- Cataract Surgery, Lens Based Refractive Surgery for Myopia, Hyperopia and Presbyopia, Glaucoma, Diabetes and General Ophthalmology.
Dr. Christen Allaman, a Board Certified Ophthalmologist, completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego. After receiving his Medical Degree from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, he served a first-year residency in internal medicine at California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco. Realizing his talents and international interests would be best served in the field of ophthalmology, he completed a residency at the Eye and Ear Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In 1996 he joined Keith McKenzie, M.D., in private practice at Eye Care Medical Group, Santa Cruz, California, and in 1998 became the corporation's president.
Dr. Allaman specializes in:
Dr. Christen Allaman is President and Medical Director of Cypress Outpatient Surgical Center ensuring that only state-of-the-art, compassionate care extends throughout his office and the operating theatre.
He has also performed volunteer cataract surgery and diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases in Bolivia, Fiji, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
When he is not taking care of patients, Doctor Allaman enjoys sports, particularly skiing and surfing. He also enjoys adventure travels with his family.
Professional Accomplishments:

- Comprehensive Eye Exams, Low Vision Evaluations, Contact Lenses, Pre and Post Operative Vision Care.
Cary Carlos, O.D., joined Eye Care Medical Group, Inc. in October 2006, bringing with her over 20 years of experience in professional vision and eye health care. She was trained at the University of California at Berkeley, School of Optometry and received a Doctorate in Optometry degree from Cal in 1986. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Physiological Optics from U.C. Berkeley. Dr. Carlos specializes in challenging vision correction cases, incorporating the use of specialty contact lenses and other new advancements in eyeglass correction.
She has extensive experience in counseling patients who are considering surgical vision correction options, including refractive lens exchange and laser correction procedures. She also provides comprehensive pre-operative and post-operative eye examinations and is licensed to treat and manage medical eye conditions.
Dr. Carlos has practiced with an emphasis in pediatric vision for many years and has three children of her own. She is also fluent in Spanish and has volunteered her time in vision and eye care outreach abroad in the Dominican Republic and here in California for the children of migrant workers.
Dr. Carlos has served as president of the Monterey Bay Optometric Society, a state society reaching as far as King City to Salinas and Monterey to Santa Cruz, incorporating three counties, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito. She is also a member of the American Optometric Association, has served as a member of the President’s Council/Leadership Conference Committee for the California Optometric Association and is a member of the U.C. Berkeley, School of Optometry Alumni Association.
In 1992, Dr. Carlos was featured in a Spanish language video production used in the training of Spanish speaking patients in the care and handling of soft contact lenses. She not only helped produce the patient education video, but she wrote the script for this production as well. In 1994, Dr. Carlos was appointed to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Eye Health Education for Diabetic Eye Disease development task force. She was sent to Washington D.C. to meet with other diabetic patient care specialists and educators. There she met with NIH officials to develop a video and literature campaign to educate the Hispanic/Latino community on the seriousness of diabetic eye disease and vision loss. The campaign was launched two years later and featured Latin music star, Celia Cruz, who passed away from complications of diabetes just a few years ago.
In her spare time, Dr. Carlos enjoys hiking, cycling, dancing, gourmet food and spending time with her family and friends.
- Comprehensive Eye Exams, Low Vision Evaluations, Contact Lenses, Pre and Post Operative Vision Care.
Dr. Prisbe graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1996 and then packed her bags and headed west. She received her Doctorate in Optometry from the University of California Berkeley, School of Optometry in 2000. Following graduation, she completed a residency in ocular disease and low vision at the Portland VA Medical Center in Portland, OR.
After completing her training, Dr. Prisbe worked in a variety of disciplines. She served as a clinical instructor at Pacific College of Optometry, a low vision consultant, an attending at the Portland VA Hospital, and in several private practices.
Before joining Eye Care Medical Group in March 2012, she spent the last 7 years at Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Oregon. Here Dr. Prisbe specialized in contact lenses, served as a clinical supervisor, and as the continuing medical education coordinator. She was also staffed within the Ophthalmology department co-managing pre/post-op cataract patients, glaucoma, retinal conditions, and triaging urgent care patients.Dr. Prisbe is licensed to treat and manage medical eye conditions and is completing her glaucoma certification for California. She has extensive experience with astigmatic and multifocal contact lenses and cataract surgery co-management.
In her spare time, Dr. Prisbe is an outdoor enthusiast. She is an avid skier, cyclist, and aspiring rock climber. She enjoys volunteering and has participated in eye care mission trips to India, El Salvador and Mexico. Dr. Prisbe also served on the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol for 5 years and as an adaptive ski instructor for Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. Dr. Prisbe recently moved to Santa Cruz to start a new family and is excited to explore the area and community.