Dr. Ted Griffin had graduated from the Southern College of Optometry 3 years previously, served as an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, served as an Optometrist at the Army Hospital in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, had a new wife and 2 sons, and was looking for a place to raise his family. His parents had moved to San Diego 5 years previously, giving “Dr. Ted” an opportunity to see first hand the beauty of the West Coast. He wrote to many of the west coast chamber of commerce's between Los Angeles and San Diego, looking for the perfect city to establish his Optometric practice.

The brochure from San Clemente, a small town of about 7,000 people, featured a newly finished municipal golf course with panoramic ocean views. That was all it took. Once in San Clemente, he never thought to leave. “Dr. Ted” and his wife Jeanne quickly immersed themselves in the community. Both Ted and Jeanne became very active in the public schools, PTA, Women's Clubs, and Service Clubs and their children& sports. Their family grew to 3 sons (Powers, Randy, and Patrick) and a daughter (Beth). After a short battle with cancer, “Dr. Ted” passed away in November of 1998.In 1978; Dr. Powers Griffin joined the practice. The practice grew, and with Dr. Randy Griffin in Optometry school, a second office was established in Laguna Niguel in 1980. By 1989, Dr. Patrick Griffin had joined the Griffin Optometric Group, giving it the unusual distinction of being only one of a few father and three son's practices in the United States.

Today, the Griffin Optometric Group enjoys being on the forefront of its profession. The doctors are certified to treat ocular surface diseases, have established an “in office” optical lab to provide better service to it's patients, have been involved in studies to develop both astigmatic and bifocal contact lenses, participated in FDA studies on new contact lens materials, and are actively involved in the consultation, preoperative, and post-operative care of patients choosing laser refractive surgery.

The doctors of the Griffin Optometric Group strive to continue the progressive, forward thinking, and the patient oriented practice their father, “Dr. Ted”, envisioned in April of 1957.