 |
|---|
Our Doctors
Our eyes enable us to see and discern the extraordinary world around us. They are also fragile parts of a complex human body, susceptible to disease, trauma, infection, malnutrition, and the simple aging process
Many serious eye diseases do not have early symptoms. Even if you do not wear corrective lenses to aid in vision, a preventive eye exam at least once every two years can help ensure the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision. Below is a sample list of the many eye care services we provide:
- Eye Exams
- Prescription for glasses and all types of contact lenses
Our mission is to help our patients understand how and why their vision may be changing and how the condition may be corrected or slow its progression.
What is an Optometrist? What does an Optometrist do?
Optometrists, also called doctors of optometry (O.D.), are trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. They may also test a person's ability to focus and coordinate the eyes and see depth and colors accurately. Optometrists are licensed by the state to examine the eyes to determine the presence of vision problems and visual acuity. They also prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye exercises, low vision aids, and vision therapy.
Education
Optometrists must receive a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before beginning optometry training. As part of their degree they must have also completed certain prerequisites before they are eligible to apply to optometry school. Next, they must attend an accredited 4-year optometry school and, after receiving their doctorate (graduating), they must pass written and clinical state board examinations. Optometrists typically manage patients for two and a half years during their training prior to receiving their doctorate. Some optometrists go on to obtain a Master’s degree or Ph.D. in visual science, physiological optics, neurophysiology, or public health.
Meet Our Optometrists
Gramercy
Deanna Pena Garcia, O.D.
Graduated from Texas A&M University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She received her Doctorate from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1997. Her awards and honors throughout her educational career have included the Silhouette Award of Excellence, faculty clinical letters of excellence, the Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society (a leadership society), and the Texas A&M Liberal Arts College Distinguished Student Award. She was recognized and published for her clinical grand rounds presentation in the Review of Optometry.
Dr. Garcia has gained extensive experience in ocular disease and contact lens care while working in the Houston area. She is a skilled contact lens practitioner specializing in hard to fit lenses including contacts for astigmatism and presbyopia (multifocals). Dr. Garcia is excited to build a successful practice at our Gramercy location. She is dedicated to improving and maintaining good vision for you and your family.
Tanglewood
Chloe Fielding Butts, O.D.
Chloe’ Fielding Butts, O.D. grew up in Cushing, Oklahoma and graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. She received her Doctorate of Optometry degree from Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. Dr. Butts received many awards and honors throughout her educational career which include the Phieffer Award of Excellence, Northeastern State University Honor Society Award, Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society, and OSU Valedictorian Scholarship. She was also the recipient of the First Place Presenter at 5-State Symposium “Black Spot in Vision with History of CRVO”.
Dr. Butts spent four years at a Native American hospital followed by an externship at BVA Advanced Vision and TLC Laser Eye Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She held leadership roles for the organizations of Beta Sigma Kappa NSUOCO, Women in Optometry, and the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists. Her volunteer work is very important to her and the organizations to which she participates include Special Olympics Opening Eyes Program, Optic Cup, Red Cross Blood Drive, Relay for Life, and Make a Wish Foundation.
Dr. Butts is presently active in professional affiliations including the American Optometric Association, Texas Optometric Association, and American Academy of Optometry. She is dedicated to the full scope of optometry by providing the best patient care through the use of advanced technology and current clinical procedures and looks forward to seeing you at our Augusta location.
Monday through Friday 8 to 5.
Bellaire
Mark Klaff, O.D.
Grew up in Houston and attended Bellaire High School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston in 1980 and received his doctorate in optometry from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1982. After receiving his doctorate, Dr. Klaff joined the practice of his father and Uncle Drs. Murray and Daniel Klaff, where he practiced primary care and fitting contact lenses until 2004 when his father retired. After his father’s retirement, Dr. Klaff took over the practice until 2009 when he joined Houston Eye Associates.
Dr. Klaff joined Houston Eye Associates after 27 years in private practice in Bellaire and has extensive experience in primary care, contact lens fittings and therapeutic optometry.
Dr. Klaff is certified in the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease. He is also a member of several professional organizations including the American Optometric Association, the Texas Optometric Association and the Harris County Optometric Association where he previously served as president.
Katy
Julie J. Yi, O.D.
Dr. Julie Yi graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She received her Doctorate in Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry in 2005.
Throughout her professional career she has practiced the full scope of optometry which includes treating various eye diseases, caring for numerous contact lens patients, and co-managed LASIK and Cataract patients.
Dr. Yi learned about the diagnosis of eye diseases and developed practical skills in fitting contact lenses while doing her internships. Dr. Yi has participated in medical mission trips to Mexico and Thailand, and looks forward to joining future mission opportunities. Dr. Yi practices comprehensive eye care at our Katy Facility where she values compassion, integrity, and quality vision care.
When not working, Dr. Yi enjoys spending time doing outdoor activities such as running, hiking, and snowboarding. During her spare time she also dedicates herself to serving as a youth shepherd to high school students at her home church in Houston. Dr. Yi is proficient in Korean.
