Our Optometrists

Dr. Naheed Kassam not only finds personal satisfaction by diagnosing and treating his patient's visual problems but also enjoys interacting and learning more about his patients lives.

Dr. Kassam grew up in the serene majestic rocky mountain beauty of Alberta, Canada where he finished his undergraduate work at the University of Alberta and moved to Philadelphia to complete his Doctor of Optometry Degree at the Pennsylvania College Of Optometry. While doing an Internship in Wilmington, NC, Doctor Kassam was captivated by the natural beauty that North Carolina had to offer and could not resist moving within it's borders once he realized how accommodating, kind and friendly North Carolinians are to each other and to their neighbors.

When he is not seeing patients at The Eye Center, you will find Dr. Kassam enjoying the outdoors and participating in sports activities. He enjoys running, vollyeball, basketball and is a Carolina Hurricaine HOCKEY FAN. But Dr. Kassam has to say that his main obsession in life is his son Arman , who keeps him on his toes at all times!

Dr. Mojgan Besharat recieved her Doctor of Optometry degree in Philidelphia, PA with clinical honors. She has been practicing primary care optometry and fitting specialty contact lenses in North Carolina for nine years. Dr. Besharat is a compassionate and caring doctor who believes in taking the time to explain the examination process as well as her findings.

Dr. Besharat takes great pride in her work. She believes in educating the patient regarding their eye health, allowing the individual to make the proper decision in caring for their eyes. She is an avid believer of preventative care. Dr. Besharat derives great joy in caring for those individuals who are at the greatest need for healthcare. She has been involved in the past five years with The Gift of Sight program, providing free eye care to those individuals with little or no income. Her most memorable experience has been providing care for the underprivelaged in Mexico.

Dr. Shirin Esmail is originally from Calgary, Alberta where she completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Science. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts in 2003, graduating with honors. After completing her residency in hospital based optometry/ocular disease at the Baltimore VA Medical Center, Dr. Esmail and her husband, who is also an optometrist, moved to North Carolina.

Dr. Esmail joined The Eye Center in September 2007 and primarily works in the Burlington, NC location providing comprehensive eye care, including glasses, contact lens fittings, urgent care, and treatment and management of ocular disease. She genuinely cares for the health of her patients and takes time to listen to her patients so she can best address their individual concerns. Dr. Esmail believes in building a working partnership with her patients, through patient education and communication, resulting in healthy eyesight and good life long vision.

Dr. Esmail is an active member of the North Carolina State Optometric Society and the American Optometric Association

Dr. Geeta Chowdhary was born and raised in beautiful Kenya. In 1997, she completed a Bachelors degree in Optometry at Aston University in Birmingham, England where she practiced before moving to the United States with her husband. She further completed her Doctor of Optometry Degree in 2003 graduating with Honors, from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2004, Dr. Chowdhary then went on to pursue a Residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease Management at the Veteran Affairs Brockton/Worcester Divisions in MA. She was attracted by the warmth and natural beauty of North Carolina and moved to the area in late 2005 where she resides with her husband and son.

Dr. Chowdhary joined The Eye Center in September 2009. She performs comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings, ocular disease management and caring for acute and urgent ocular conditions. She is dedicated to caring for her patients, addressing their concerns and questions, and ensuring that she explains and communicates her findings to her patients. Her professional goal is to establish a positive relationship with her patients so that together they can work towards maintaining and preserving optimum eye health and vision.

Dr. Chowdhary has been an active member of the North Carolina State Optometric and Eastern District Societies and the American Optometric Association.

Dr. Glenn Middleton graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. Coming to The Eye Center, Dr. Middleton brings more than 19 years of experience in optometric practice.  This first seven years of practice were spent in a highly reputable ophthalmological practice in Southern Georgia, emphasizing pre- and post-surgical care of various eye surgeries like cataracts, refractive surgery, eye muscle surgery and glaucoma.  

In 1997, Dr. Middleton moved to the beautiful state of North Carolina, where he has been part of several group practices around the state.  He has enjoyed caring for his patients, many of whom have diabetes, high blood pressure, cataracts and glaucoma including a host of other medical and visual conditions. 

It is Dr. Middleton's goal to provide a thorough, memorable, and comprehensive eye examination that leaves many a patient at the end of the exam exclaiming " Wow! I have never had an eye exam like that before!"

During his leisure time, you will find Dr. Middleton spending quality time with Cathy, his wife of 23 Years, and three boys and one girl in the great outdoors. He enjoys hiking, cycling, snow skiing, water skiing just to name a few activities.  Dr. Middleton is an avid outdoorsman who has visited over 100 U.S. national parks and counting!

Dr. Angie Lavender is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving a BS in biology in 1995.   She went on to receive a Doctorate of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of  Optometry in Philadelphia, PA in 1999.

After returning to North Carolina, she practiced primary eye care for several years in the  Raleigh, Cary, and Fayetteville areas.  In 2008, Dr. Lavender proudly joined The Eye Center at Southpoint in Durham, NC.

While not seeing patients, Dr. Lavender spends her time as  a busy mother of three toddlers in Holly Springs NC.

Originally from Pine City, New York, Dr. Amy Krempecki graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. She completed her Doctorate in Optometry at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed her post-graduate residency at Child and Family Optometry in Wichita, Kansas, specializing in pediatrics and vision therapy.

Dr. Krempecki believes that all children should be given an eye examination at an early age to prevent, diagnose, and treat any further complications that may arise from uncorrected refractive error, childhood pathology, or binocular vision disorders. Through proper eye care, she will have the opportunity to impact the social, academic, and emotional welfare of the children she examines. She enjoys pediatrics because her work along with others will have long reaching effects into their success as adults.

She recently married her best friend, John Krempecki, who is also an optometrist in Fayetteville, NC. Her hobbies include traveling, baking, and dancing. In her free time she enjoys scrapbooking, watching Golden Girls and spending time with her family.

Dr. Thomas Walent has recently graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2011. Prior to entering Optometry school, he attended King’s College in his hometown of Wilkes-Barre, PA, receiving a dual Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Neuroscience. Dr. Walent spent the following two years conducting scientific research at the National Institutes of Health in Baltimore, MD, with the emphasis of his research studying the neurological pathways involved in ALS and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Walent has performed optometric internships in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Greenville, NC, Philadelphia, PA, and Wilmington, NC. He completed his Optometric Residency at the Veteran’s Health Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA, specializing in the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease. He joined The Eye Center in Wilmington, NC in August 2012. Dr. Walent’s passion is practicing medical optometry. He takes great pride in establishing a personal and friendly relationship with his patients while providing the highest level of eye care.

Outside of the office, Dr. Walent enjoys weight training, golfing, and enjoying the coastal Carolina lifestyle by spending time relaxing at the beach.