OUR Center OPTOMETRIC TEAM
The eye doctors and staff at Golden Eye Clinic have been providing Center with quality eye care for many years. Our friendly staff is dedicated to providing this care in an atmosphere of compassion and respect. Our goal is to remain at the forefront of eye care through continuing education utilizing the latest state-of-the-art equipment, technology, contact lens, and eyewear products.
Meet The Eye Doctors At Golden Eye Clinic
Our eye doctors take the time to explain the results of your eye exam, describe your options and listen to your eye care needs. Because maintaining good eye health is an ongoing partnership, we encourage you to ask questions and share your health information, which could be vital to monitoring, diagnosing, and treating potential vision problems.
Dr. Golden has been serving the East Texas area for more than 45 years. He was a high school graduate of Livingston ISD. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree and with a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Houston's College of Optometry in December 1977.
Trained in the latest ocular diagnostic and treatment techniques, Dr. Golden is a Therapeutic Optometrist and an Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. He also specializes in dry eye, low vision, cataract surgery management, and ocular diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
Dr. Golden has lectured extensively to professional organizations and is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry, where in 2009 he was also named Outstanding Alumni of the Year.
He also performs surgery at DeSoto Regional Eye Institute in Logansport, Louisiana. Procedures include laser for secondary cataracts, glaucoma, ocular plastics, and therapeutic Botox.
He has been married to his sweetheart Melody Golden since 1981 and raised their three children David, Eric, and Kasey here in East Texas. They also now have two grandsons, Gavin and Mason Golden. Dr. Golden established Golden Eye Clinic in 1978 and has grown it into a multi-doctor practice offering the latest technology and knowledgeable, compassionate eye care to serve the local community.
Dr. Mackey is a Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. Her specialties include contact lens fitting, pre- and post-operative LASIK, cataract surgery management and ocular diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. She also has a special interest in dry eye and ocular allergy management. Dr. Mackey enjoys working with children of all ages to help them see the world in a whole new way.
Dr. Mackey was born and raised in the East Texas area and was a high school graduate of Center ISD. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Southern Methodist University in 2003 and earned her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2008 from the University of Houston's College of Optometry. Dr. Mackey has received a Clinical Letter of Excellence recognizing her success in family practice and is also a Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society inductee.
She has been serving the East Texas area since earning her doctorate degree in 2008. Dr. Mackey is also an adjunct associate professor at the University of Houston's College of Optometry. She and her husband Ryan have been married since 2004 and have three children Falon, Ivy, and Bailey. They strive to live a Christian lifestyle and know that it's all for Him. Dr. Mackey is proud to be back in her hometown providing top quality eye care to all in need.
Dr. Heather Swearengen Ihlo is a Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. Her specialties include custom contact lens fittings, such as scleral lens and using latest contact lens technologies, pre- and post-operative LASIK, cataract surgery management and ocular diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. She also has a special interest in dry eye and ocular allergy management.
An East Texas native, Dr. Ihlo was valedictorian of Shelbyville High School Class of 2009. She was a member of the first honors program classes at The University of Texas at Tyler, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2013. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2018 earning her Doctor of Optometry degree. She has received multiple Clinical Letters of Excellence and is also a Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society inductee.
She also performs surgery at DeSoto Regional Eye Institute in Logansport, Louisiana. Procedures include laser for secondary cataracts, glaucoma, ocular plastics, and therapeutic Botox.
She is proud to return to her roots to help serve the people of East Texas. She and her husband Clay Ihlo have been married since 2017 and have two children, Liam and Avery.