Dr. Lorena E Castaneda
THERAPEUTIC OPTOMETRIST - GLAUCOMA SPECIALIST - VSP PROVIDER
Dr. Lorena E. Castaneda, a native of El Salvador, moved to Texas at age 16. While in her native country, Dr. Castaneda attended the prestigious Maria Auxiliadora Catholic School for 8 years and undertook a rigorous academic program that earned her several national honors and awards. She was also a member of the Salvadorean National Swimming and Volley Ball teams. Dr. Castaneda participated in many national and international competitions earning several titles and setting several national and international records.
Dr. Castaneda moved to Texas where she continued her education at Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX. She completed an intense three year academic program and clinical rotations at Seton Gen. Hospital, Brackenridge Gen. Hospital, and St. David’s Gen. Hospital in the Respiratory Therapy and Pulmonary Services Departments. While at Southwest Texas State University she was awarded the Roy’s Honor Scholarship and the Good Neighbor’s Outstanding Academic Achievement award for three consecutive years. Dr. Castaneda graduated from Southwest Texas State University with high honors with a degree in Allied Health Sciences in Respiratory Therapy. She continued her studies at the University of Houston where she obtained her Bachelors of Science in Biology in 1993. She then entered the University of Houston College of Optometry and obtained her Doctorate in 1998. While in Optometry School, she received six Letters of Clinical Excellence from the Academic Affairs Committee as well as letters of commendation from Dr. Charles Garcia and Dr. Scott Sawyer for Outstanding Clinical Skills during clinical externship rotations. Throughout her career, Dr. Castaneda has been recognized with several awards including the America’s Top Optometry Award (three years), and the Who’s Who in America. She is currently serving as a part-time Adjunct Clinical Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry.
Dr. Castaneda has practiced over the last 8 years with both Ophthalmologic and Optometric practices. This has given her extensive experience in the fitting and prescribing of a wide variety of contact lenses and spectacle corrections. She enjoys the challenge of a hard contact lens fitting and always strives for the best possible correction that gives her patients the best possible vision. Her practice philosophy is patient oriented as she takes time to listen to her patients, answer their questions, and explain their conditions. She enjoys working with children of all ages, adults, and seniors. Dr. Castaneda is very excited to join the HEA team and will be seeing patients at their Memorial City office.
Dr. Castaneda spends her spare time as a volunteer optometrist in the Kids for Vision program. She also enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, walking, reading, and exploring archeological sites in Latin America.
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For more information, please visit www.houstoneye.com
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About Houston Eye Associates
Houston Eye Associates was founded over 30 years ago. Many of the physicians who were founding members of Houston Eye Associates also taught medical residents at the University of Texas Medical School. Founding members included Charles Russo, M.D., Malcolm Mazow, M.D., Robert Stewart, M.D., Robert Wilkins, M.D., and Jeffrey Lanier, M.D.
Their vision was to establish a comprehensive ophthalmology clinic that encompassed not only premium eye examinations, glasses, and contact lens care, but also incorporated all the possible sub-specialty areas of ophthalmology. At this time in the late 1960's, this idea was not commonly used as the model for physician clinics.
Medicine, as it was practiced then, was not as sophisticated in its diagnostic capabilities as it is today. Many of today's standard diagnostic testing tools did not exist. Because of that lack of sophisticated technology, the emphasis was on patient interaction, with a lot of time spent asking the patient very specific questions in an attempt to pinpoint specific problems.
At the time, the typical ophthalmology clinic had 1-3 physicians examining patients, prescribing medications and treatment, performing surgery, and prescribing and dispensing glasses and contact lenses. Ophthalmologists recommended yearly complete examinations to detect and treat problems, especially in people over the age of 50. As the complexity of diagnosing and treating difficult problems increased, it became apparent that a more sensible approach was to incorporate all the possible areas of vision care under one practice umbrella, hence the formation of the Houston Eye Associates. This new super group had specialists in all areas of ophthalmological care, with treatment available in all specialties for all ages and conditions of patients.
Steady growth has resulted in the current number of 29 physicians in the group. While most of the physicians at Houston Eye Associates perform routine eye examinations, all are specialty or fellowship trained in one or more areas. These areas of specialization include cornea, retina, glaucoma, pediatrics, oculoplastics and refractive/LASIK.
The continued growth of Houston Eye Associates is a result of the demands from patients around the city for more convenient locations in their own neighborhoods. While the Medical Center office of HEA remains the hub, satellites have opened on Augusta, Holcombe, Memorial City, Spring Branch, Tomball, 1960/I-45, Southwest Freeway, North Loop, Sugar Land, and Richmond.
The large group of ophthalmologists at Houston Eye Associates pioneered research and community programs through various foundations, including their own. The Houston Eye Associates Foundation is a local provider of eye care services for the needy, and also provides financial assistance with surgery, glasses and eye exams.
One of its main fund-raising events is the Marvin Zindler Annual Golf Invitational, held at Walden Country Club on Lake Conroe. Another yearly fund-raising event is the Houston Eye Associates Foundation Fun Run. Over the last 15 years this event and many others hosted by the physicians and the staff of Houston Eye Associates have raised several hundred thousand dollars for vision care.
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For more information, please visit www.houstoneye.com
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