Our Doctors

Undergraduate Education: University of Houston. Optometry School: Nova Southeastern College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I am new to the Charlottesville area, and I am honored to be your local, friendly primary eye care doctor. Originally from Texas, I strive to bring that southern hospitality to my patients. Not only do I enjoy solving your visual needs, but I also believe in building that critical patient and doctor relationship. Hobbies/Interests: Exploring Central Virginia with my dog – Leo, traveling with my husband, and cooking various ethnic dishes.

Undergraduate Education: University of Florida; Optometry School: Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: Member of the American Optometric Association, Florida Optometric Association, and American Board of Optometry; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Residency trained in Primary care and Ocular disease, American Board of Optometry - Board Certified; What drives your passion for optometry? There is so much you can learn about a person's health by examining their eyes. This has always fascinated me. How are you helping patients live their best lives? I love helping patients see their best and educating them on how to take care of their eyes and vision. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients. How are you impacting your local community? By helping them see their best. Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my family, traveling, being a foodie and watching the Florida Gators. Go Gators!

Undergraduate Education: Indiana University – Bloomington. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry – 2010. Professional Achievements and Associations: American Optometric Association, Indiana Optometric Association. The reason I became an optometrist is: Growing up, I was always at the eye doctor. Many times, I can relate to what my patients are going through because of my own vision history. By helping people see, I feel like I am making a difference in their lives. My favorite part of helping my patients is: I like developing lasting relationships with my patients. Some I have seen for a few years. I know their families, and they know mine as well. In my spare time, I enjoy: My husband and kids, fitness & nutrition.

Undergraduate Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By providing comprehensive eye exams for adults and children, diabetic eye exams and contact lens fitting. My goal is to provide thorough eye exams for my patients to maintain their ocular health and wellbeing. Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my 2 kids and husband, traveling and fitness

Undergraduate Education: University of Florida. Optometry School: Nova Southeastern University 2015. Professional Achievements and Associations: Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society; American Optometric Association; Florida Optometric Association. Clinical Certifications and Specialties: Residency at Bay Pines VA 2015-2016 Specializing in primary eye care with emphasis in Ocular Disease. The reason I became an optometrist is: I enjoy making a difference in the lives of others. It is incredible that with just a pair of glasses a child’s focus and academic success can be dramatically improved. It is amazing that with a comprehensive eye exam we can detect early signs of systemic conditions and can save the lives of many. The eyes are truly a window to the health and wellbeing of a person. To be a part of this profession is truly an honor. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Being able to help them see their world more clearly with a new pair of lenses and by providing a thorough eye exam to help preserve good health and wellbeing. In my spare time, I enjoy: Exercising, traveling, and exploring different restaurants around the area.

Undergraduate Education: Purdue University. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I provide exceptional eye care to every patient in my exam chair. I focus on listening, understanding, and addressing each patient’s concerns to maintain the utmost quality of personalized care. Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy exercising, reading, traveling, cooking, and spending time with my family and friends.

Dr. Patel is an experienced compassionate optometrist dedicated to providing comprehensive eye care for patients of all ages. With a clinical focus on dry eye treatments and retinal care, Dr. Patel is committed to helping patients maintain optimal eye health and enjoy clear vision. Dr. Patel attended Loyola University Chicago for undergraduate studies, followed by the prestigious Illinois College of Optometry thereafter. Outside of seeing patient, Dr. Patel enjoys fitness, movies and trying new restaurants.

Undergraduate Education: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry - Salus University. Professional Achievements/Associations: American Optometric Society, NC Optometric Society, Onesight. Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Specialties: Contact Lens, Dry Eyes, Glaucoma, Ocular Disease. What drives your passion for optometry? Unleashing one’s potential and enhancing their quality of life through the gift of sight. How are you helping patients live their best lives? Not only helping patients see their best but look and feel their best. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Making sure each and all patient’s concerns are addressed thoroughly so they take part in their eye care. How are you impacting your local community? I’m committed to community and global outreach. Through the Onesight organization, I have been on 6 mission trips to Vietnam, China, Zambia, India, Arizona Tohonto O’odham Indian reservation, and Charlotte, NC. Hobbies/Interests: In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and young daughter, friends and family. I also love traveling overseas, trying new restaurants and live concerts.

