Our Optometrists
Meet Our Optometrists
Tia Budde, O.D.
Pasadena
Dr. Tia Budde, O.D. received her Bachelor’s degree from Newcombe College at Tulane University in Economics in 1984 and her Doctorate of Optometry from the University Of Houston College of Optometry in 1989. She became therapeutically certified, as well as qualified to treat glaucoma, in 1992. Her awards and honors throughout her educational career included: Dean’s List, Most Outstanding First Year Optometry Student, the Nelson Reber “Eyes Open” Scholarship awarded to optometry students with the highest GPA, and membership in Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Fraternity.
Dr. Budde has spent the last 22 years working in the Houston area focusing on primary care optometry. She has experience in specialty contact lens fittings, pediatric eye care, and the diagnosis and treatment of ocular pathology. She is capable of conducting an examination in Spanish. Dr. Budde joined Houston Eye Associates in 2010 and looks forward to seeing patients at our Pasadena location.
Chloe Fielding Butts, O.D.
Tanglewood
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 several 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 Tanglewood location.
Monica Gonzales-Deliganis, O.D.
North Peakwood, 1960, and Conroe
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 rigid gas- permeable contact lenses (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.
Deanna Pena Garcia, O.D.
Gramercy
Dr. 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.
Mark Klaff, O.D.
Bellaire and Sugar Land
Dr. 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.
Matthew Lahmeyer, O.D.
East
Dr. Matthew Lahmeyer, O.D. was born in Amarillo, TX, but calls Houston his home. He received his bachelor's degree in Biology from Oklahoma Christian University and his optometry degree at the University of Houston College of Optometry Dr. Lahmeyer 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.
Michelle Levin, O.D.
Pasadena
Born in Toronto, Canada and moved to Houston, Texas in 1978 where she graduated Cume Laude from Memorial High School. Dr. Michelle Levin received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her Doctorate of Optometry from the University Of Houston College Of Optometry in 1990. Dr. Levin has been awarded membership into Beta Phi Beta Honor Society, Golden Key National Honor Society, and Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society.
She worked as a primary care optometrist for 7 years in Houston before moving her practice to Pasadena in 1997. In addition to her primary practice, Dr. Levin has been a staff member at Baylor College of Medicine since 1999 providing indigent care at the Strawberry Clinic of the Harris County Hospital District in Pasadena.
Dr. Michelle Levin has extensive experience in contact lens fittings including difficult cases in soft and rigid gas permeable lenses for astigmatism, presbyopia (bifocals and monovision), keratoconic patients, post corneal grafts, and post radial keratotomy. Dr. Levin is a Therapeutic Optometrist certified in the treatment and management of ocular disease. She is capable of performing an eye exam in Spanish, enjoys working with children as well as adults, and is committed to providing the best care to every patient.
Gina E. Kim, O.D.
Spring Branch/ Memorial
Dr. Gina Kim, O.D. 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 spent her clinical externships at the University of Houston College of Optometry in specialty clinics, and worked alongside other doctors at the Hermann Eye Center and the 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 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 by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, and certified in the 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 enjoys working with children of all ages, adults, and seniors. She consistently strives for the best possible correction that gives her patients the best possible vision.
Michael Pickering, O.D.
Sugar Land and Memorial City
Dr. 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.
Julie J. Yi, O.D.
Katy and Spring Branch/Memorial
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 and Spring Branch/Memorial locations, where she values compassion, integrity, and quality vision care.
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.