From Chemistry to Changing Vision: Karen G. Carrasquillo’s STEM Journey
How science, resilience, and purpose shaped a Latina leader in optometry
Long before she was fitting scleral lenses or leading global education initiatives, Karen G. Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, was a young chemist in Puerto Rico studying proteins and biodegradable polymers—with a growing fascination for the eye. Her journey into optometry did not begin in an exam lane. It began in a laboratory. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and later completed her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico. Realizing she could apply her STEM expertise to the organ that had always intrigued her most— she
then pursued postdoctoral research in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear, focusing on controlled drug delivery systems for retinal disease.That rigorous scientific training became the foundation of a career defined by innovation, education, and life-changing patient care.
Building a Scientific Mindset
Like many Latinas in STEM, Karen advanced through spaces where representation was limited. Her doctoral work—stabilizing proteins within biodegradable polymers for sustained drug delivery— required precision, persistence, and resilience. Science taught her discipline and intellectual courage. It taught her that progress is built on iteration. Most importantly, it trained her to think systematically— identify variables,analyze outcomes, and refine solutions based on evidence. That mindset would later shape her clinical approach.
A Purpose-Driven Pivot
After completing her PhD and postdoctoral training, Karen realized she wanted more direct human impact. Research was powerful—but she longed to witness transformation in real time. She pursued a Doctor of Optometry degree and completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lens. Rather than leaving STEM behind, she carried it forward.
The eye is biology, physics, and chemistry in motion. A scleral lens is a highly specialized medical device that rests gently on the white part of the eye, creating a protective fluid- filled layer over the cornea. Designing and fitting one requires understanding how materials interact with living tissue.
Her background in chemistry provided a strong foundation in material science, diffusion dynamics, and fluid interactions—principles that are fundamental to understanding oxygen transmissibility, tear reservoir behavior, and biomaterial performance in scleral lens design. This scientific grounding informs how scleral lenses physiologically support the ocular surface, maintain a protective fluid reservoir, and optically neutralize corneal irregularity to rehabilitate vision in compromised eyes. What changed was not her relationship with science, but her proximity to the patient.
STEM in the Exam Room
Today, Karen approaches specialty lens care as a complex problem to be solved thoughtfully and precisely. Rather than relying on trial and error, she analyzes how oxygen moves, how tears circulate, and how the lens interacts with the eye—turning clinical care into data-informed decision-making.
She has co-authored patents and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, grounding innovation in analytical problem-solving.
Leadership, Representation, and Workforce Impact
Karen now serves as Chief Innovation and Education Officer at BostonSight, overseeing clinical research, product development, and global education strategy. She applies STEM principles to leadership: systems thinking, measurable goals, and continuous improvement
.
Her bilingual presence reflects both her scientific authority and her commitment to representation. She is also actively involved with Latinos en Optometry (www.latinosenoptometry.org), a national organization dedicated to increasing Latino representation and advancing culturally responsive care within the profession. As such she was named one of the 100 top Latino leaders driving meaningful impact in her home state of Massachusetts – ALX100. Through mentorship and advocacy, she helps create pathways for the next generation of Latino eye care professionals.
As the Hispanic/Latino population continues to grow rapidly in the United States, the need for culturally responsive eye care grows with it. Yet Latinas remain significantly underrepresented in optometry. For Karen, representation is not symbolic—it is essential. When patients see themselves reflected in healthcare providers, trust deepens and outcomes improve. When students see someone who shares their background leading in science and healthcare, it expands what they believe is possible.
Science Meets Humanity
In addition to her research and leadership roles, Karen’s work centers on people. She cares for patients with complex corneal and ocular surface disease—individuals often told they have no remaining options.
When a scleral lens restores vision and comfort, years of STEM training culminate in something deeply human: sight restored, independence regained, confidence rebuilt. “Growing up in Puerto Rico, I didn’t always see many women who looked like me in scientific leadership roles,” Karen reflects. “My training taught me how to think critically and solve complex problems—but it also showed me that I belonged in those spaces. Optometry allowed me to use that foundation to directly change lives.”
A Message for Latinas in STEM
Karen Carrasquillo’s journey reminds us that STEM is not a narrow path—it is a foundation for possibility. The analytical skills developed in laboratories can translate into innovation in clinics, leadership in organizations, and meaningful impact in communities.
For Latinas in STEM, her story affirms that cultural identity, resilience, and intellectual rigor are strengths. The confidence built through scientific training can open doors across disciplines and industries.
From Puerto Rico’s chemistry labs to global optometric leadership, Karen’s path shows that science can be both exacting and deeply human—and that the skills you are building today may one day transform lives in ways you cannot yet imagine.
