Northwest Eye Associates was founded in 1979 by Dr. James A. Smelley. Dr. Smelley is a Houston native who attended Rice University where he played football. He then moved on to the Ophthalmology program at UTHSC-Houston. Once he graduated, he opened the practice and built it from the ground up until he was joined by Dr. Dora E Cantu. Dr. Cantu is a native Texan who attended the University of Texas at Austin which catapulted her to attend the ophthalmology program at UTHSC-Houston. In 1994, Joseph Block M.D. sold his 30-year-old practice to Dr. Cantu. She kept both practices alive by working in both offices until she decided to combine the two in 2004. Dr. Smelley retired the same year that the offices combined and moved to our current location just behind the Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital.

After doing many renovations and decor at the unit in the Hospital Medical Plaza, Dr. Becky J. Fredrickson PhD joined Dr. Cantu. Dr. Fredrickson graduated from the Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine. She has stayed with Dr. Cantu ever since and is a vital part of the practice. Dr. Bao T. Hoang, graduate of the Optometry program at University of Houston, joined the two ophthalmologists shortly after Dr. Fredrickson arrived. Dr. Hoang sees his patients as well as aids in the patients that come see the ophthalmologists. Lastly, Dr. Steven J. Garza, graduate of the University of Houston Optometry program has been our newest addition to the practice--since early 2014.