Our Optometrists

Our Corpus Christi Optometrists

Our Corpus Christi optometrists, Drs. McIntyre, Garza, Avila, & Jurica, make every effort to ensure that our patients not only receive comprehensive eye care services, but that they do so in an environment where they feel completely comfortable. The optometrists at our practice have provided years of quality service to the Corpus Christi community – find out more about us below.

Dr. John McIntyre

Dr. John McIntyre

Dr. John McIntyre has practiced in Corpus Christi since 1984 and opened this practice in 1986. He received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Houston in 1980 and attended the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts where he received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1984. He has served on numerous Boards including the Texas Optometric Association. Dr. McIntyre enjoys volunteering for One Sight Vision Missions, and has served those missions in Texas, Zambia, and Nicaragua. He is always quite happy to spend time with his 4 children.
Email Dr. McIntyre
Dr. Edward Garza

Dr. Edward Garza

Dr. Edward Garza, a Corpus Christi native, received his Optometrist degree from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1991. He completed clinical externships in eye diseases and contact lenses. He received his B.S. degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Corpus Christi State University. Dr. Garza was an Army Optometrist at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. As an eye doctor, he joined the practice in 1994. He is Board Certified in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease and has attended numerous postgraduate courses in laser vision correction in the U.S. and Canada. He has also completed board exams to treat glaucoma and to prescribe oral medication. Dr. Garza has been president of the Corpus Christi Optometric Society, has served as a board member for the Texas Optometric Association and is a member of the American Optometric Association. He is married and has two children.

Email Dr. Garza
Dr. Catalina Avila

Dr. Catalina Avila

Dr. Catalina Avila was born in Monterrey, Mexico and raised in South Texas. As a Texas Achievement Award Scholar, she attended the University of Texas at Austin from 1989 to 1992. In 1992 she was accepted to the University of Houston College of Optometry where she went on to earn her Bachelors of Science degree in Optometry in 1994 and her Doctor of Optometry degree in 1996. As a student, she was a member of Golden Key Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies. Dr. Avila is a member of the Texas Optometric Association, American Optometric Association and the Corpus Christi Optometric Society. She completed clinical externships at the Good Neighbor, San Jose, and Richmond clinics in Houston and San Antonio Eye Institute. As an eye doctor, Dr. Avila is board certified in the treatment and management of ocular disease and glaucoma and has attended numerous post graduate courses in laser vision correction. She is married and has three children.

Email Dr. Avila
Dr. Adam Jurica

Dr. Adam Jurica

Dr. Adam Jurica, a native of George West, Texas, was born in Corpus Christi in 1978. He received a Bachelors of Science degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A & M University, College Station in 2001. From then he was accepted to the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee and received his Doctor of Optometry in 2006. Dr. Jurica completed clinical externships in pediatrics, vision therapy, and contact lenses in Plano, Texas and the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. He now specializes in Glaucoma Management. Dr. Jurica is now a member of the Texas Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association and the Corpus Christi Optometric Society. He is married and has 3 boys.
Email Dr. Jurica
Dr. David Browning

Dr. David Browning

Dr. David Browning grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He served a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic where he became fluent in Spanish. He later attended Optometry school at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Upon graduation, Dr. Browning served in the Navy and was stationed at Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi. He joined the practice in 2011. Dr. Browning is currently a member of the Texas Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, and the Corpus Christi Optometric Society. He is board-certified for the treatment and management of ocular disease. His passion is helping patients restore their vision through the utilization of specialty contacts including Scleral lenses. Dr. Browning is married with four children. He enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, going to the beach, and playing golf.
Email Dr. Browning
Dr. Amy Luu Mai

Dr. Amy Luu Mai

Dr. Amy Luu Mai, a native of Corpus Christi, enjoys providing eye care for her hometown, a place she holds dear to her heart. Dr. Mai graduated with a B.S. from St. Mary’s University (2009), M.S. Biomedical Sciences from Colorado State University (2010), graduated with honors from the Illinois College of Optometry (2015). She joined our practice in 2015. Since her youth, service work was instilled in her as well as morals and spirituality. Dr. Mai served as an AmeriCorps member in Southern Oregon in 2010. She also volunteered with Fellow Christians of Optometrists to help provide over 700 eye exams in Chiquimula, Guatemala. She is a member of the Scleral Lens Society, American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control, and Dry Eye Support Community. Dr. Mai is fluent in Vietnamese and dreams of being able to return back to Vietnam and provide medical care in rural areas. She also enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, playing piano at St. Pius, and spending time with her husband.
Email Dr. Mai
Dr. Richard Lazarte

Dr. Richard Lazarte

Dr. Richard Lazarte, a native of Corpus Christi, was Valedictorian of Foy H. Moody High School in 1972. He attended the University of Houston and during the second year of his bachelor’s program, was accepted into the University Of Houston College Of Optometry. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Optometry in 1976 and his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1977 from the University Of Houston College Of Optometry. Dr. Lazarte has been associated for more than 5 years in medical surgical Ophthalmological practices and is experienced in the treatment of glaucoma, diabetic eye evaluations and the management and treatment of ocular diseases. After being in private practice for over 30 years, Dr. Lazarte joined Drs. McIntyre, Garza, Avila, & Jurica in 2008. Dr. Lazarte is board certified in the treatment and management of ocular diseases and glaucoma. Dr. Lazarte is a former president of the Corpus Christi Optometric Society. He is a graduate of Leadership Corpus Christi Class XII, and has served on various boards and associations such as the Women’s Shelter, Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers, Optimists and Lions Clubs. Dr. Lazarte is a deacon in his Church and has participated in missionary work both abroad and locally. Dr. Lazarte is married and has four children.

Email Dr. Lazarte
Dr. Blankenship

Dr. Brooke Blankenship

Dr. Brooke Blankenship was raised in small town Pratt, Kansas. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Wichita State University. She then attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee where she earned her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2019. As a student, she was a member of several clubs including Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity where she provided free eye care to the underserved areas of Cartagena, Colombia. Dr. Blankenship completed her clinical externships in Nashville, TN and the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi; where she trained in ocular disease, pediatrics, vision therapy, and contact lens. She is licensed to treat ocular disease including glaucoma and is certified to fit specialty contact lenses that help manage nearsightedness. She is a member of the American Optometrist Association and the Texas Optometric Association. Dr. Blankenship also enjoys camping, gardening, and spending time with her husband.
Email Dr. Blankenship
Dr. Veronica Garcia

Dr. Veronica Garcia

Dr. Veronica Garcia received her Bachelor of Science degree in Vision Science from the University of the Incarnate Word. She then attended UIW Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio, Texas where she earned her Doctor of Optometry degree. Dr. Garcia completed her clinical rotations in Shreveport, Louisiana and Jacksonville, Florida where she trained in pediatrics, glaucoma, ocular disease, contact lenses, and minor laser procedures. Dr. Garcia is a member of the Corpus Christi Optometric Society, the Texas Optometric Association, and the American Optometric Association. Dr. Garcia is the newest addition to our practice and enjoys working with patients of all ages. She believes every patient is different with their own unique needs. Her goal is to design an individual treatment plan to help each and every one of her patients to achieve the best vision possible. Dr. Garcia is proud to serve the Corpus Christi community where she was raised and calls home.
Email Dr. Garcia