James B. Mayer, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.

Dr. Mayer has maintained a developmental optometry  practice in Thousand Oaks since 1984. His emphasis has focused on ways in which he could help people reach their potential by improving their processing skills. This was initially through vision. His work has expanded to also include attention, auditory, motor planning, phonological awareness, sequencing and timing abilities.

He grew up in Wisconsin, attending high school in Beloit. He noticed that good grades were always attainable with a lot of effort and sacrifice. Being motivated he worked hard and graduated in the top 10% of his class. Strengths included math and mechanical engineering.

Dr. Mayer's career path was altered when he met Dr. Kenneth Patterson.  Before this, he was always a good athlete but suffered from poor sight and depth perception ability.  Vision examinations resulted in glasses which helped him.  However, his vision improved tremendously after meeting and being treated by internationally renown optometrist, the late Dr. William Ludlam.  After vision therapy, Dr. Mayer began to judge the distance to a basketball rim for the first time in his life.   The adage of there is much more to good vision than just 20/20 sight became a reality.  He was able to really see! This inspired him to seek his Doctorate in Optometry.

Dr. Mayer proceeded with his undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin and Pacific University. He graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in 1979. He applied and was accepted for professional studies at Pacific University College of Optometry. It was during this time that it was found he had other visual processing deficits. Dr. William Ludlam helped remediate these problems. This gave him wonderful insights on ways in which people's lives could be changed. He graduated from Pacific in 1983 and started a practice dedicated to helping others in 1984. Certification in biofeedback for visual problems was attained in 1986. He attained certification to prescribe therapeutic ocular drugs in 1996. He was president of the TriCounty Optometric Society in 1990. He became board certified in vision therapy (Fellow, College of Optometrists in Vision Development) in 2005.

Public speaking is always an interest with Dr. Mayer. Besides providing an extensive array of presentations to local companies and schools, he has given talks to national groups such as the International Academy of Sports Vision, the National Optometric Association and the California Optometric Association.

His family includes Carol (his beautiful wife), J.J. (10 year old son) and Jalyn (8 year old daughter). The Mayer family attends Calvary Community Church.