses or contact lenses.
“They tell us they’ve had a great experience with the staff or learned something new about their eyes and health,” she said. “This is why I love what I do and it reminds me of why I wanted to be an optometrist in the first place. We look forward to building that relationship with the community and seeing friendly faces every year.”
Frillarte was married in 2015 and has a four-year-old son and a 9-year-old lab/shepherd mix named Riley. She enjoys spending free time with her family, traveling, catching up with friends and trying out new restaurants in town.
Optic Gallery is located at 9560 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive, Suite 180. The phone number is 702-872-2020. Frillarte wanted to let parents know to schedule eye exams for youths before the next school year. It’s annual Back-to-School “Buy One, Get 50% Off One” deal starts at the end of July through September.
Leave a Reply