Eye Doctors

(From left to right: Dr. Richard Baker, Dr. Alexandra Lovoy, Dr. Nikitha Reddy, Dr. Stephen Slade & Dr. Shama Essa)

The Top Eye Doctors in Houston, TX

LASIK and other forms of laser eye surgery and refractive surgery require skill and experience. Our eye doctors have experience with many refractive surgery techniques and offer them here in Houston, Texas. This helps you because you are not squeezed into a “one size fits all” operation. Our doctors were the first in North America to perform LASIK.

We were also the first in North America to implant the accommodating IOL, the Crystalens which helps treat presbyopia or difficulty with reading vision. We also have the nation’s longest experience with all-laser LASIK where no blades are used. Our eye doctors have performed tens of thousands of refractive surgery procedures on patients from Houston, Texas, and around the world.

Stephen G. Slade MD, FACS, and Richard N. Baker, OD founded Slade & Baker Vision and practiced together since 1983. In 1995 they founded the Laser Center of Houston as a referral clinic for patient care, physician education, and as an investigational site to advance the art of refractive surgery. Since then, Shama Essa, OD, Alexandra Lovoy, OD, and Nikitha Reddy, MD have also joined the practice.

They head a multilingual team of technicians, many of whom have had refractive surgery themselves at the center. Drs. Slade and Baker have directed the training of most of the surgeons now doing LASIK in the United States. Many of these same surgeons have chosen Dr. Slade for their own surgery. Indeed, Dr. Slade is the “Doctor’s Doctor”, over 400 eye surgeons have chosen us for their own refractive surgery.

We now have the best options that we have ever had to address each patient’s particular refractive error. We offer intraocular lenses and “permanent contact lenses” which may be the best option for some patients.

We continue to lead the way in new procedures with the laser microkeratome, the first modern inlay procedure in North America, and the first accommodating intraocular lens for presbyopia to avoid reading glasses, as well as the SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) procedure.

We are also always working on solutions to help our patients reduce their dependence on reading glasses.

We continually try to maximize our outcomes and minimize the chance of complications. We plan to always offer the latest technology and most advanced surgery to help you achieve your best possible vision.

We believe the more you know about refractive surgery, the better your experience will be. We want to help you make your decision as informed as possible and in your own time. We hope this information will help. Please feel free to ask us any questions and continue to educate yourself about this technology.

Please remember that refractive surgery is elective surgery. The final choice of whether to have surgery must be your own. Modern refractive surgery can provide very good results with a minimum of complications, but there will always be some risk.



Call 713-626-5544 to schedule a consultation today!

Common Eye Doctor FAQ’s

How to make an eye doctor appointment?

Making an appointment at Slade & Baker is as simple as contacting us and requesting an appointment. We are always welcoming new patients, and look forward to providing you with the best available care.

How to find a good eye doctor

It’s important to know if you need to see an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist for your eye condition.

People who need glasses or contacts aren’t the only ones who visit an eye doctor. The only way to make sure your eyes are healthy is to get a comprehensive eye exam. Many common eye diseases have no early warning signs. 

Start by getting a comprehensive eye exam.

An Optometrist is usually the first line of contact for patients seeking initial consults and eye exams. From there, the eye clinic will work with you to match with the appropriate specialist for your individual needs.

How to know if an eye doctor is in network

Simply call Slade & Baker, and we can help you find out if we are in your insurance network.

How to see an eye doctor without insurance

We accept patients that do not have vision insurance. While insurance can help cover the cost of eye related medical expenses, not all vision insurances cover certain procedures, and not all vision correction procedures are as expensive as you may think.

If needed, we also offer monthly payment financing options.

How to know if you need to see an eye doctor

During a routine visit, your primary care physician may check your eyes quickly. In the long run, though, that won’t be enough to keep your eyes healthy and properly diagnose any issues. You should see an eye doctor if:

  • You think you may have a vision problem or eye disease
  • You have blurry vision or swollen, red, or painful eyes
  • Your vision is blurry, even when you wear your glasses or contacts
  • Your primary care provider says you need a dilated eye exam

Questions? Contact Us Now!

Contact our Office

713-626-7744
3900 Essex Lane – Suite 101
Houston, TX 77027

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3900 Essex Lane - Suite 101 - Houston, TX 77027  -  713-626-5544