Undergraduate Education: George Mason University; Optometry School: Salus University; Professional Achievements/Associations: Lion's Club Treasurer, NOSA fundraising chair; What drives your passion for optometry? Helping patients see to the best of their ability. How are you helping patients live their best lives? By providing them with good quality eyecare. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients. How are you impacting your local community? Serving the community where I grew up. Hobbies/Interests: traveling, spending time with family, cooking, reading

Undergraduate Education: Texas A&M University. Optometry School: University College of Optometry. Certifications/Awards: Posse Foundation Alumni, Alcon Laboratories Excellence Award 2023, Young OD Connect Scholarship, Texas A&M Buck Weirus Spirit Award 2017. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By connecting with patients, I strive to provide the best possible care that I can. I am actively reading about the newest advancements, participating in research, and attending conferences so I can better serve my patients and community. Hobbies/Interests: Watching sports, especially Houston sports!

Undergraduate Education: University of Illinois at Chicago; Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: Graduated with Honors cum laude, Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society, Illinois Optometric Association, American Optometric Association; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Primary Care Optometry; What drives your passion for optometry? My desire to help others. How are you helping patients live their best lives? By thoroughly assessing overall eye health and delivering high quality eye exams. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Building a rapport with my patients and delivering outstanding patient care. How are you impacting your local community? Volunteering and donating to local charities. Hobbies/Interests Sports, Golf, Reading, Family/Friends

Optometry School: Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, Fort Lauderdale, FL in 2017. Professional Achievements and Associations: Member of the Beta Sigma Kappa honor society while in optometry school. Fluent in Spanish, Gujarati, and Hindi. The reason I became an optometrist is: I have always had an interest in the healthcare field, I find medical science fascinating. I gained interest in optometry after going through my own journey of vision problems. I realized that for me, Vision is the most important sense. I wanted a career that was rewarding but also offered a flexible schedule. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Helping others with their vision gives me a sense of accomplishment. What can be better than sharing the gift of sight so they can make vivid memories to cherish forever? In my spare time, I enjoy: Hiking, traveling, cooking, and spending time with my husband.

Undergraduate Education: University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Optometry School: UAB School of Optometry in Birmingham, AL. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I am passionate about being able to help my patients see their best to enhance their quality of life as well as being able to help monitor or detect systemic health conditions by examining their eye health. Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my husband and two kids, music, and dancing.

Undergraduate Education: University of the Sciences; Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Comprehensive eye exams & Contact lenses (soft, Rigid gas permeable, multifocal & specialty); What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients.

Dr. Ruby Patel received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from University of Houston and a Doctorate of Optometry degree from Illinois College of Optometry. Dr. Patel completed her clinical rotations with a focus on primary eye care and ocular disease at Palo Alto VAMC in Palo Alto, CA and at Franklin D Roosevelt VAMC in Montrose, NY. Dr. Patel specializes in family eye care including pediatrics, diabetic eye exams, fitting contact lenses for adults and children, dry eye management, binocular vision problems, as well as diagnosing and treating various eye conditions and diseases. Dr. Patel is a licensed Therapeutic Optometrist and an Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. Dr. Patel has been practicing in Katy, TX for over a decade and it is now her hometown. She enjoys volunteering, traveling, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Undergraduate Education: University of Maryland Baltimore County; B.S. Biology. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry-2001. Professional Achievements and Associations: Fellow, American Academy of Optometry; Cornea and Contact Lens Residency - New England College of Optometry; Speaker, Alcon Laboratories. The reason I became an optometrist is: I have known since a young age when I first got glasses the instant satisfaction of helping people improve their vision reminds me of how seeing clearly for the first time changed my view of the world. My favorite part of helping my patients is: My favorite part of helping my patients is the reaction an individual has when they receive their first pair of glasses, and they realize what they were missing around them. In my spare time, I enjoy: In my spare time, I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family.

Undergraduate Education: University of Illinois at Chicago. Optometry School: Chicago College of Optometry. Certifications/Awards: MiSight Certified. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By providing personalized comprehensive eye exams for adults and children of all ages, contact lens fitting, diabetic eye exams, and managing dry eye disease. Hobbies/Interests: Baking, watching football, hiking.

Dr. Shivani Patel is a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry. She’s grateful to able to provide comprehensive eye exams to people of all ages and backgrounds, including disabilities. An avid tennis fan, Dr. Patel also enjoys cooking and trying new restaurants in Chicago.