Doctors & Staff
Meet the experienced and friendly doctors and staff who make David J. Sterna, OD & Associates, LLC and the Cleveland Eye Clinic the leading provider of vision care products and services in Lorain.
David J. Sterna, OD Dipl ABO
Dr. Sterna began practicing optometry in 1985. His practice philosophy has always been to place the needs and care of his patients as his top priority. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981 from the College of Wooster with major in chemistry and minor in Latin American studies. He also studied abroad at the Centro de Estudios Unidos Colombo-Americano in Bogota, Colombia. Dr. Sterna then went on to obtain his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Ohio State University in 1985. He is bilingual and happy to serve the Hispanic population healthcare needs.
He was born and raised in Amherst, so it was natural that when it came time to decide where he wanted to practice, he would choose his hometown area. Dr. Sterna integrates the most up-to-date technology with traditional patient care to guarantee that his patients always receive the highest quality eye care available. In August 2011, he was granted Diplomate status by the American Board of Optometry, becoming one of the first optometrists in the United States to be awarded this distinction. Since becoming a Diplomate Dr. Sterna has served as a state ambassador in Ohio and now serves as the board’s Vice-Chairman.
Dr. Sterna is a member of the Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Innovation Speakers Bureau. As a speaker Dr. Sterna provides education and training for new and innovative Acuvue contact lens products to fellow eye care professionals.
Dr. Sterna has always maintained an active role in international relations as well. In 2003 and 2005, he coordinated the medical business training for eye doctors visiting from Russia in coordination with the Centers of Citizen Initiatives and the United States State Department. He was the coordinator for the Mexican Education Project grant for the Raramuri Indians in Chihuahua, Mexico which enabled them to expand their educational curriculum. In 2015 Dr. Sterna and his wife Dianna provided humanitarian medical relief services to the underprivileged in Costa Rica with fellow Christians of Trinity Free Evangelical Church. He and his wife Dianna have hosted numerous exchange students from around the world.
Dr. Sterna and his wife recently established a endowed scholarship fund at the College of Wooster to benefit incoming freshmen students from Marion L Steele High School and Firelands High School. They have also recently established a charitable fund at their church, Trinity Free Evangelical, to support local missionary travel to mission fields in third world countries.
When not practicing optometry, Dr. Sterna enjoys gardening, photography, international travel with his wife. He lives in Amherst with his wife, Dianna. They have two sons and a daughter. Completing their family are five grandchildren and two adorable dogs.
Eric T. Ward, OD
Dr. Ward grew up in Amherst and is thrilled to practicing optometry near his hometown. He is a graduate of St Ignatius High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in pre-medicine with a minor in psychology from the University of Dayton in 2014. He went on to earn his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2018. He is affiliated with both the American Optometric Association and the Ohio Optometric Association.
While at Ohio State, Dr. Ward was involved with several community outreach programs, including the Lion’s Club which helped collect and redistribute donated eyeglasses to those in need. In addition, Dr. Ward took special interest in externship rotations involving the medically underserved, addicted, and homeless populations. He also enjoyed working with veterans at the Cleveland VA Medical Center, as well as with children through Ohio State’s school screening program and various pediatric clinics. He is excited to continue providing quality care to patients of all demographic, but especially loves seeing families.
Dr. Ward’s philosophy of practice is centered upon empathy and compassion. He greatly values and enjoys establishing relationships with his patients and feels that strong communications is the foundation of quality care. He strives to work as a team with his patients and involve them in their healthcare experience as much as possible.
Dr. Ward and his wife, Kristen, have known each other since preschool and they have a beautiful daughter. He is most passionate about his family and, when not practicing optometry, can be found around the fire spending quality time with his family, on the golf course, or cheering on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Shamik Bafna, MD
Dr. Bafna is a board certified ophthalmologist who completed a one year fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery after his residency. He has extensive experience treating laser vision correction patients. He has published and presented several peer-reviewed papers in ophthalmology including two chapters on laser vision correction. He has received numerous awards including the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation Fellowship Award.
Dr. Bafna was selected as Top 10 Surgeon in the United States for demonstrating surgical expertise in cataract surgeries, surgical excellence, and patient care in 2009 and one of the Cleveland area’s Best Doctors by Cleveland Magazine in 2017.
We are privileged to have Dr. Bafna and his excellent staff from Cleveland Eye Clinic and Clear Choice provide our patients with the most advanced cataract and laser refractive surgery techniques available.