Dr. Bernadette Lynch
Dr. Lynch spent her early childhood moving around Europe and the Caribbean before her parents settled in the Boston area when she was a teen. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology from Tufts University in between attending as many Red Sox and Bruins games as she could. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in 2008. After graduation, she continued her education by completing a residency at the VA in Los Angeles, California, where she focused on ocular disease management and low vision care. Dr Lynch has traveled to El Salvador and Nicaragua several times for humanitarian trips to provide quality eye care to underserved communities. She finds (too) much joy in finding the best optical solutions for patients who have been told “there’s nothing more we can do”.
When she is not practicing optometry, Dr. Lynch enjoys traveling, open water swimming, camping, skiing, and mountain biking with her husband and their 2 dogs.
Joseph H. Johnson, O.D.
Dr. Johnson was raised in Southeastern Idaho where he graduated high school. He then earned a B.S. in Exercise Science from Brigham Young University and his Doctor of Optometry degree in 2018 from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He then completed an optometric residency focused on managing ocular disease at Eye Associates of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. He has worked in ophthalmology clinics in New Mexico and Georgia and is excited to now be seeing patients in Alaska!
During his final year of Optometry school Dr. Johnson was voted by his classmates as being “The Optometrist I want to see when I’m an Optometrist.” And while practicing in Albuquerque, Dr. Johnson was nominated for and won the “Top Doc” award as voted by medical peers during his first year of practice.
Dr. Johnson fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning a small business when he purchased Ketchikan Eye Care Center from Dr. Rick Swearingen and Dr. Erik Christianson in 2025. He is excited to get to know the area and his patients!
Patricia Beaty, O.D.
Originally from Muncie, Indiana, Dr. Patricia Beaty earned both her bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in Optometry from Indiana University. She began her professional career as a staff optometrist at the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute before relocating to Utah. In Utah, she served as the clinical director for the Cataract and Lasik Center of Utah/Utah Eye Centers, held the position of President of the Utah Optometric Association, and acted as a clinical preceptor for optometry interns. Dr. Beaty also contributes to the Hope Alliance board, a non-profit dedicated to providing sustainable vision care and eyeglasses to under-served communities globally. She is now honored to bring her expertise to the Ketchikan Eye Center and looks forward to serving the local community.
Erik D. Christianson, O.D.
He was born in Missoula, Montana December 4, 1959. Erik was raised in western Montana and graduated from high school in the town of Dillon in southwest Montana. He completed undergraduate studies at Montana State University and Concordia College in Minnesota. Dr. Christianson received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University College of Optometry in 1986. He practiced in Eagle River, Alaska in 1986-87 and in Utkiagvik (Barrow), Alaska as clinical director of the North Slope Borough Eye Clinic from 1987-90. In 1990 Dr. Christianson purchased E.L. Craig O.D.’s practice in Ketchikan, Alaska. He named his practice Alpine Vision Center and practiced on Main Street from 1990-1997. In 1997 he became partners with Rick Swearingen, O.D. and together they constructed an office building on Carlanna Lake RD and called their practice Ketchikan Eye Care Center. From 1997 to 2025 they faithfully served the eye care needs of Ketchikan and Southern Southeast Alaska. In 2025 they sold their practice to Joseph Johnson, O.D. Beginning in October 2025 Dr. Christianson will become an employee for the first time since 1990. He plans to help Dr. Johnson build on the foundation of eye care begun so many years ago. Dr. C will use the gift of extra time to travel and volunteer time and talents to the Ketchikan community that has been his home since 1990. Go Kings!!!