Dr. Emily Pham, Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist

Meet Dr. Emily Pham

Dr. Emily Pham is a Therapeutic Optometrist and Optometric Glaucoma Specialist at Texas State Optical At Briargrove, bringing a warm, patient-first approach to eye care across the Houston area. She earned her Doctor of Optometry from the University of Houston in 2025, following a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the same university in 2020.

Before becoming a doctor, Dr. Pham spent six years working as an optometric technician from 2017 to 2023. That experience gave her a chance to learn the field from the ground up before returning to school for her doctorate, and it still influences the way she cares for patients today. She considers herself a people person and was drawn to optometry because she wanted to build genuine relationships with patients, not simply move through a checklist. Her goal in every exam room is simple: make sure each patient leaves feeling seen, heard, and confident about their eye health.

During her doctoral training, she completed clinical externships at a local OD/MD private practice and at the Albuquerque VA Hospital between 2024 and 2025, rotations that put her in front of a wide range of patients and conditions before she ever had her own patient panel.

Since joining Texas State Optical At Briargrove, she has focused much of her energy on growing the practice's dry eye treatment, myopia management, specialty contact lens, and Neurolens programs.

Specialized Care & Clinical Focus

• Dry Eye Diagnosis & Treatment: Tear film testing and meibomian gland evaluation to identify the actual cause of chronic dryness and irritation, paired with treatment plans that go beyond over-the-counter drops.
• Myopia Management for Kids & Teens: Orthokeratology, multifocal contact lenses, and low-dose atropine options built to slow the progression of nearsightedness in growing children instead of simply correcting it with a stronger prescription every year.
• Specialty & Custom Contact Lenses: Fittings for scleral, hybrid, and other custom lenses for patients with keratoconus, irregular corneas, or a history of contacts that never felt right.
• Neurolens Therapy: Testing for binocular vision misalignment and building a corrective Neurolens prescription for patients dealing with screen-related headaches, eye strain, and neck tension.

Education & Credentials

• Doctor of Optometry (O.D.), University of Houston, 2025
  • Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society, member 2022–2024
  • Letter of Clinical Excellence, Spring 2024
• Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Houston, 2020
• Clinical Externships: A local OD/MD private practice and the Albuquerque VA Hospital, 2024–2025
• Prior Clinical Experience: Optometric Technician, 2017–2023
• Professional Affiliations: Member, American Optometric Association (AOA) and Texas Optometric Association (TOA)

Why She Became an Optometrist

Dr. Pham didn't always plan on optometry. For a long stretch growing up, she assumed she'd become a dentist. That changed because of her own eyes. She developed an eye turn at age three, which is when she got her first pair of glasses, and she still describes that moment as one that changed her life.

Years later, while she was in college, she took a job at an optometry office and found herself pulled in by how the eye actually works, all the different parts of it working together to let a person see and function in the world. That fascination turned into a career.

For Dr. Pham, good patient care goes beyond helping someone see clearly. She wants every patient to leave an appointment feeling heard, confident about their vision, and genuinely informed about their eye health. Her goal is to make sure patients understand what's happening with their eyes instead of simply leaving with a prescription and moving on.

Life Outside the Exam Room

Outside the practice, Dr. Pham leans into her creative side through crocheting, painting, and other hands-on crafts. She's also an enthusiastic traveler who likes seeking out new food wherever she goes, whether that's a weekend trip around Houston or somewhere farther afield.

Book a Visit

Ready to see Dr. Pham? Schedule a visit at Texas State Optical At Briargrove:

Book an Appointment with Dr. Pham
Call: (713) 785-2022

Patient FAQs & Direct Advice