Monday through Friday 8 to 5
East
Matthew Lahmeyer, O.D.
Was born in Amarillo, TX, but calls Houston his home. He completed his undergraduate schooling at Oklahoma Christian University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Biology.
He then completed his optometry degree at the University of Houston College of Optometry where he became therapeutically certified as well as qualified to treat glaucoma. Additionally, he is competent in performing an eye exam in Spanish. During his studies at the University of Houston Dr. Lahmeyer was one of the first students to be invited to visit the Northeastern State University College of Optometry in Tahlequah, OK where he completed a three-month externship on the Cherokee Nation Indian Reservation. Currently his focus is primary care optometry, but he also has an interest in pursuing challenging contact lens fits and advancing his experiences in the treatment of glaucoma.
Sugar Land and Memorial City
Michael Pickering, O.D.
Graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1980. He then went on to receive his Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1985.
After running his own practice for 24 years, Dr. Pickering joined Houston Eye Associates so that he could apply his years of experience in a large organization that is committed to providing the very best in eye care to its patients.
Dr. Pickering is a long-standing member of both the Texas Optometry Association and the Harris County Optometry Association. Dr. Pickering offers services and expertise in the area of OSID (ocular surface inflammatory disease) or dry eye and
ocular health and nutrition. In addition, he has special experience in difficult glasses and contact lens prescriptions, hard-to-fit contacts, and pediatric optometry. At his previous location, Dr. Pickering rated 90% or above for eleven years in patient satisfaction.
When not at work, Dr. Pickering enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and relaxing with a book or a movie.
Northwest
Monica Gonzales-Deliganis, O.D.
Dr. Monica Gonzales-Deliganis was born in the Rio Grande Valley, but was raised in Laredo, Texas. After graduating from United High School, she attended Texas A&M University in College Station. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science in 1992. In 1993, she moved to Houston to attend the University Of Houston College Of Optometry. She received her doctorate of optometry in 1997.
She has spent the last thirteen years working in the Houston Northwest area, focusing on primary care optometry. Dr. Gonzales has extensive experience in contact lens fitting including hard to fit cases for Astigmatism (toric contact lens), Presbyopia (monovision and bifocal contact lens), and RGP’s. She is also fluent in Spanish.
Dr. Gonzales and her husband, Dan Deliganis, will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary this year. They have two boys. Danny is seven years old and is in the 1st grade. Tony is five years old and is in preschool. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and scrapbooking.
Spring Branch/Memorial
Gina E. Kim, O.D.
Therapeutic Optometrist
Dr. Kim was born in Shelby, North Carolina. She received her Bachelors in Science Degree from Baylor University. She then went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1996. Dr. Kim continued her spent her clinical externships at the University of Houston College of Optometry in specialty clinics, and worked along other doctors at the Hermann Eye Center and MacGregor Medical Association. During college she was a student member of the University of Houston College of Admissions Committee, Student Texas Optometric Association, Optometric Student Association, American Optometric Student Association, and the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Kim then went on to gain practice experience as a Therapeutic Optometrist for Today’s Vision Optical. She later joined the Surgical Eye Associates as a general optometrist for more than a decade.
Dr. Kim is a State of Texas Licensed Optometrist, and is certified on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, and Treatment and Management of Ocular Diseases. She is presently active in professional memberships such as the American Optometric Association and the Texas Optometric Association.
During her professional career, Dr. Kim has been involved in various community services from local vision screenings, to screenings in Panama, and serving in the Mexico Missions Eye Clinic, and her latest vision screening in Honduras.
Dr. Kim has extensive experience in the fitting and prescribing of a wide variety of contact lenses and spectacle corrections. She consistently strives for the best possible correction that gives her patients the best possible vision. She enjoys working with children of all ages, adults, and seniors. Dr. Kim is very excited to join the HEA team and will be seeing patients at our Spring Branch office.
Spring Branch/Memorial - North (Peakwood) -
North Loop (Memorial Hermann)
Deborah A. Evans O.D.
Dr. Deborah Evans earned her Doctorate of Optometry degree from the University of Houston in 1986. She also received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston. She is a board certified therapeutic optometrist, and was amongst the first group of optometrists in Houston to receive their glaucoma certification. She has lectured on contact lens fitting for astigmatism and has a published article on the fitting of cosmetic contact lenses. She is an extremely experienced contact lens fitter, and specializes in difficult-to-fit contact lens wearers.
Dr. Evans has served on an Optometric doctor advisory panel, and as a board member of the Harris County Optometric Society, a capacity in which she served for several years. She enjoys the medical aspects of optometry, especially managing and co-managing patients with diabetes, cataracts, and glaucoma. She keeps up to date on the latest technology and clinical practices by attending many continuing education courses each year.
Dr. Evans is an avid traveler, and has incorporated eye-care missions in her trips to Central America. She and her husband also enjoy adventure trips involving zip-lining, kayaking, hiking, fishing and photo-safaris.
She is also actively involved in benefit activities for autistic kids, a cause she is very passionate about.