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.