About Our College | Faculty Directory

Dr. Garza graduated from The University of Texas at Austin prior to obtaining her optometric training at the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2013. Dr. Garza then went on to complete a residency in Community Based Family Practice with an emphasis on ocular disease. After working in private practice several years, Dr. Garza joined the UHCO faculty in 2017 as Clinical Assistant Professor where she currently serves as Clinical Director of the UH Eye Center- Heights clinic. She remains an active member of Harris County Optometric Association, Texas Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, and American Academy of Optometry among other organizations. In addition to working with students and patients in clinic, she also lectures in courses and teaches in a laboratory setting.

Dr. Gaume Giannoni received her O.D. degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry (UHCO) in 2001 and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Cornea and Contact Lens Research with the Texas Eye Research and Technology Center the following year. Dr. Gaume Giannoni is a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and is certified in Texas as an Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. She is on the Editorial Board for Advanced Ocular Care and is a journal reviewer for Optometry and Optometry and Vision Science. Dr. Gaume Giannoni writes a recurrent dry eye column in Contact Lens Spectrum and is also a contributing editor for Ocular Surface News.

Currently, Dr. Gaume Giannoni is a Clinical Professor at UHCO, where she lectures in the clinic, didactic and laboratory curriculums. She serves as the Course Master for two clinic procedures labs and is the Co-Course Master for the entire second year optometry class. Dr. Gaume Giannoni is also the Founding Director of the Dry Eye Center at the University Eye Institute where she sees specialty dry eye patients.

Dr. Gonzales completed his OD degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2006. He then went onto to complete an ocular disease residency at the now Cedar Springs Eye Clinic (formerly Bridge Builders) in Dallas, TX. He currently serves as the clinic director of the inner-city charity clinic caring for the diseased indigent population. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry and was named the 2009 Educator of the Year by the Texas Optometric Association as well as received a President’s Award in 2011. His interests are in ocular disease, specifically glaucoma and retinal disease.

Dr. Anita Ticak received her combined O.D./M.S. degrees from Ohio State College of Optometry (OSU) in 2008 and completed a Residency in Cornea and Contact Lens at the University of Houston College of Optometry the following year. Currently, she is a Clinical Assistant Professor devoting her time between didactic clinical teaching in the Cornea Contact Lens Service and research in the BLINK STUDY focusing on myopia control for children and VOI Lab creating custom wavefront-guided scleral for the keratoconic population. Dr. Ticak is devoted to serving the community outside UHCO and works in a private practice on the weekends. She is the Co-Founder of the Dry Eye Center at the University Eye Institute and an active attending. She is certified in Texas as an Optometric therapeutic and Glaucoma Specialist and is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Ticak is an appointed member of the faculty liaison committee to the American Optometric Association. Her primary interests include specialty contact lens fitting and the treatment of anterior segment disease with an emphasis on Ocular Surface and Dry Eye Disease.