How science, resilience, and purpose shaped a Latina leader in optometry
Long before she was fitting scleral lenses or leading global education initiatives, Karen G. Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, was a young chemist in Puerto Rico studying proteins and biodegradable polymers—with a growing fascination for the eye. Her journey into optometry did not begin in an exam lane. It began in a laboratory. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and later completed her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico. Realizing she could apply her STEM expertise to the organ that had always intrigued her most— she
then pursued postdoctoral research in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear, focusing on controlled drug delivery systems for retinal disease.That rigorous scientific training became the foundation of a career defined by innovation, education, and life-changing patient care.
Building a Scientific Mindset
Like many Latinas in STEM, Karen advanced through spaces where representation was limited. Her doctoral work—stabilizing proteins within biodegradable polymers for sustained drug delivery— required precision, persistence, and resilience. Science taught her discipline and intellectual courage. It taught her that progress is built on iteration. Most importantly, it trained her to think systematically— identify variables,analyze outcomes, and refine solutions based on evidence. That mindset would later shape her clinical approach.
A Purpose-Driven Pivot
After completing her PhD and postdoctoral training, Karen realized she wanted more direct human impact. Research was powerful—but she longed to witness transformation in real time. She pursued a Doctor of Optometry degree and completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lens. Rather than leaving STEM behind, she carried it forward.
The eye is biology, physics, and chemistry in motion. A scleral lens is a highly specialized medical device that rests gently on the white part of the eye, creating a protective fluid- filled layer over the cornea. Designing and fitting one requires understanding how materials interact with living tissue.
Her background in chemistry provided a strong foundation in material science, diffusion dynamics, and fluid interactions—principles that are fundamental to understanding oxygen transmissibility, tear reservoir behavior, and biomaterial performance in scleral lens design. This scientific grounding informs how scleral lenses physiologically support the ocular surface, maintain a protective fluid reservoir, and optically neutralize corneal irregularity to rehabilitate vision in compromised eyes. What changed was not her relationship with science, but her proximity to the patient.
STEM in the Exam Room
Today, Karen approaches specialty lens care as a complex problem to be solved thoughtfully and precisely. Rather than relying on trial and error, she analyzes how oxygen moves, how tears circulate, and how the lens interacts with the eye—turning clinical care into data-informed decision-making.
She has co-authored patents and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, grounding innovation in analytical problem-solving.
Leadership, Representation, and Workforce Impact
Karen now serves as Chief Innovation and Education Officer at BostonSight, overseeing clinical research, product development, and global education strategy. She applies STEM principles to leadership: systems thinking, measurable goals, and continuous improvement
.
Her bilingual presence reflects both her scientific authority and her commitment to representation. She is also actively involved with Latinos en Optometry (www.latinosenoptometry.org), a national organization dedicated to increasing Latino representation and advancing culturally responsive care within the profession. As such she was named one of the 100 top Latino leaders driving meaningful impact in her home state of Massachusetts – ALX100. Through mentorship and advocacy, she helps create pathways for the next generation of Latino eye care professionals.
As the Hispanic/Latino population continues to grow rapidly in the United States, the need for culturally responsive eye care grows with it. Yet Latinas remain significantly underrepresented in optometry. For Karen, representation is not symbolic—it is essential. When patients see themselves reflected in healthcare providers, trust deepens and outcomes improve. When students see someone who shares their background leading in science and healthcare, it expands what they believe is possible.
Science Meets Humanity
In addition to her research and leadership roles, Karen’s work centers on people. She cares for patients with complex corneal and ocular surface disease—individuals often told they have no remaining options.
When a scleral lens restores vision and comfort, years of STEM training culminate in something deeply human: sight restored, independence regained, confidence rebuilt. “Growing up in Puerto Rico, I didn’t always see many women who looked like me in scientific leadership roles,” Karen reflects. “My training taught me how to think critically and solve complex problems—but it also showed me that I belonged in those spaces. Optometry allowed me to use that foundation to directly change lives.”
A Message for Latinas in STEM
Karen Carrasquillo’s journey reminds us that STEM is not a narrow path—it is a foundation for possibility. The analytical skills developed in laboratories can translate into innovation in clinics, leadership in organizations, and meaningful impact in communities.
For Latinas in STEM, her story affirms that cultural identity, resilience, and intellectual rigor are strengths. The confidence built through scientific training can open doors across disciplines and industries.
From Puerto Rico’s chemistry labs to global optometric leadership, Karen’s path shows that science can be both exacting and deeply human—and that the skills you are building today may one day transform lives in ways you cannot yet imagine.
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