Dr. Shannon Steinhäuser did her undergraduate work at the University of Nebraska-Kearney as a pre-optometry major and California State University-Fresno majoring in molecular cellular biology. She earned her bachelors of visual science and doctor of optometry degrees from the Southern California College of Optometry in 1997 and 1999, respectively. In 2000 she completed a residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease at the Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital in Sacaton, AZ, on the Gila River Indian Reservation. She earned the distinction of Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry that same year.

Dr. Steinhäuser currently teaches at the Midwestern University Eye Institute in Glendale, AZ, specializing in primary & geriatric eye care and ocular disease. She has participated in multiple clinical studies, has been published, has lectured on the topics of glaucoma and retinal disease and serves as journal reviews editor for Optometric Physician e-journal.

Dr. Steinhäuser is a member of the American Optometric Association,  the Optometric Glaucoma Society, the American Academy of Optometry, and the American Optometric Society. She has been an active member of the Arizona Optometric Association serving as membership chair 2003-07, Board of Director 2006-07, Secretary/Treasurer 2007-08, Vice President 2008-09, President-Elect 2009-10, continuing education chair 2007-present and the AzOA's President from 2010-11. She was awarded the AzOA's Young Optometrist of the Year in 2009.