Our Doctors
Xuan Le-Nguyen, MD
Board Certified Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Glaucoma Specialist
Dr. Le-Nguyen is experienced in advanced glaucoma care and offers the latest medical, laser, and surgical options for patients, including selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (such as the Istent, Xen, and GATT), traditional trabeculectomy, and glaucoma drainage implant surgery. She also manages complex cataracts and offers a variety of customizable cataract surgery options including toric lenses for astigmatism correction, multifocal lenses, and more!
Dr. Le-Nguyen completed her ophthalmology residency training at world-renowned New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Upon completion of her residency, she undertook a fellowship in the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma at Cizik Eye Center at the University of Texas, Houston.
Additionally, she attended top institutions for her undergraduate and medical degrees. She received her B.S. in Biology at Yale University and M.D. from Johns Hopkins Medical School.
Dr. Le-Nguyen is published in ophthalmology literature and has presented at multiple ophthalmology conferences.
Thanh-Vi Nguyen, OD
Optometrist
Dr. Thanh-Vi Nguyen (pronounced “Win”) has been serving the eye-care needs for residents of the Coachella Valley since 2010. In October of 2012, she opened her own private office in La Quinta, CA.
Dr. Nguyen’s commitment to quality and thorough eye care stems from her education at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry and her residency training at Baltimore Veterans Affairs Hospital.
Her special interests include fitting specialty contact lenses (lenses for keratoconus, irregular corneas, bifocal/multifocal gas permeable lenses), advance treatment for dry eye, and corneal refractive therapy for myopia control.
In her spare time, she enjoys riding her road bike with her husband and hiking the many beautiful trails of the Coachella Valley. You may run into her up the Palm Springs Tramway as she enjoys the breathtaking views and peaceful quietness of the wilderness.
Xu Shao Huang, OD, FAAO
Optometrist
Dr. Xu Shao Huang has been serving the eye-care needs of Coachella Valley residents since 2008.
- Graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, School of Optometry
- Optometry residency at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in association with Nova Southeastern University
- Resident of the Year
- Attending Optometrist at Miami Veterans Hospital
- Adjunct Clinical Faculty at Nova Southeastern University
- Adjunct Clinical Faculty at University of California at Berkeley
- Associate Optometrist at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Retinal Service
- Fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry, Active Member
- An esteemed group of Optometrists recognized for their academic achievements.
- Published author for Optometry and Vision Science
- Lecturer at the American Academy of Optometry
Michell Kim, OD
Optometrist
Dr. Michell Kim is excited to provide excellent eyecare to the residents of the Coachella Valley. Dr. Kim received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, and went on to receive her Doctorate in Optometry from Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University. She underwent her clinical training while providing care to the active duty military community at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, to our veterans at the Veteran’s Association of West LA, and to the Native American population at the Indian Health Hospital of Lawton, Oklahoma.
Dr. Kim is confident in her abilities to provide comprehensive eye care, and to manage many ocular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. She is certified to prescribe different modalities of myopia control including MiSight, the first US FDA approved myopia control lens to help slow your child’s progression of myopia (or nearsightedness).
On her spare time, you can find Dr. Kim visiting as many National Parks as possible, enjoying a good meal at the newest local eateries, or hiking the many trails that the Coachella Valley has to offer.
Rebecca L. Chait, MD
Board Certified Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Rebecca L. Chait, MD completed her undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN where she studied Molecular and Cellular Biology and Piano Performance, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She then earned her medical doctorate with honors at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Rebecca went on to complete an Internal medicine internship at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio followed by three years of Ophthalmology residency at The Ohio State University Havener Eye Institute, which she completed in 2018. Upon graduating, she was recognized with two awards for humanism in medicine. Dr. Chait practices medical and surgical comprehensive ophthalmology including the management of cataracts, diabetes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
Dr. Chait is committed to providing quality care to those in need, both at home and abroad. She has traveled to Africa four times on medical missions, including a ten week volunteer trip to Kenya where she diagnosed and treated a wide spectrum of ophthalmic diseases.
Dr. Chait is excited to relocate from Ohio to Palm Desert to work at Desert Eye Associates while her husband is busy starting his dental practice, Dental Artistry by Dr. Choi. Together with their young daughter, they enjoy spending their free time cooking and exploring their new city and natural world. Dr. Chait also enjoys playing the piano and writing.
Audrey Chen, OD
Optometrist
Dr. Audrey Chen grew up in the heart of Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated with Honors from the University of California, Berkeley earning a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Cell Biology. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Optometry from UC Berkeley School of Optometry. Dr. Chen furthered her education by
completing a residency in Primary Care at The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
Dr. Chen is a former faculty member of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and Southern California College of Optometry. She was awarded Staff Doctor of the Year from the class of 2016 at the Southern California College of Optometry. In addition, Dr. Chen is also a former adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Optometry of the New England College of Optometry and Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry.
Dr. Chen is passionate about providing quality patient care and firmly believes all patients should be treated as family. Her special interests include ocular disease and glaucoma care, and specialty custom contact lenses.
Dr. Chen is also a member of Doctors of the Americas, a non-profit organization that provides volunteer medical and vision services to indigent populations. She looks forward to her annual mission trips to El Salvador with this team of healthcare professionals. Each year, they deliver free eyeglasses and hundreds of medical and eye exams to the underprivileged in a free clinic setting.
In her off time, she enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, playing tennis and golf, and spending time with her husband and their two black Labrador Retrievers.
David V. Leaming, MD
(RETIRED May 2021)
Dr. Leaming is a board-certified ophthalmologist who has been proudly serving Coachella Valley and Yucca Valley for over 35 years. Dr. Leaming received his ophthalmology training at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. After training he found his way to the desert, serving as the president of The Vision Professionals for over 35 years. During this time, he has served at Desert Regional Hospital as well as the Hi-Desert Hospital as an ophthalmologist on staff. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He is excited to continue caring for patients at Desert Eye Associates.