Our Doctors

Brett J. Teague, M.D.

Dr. Teague is a native of Manhattan, Kansas, where his father was a professor at Kansas State University. After graduation from Manhattan High School in 1982, Dr. Teague went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University, Doctor of Medicine degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Ophthalmology Residency training at the University of Missouri- Kansas City and Glaucoma Fellowship training at the University of Oklahoma. During his years of medical training, Dr. Teague was the recipient of many awards including induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society (limited to those in the top of their medical school class).

Dr. Teague is board certified in ophthalmology. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is an active member of the Texas Medical Association, the Big Country County Medical Society, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has been Chief of Ophthalmology at Hendrick Medical Center. He serves as Clinical Associate Professor for the Department of Ophthalmology at Texas Tech University School of Medicicine. Dr. Teague has taught and presented lectures at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Teague is a Clinical Preceptor with the Physician Assistant program at Hardin-Simmons University. Additionally, he is involved with the Body and Soul program at Abilene Christian University which allows pre-medical students to shadow local Abilene physicians.

Dr. Teague is married to the former Jill Getson Teague and the proud father of four daughters and two sons. He also has nine grandchildren. He is a deacon in his church. His hobbies include mountain climbing, swimming, bicycling, photography and computers. Dr. Teague has competed in numerous century bicycle races (100 miles in distance), triathlons (including two Ironman races) and mountain climbing. Dr. Teague has summited many of the most difficult state high points. Additionally, Dr. Teague has summited Africa's highest peak (Mount Kilimanjaro) and Europe's highest mountain (Mt. Elbrus).

He is also very involved in ophthalmology mission work. He has traveled to the nation of Ghana in West Africa on multiple occasions with Christian Eye Ministry to perform cataract, glaucoma and cornea transplant surgeries. In 2007 he accompanied a group from Abilene Christian University to Guatemala where he performed eye surgery. Dr. Teague is now very involved with the Zambia Medical Mission (based in Abilene) and has traveled to Zambia on three different occasions to perform eye surgery. To date Dr. Teague has performed around 700 sight-restoring and sight-saving surgeries in the third world.

H.M. Richert, M.D.

Dr. Richert is a graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Summe Cum Laude, with a B.S. in biology and a minor in chemistry. He had a 4.0 GPA (4.0 system) in his major and minor fields and an overall GPA of 3.91. He received his M.D. degree from the University of Oklahoma and did a rotating internship at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. His residency training in ophthalmology was done at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. Richert has practiced ophthalmology in Abilene since 1978 and was the first ophthalmologist to perform laser eye procedures in Abilene.

In addition, Dr. Richert was the first Abilene ophthalmologist certified to do radial keratotomy (1981) and the first to be certified by both Visx and Summit to perform photorefractive keratotomy (PRK) using their FDA approved excimer lasers for myopia, myopic astigmatism, and hyperopia and the first Abilene ophthalmologist to do myopic astigmatic excimer laser correction. He is also trained to perform the LASIK procedure for myopia, myopic astigmatism, and hyperopia as well as hyperopic PRK.

Since 1979, Dr. Richert has served as the Medical Director of the District 2E-1 Lions Eye Bank, Inc. And since 1984 has served as a clinical instructor for ophthalmology at the Dean McGee Eye Center at the University of Oklahoma Department of Ophthalmology. He has also served as the chairman for the ophthalmology section at both Hendrick Medical Center and Abilene Regional Medical Center. He has served as the chairman for the Grievance Committee for the Taylor-Jones-Haskell-Callahan County Medical Society, and served as President of the TJHC County Medical Society. He currently serves as the TJHC County Medical Society representative to the Texas Medical Association. Dr. Richert is also a Director for the Texas Ophthalmological Association.

In addition to cataract surgery with intraocular lens implant, Dr. Richert's subspecialty interests include: refractive eye surgery, corneal and anterior segment surgery, and external eye disease. He also does strabismus (eye muscle) surgery. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthlamology, the American Board of Eye Surgery in Cataract and Intraocular Lens Implant Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has served as a reviewer for Krames Publishing Company to review patient education pamphlets and has taken part in research on Suprofen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drop) for Alcon Pharmaceutical Company.

Dr. Richert is a member of the Texas Medical Association, the Taylor-Jones-Haskell-Callahan County Medical Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Texas Ophthalmological Association, the American College of Eye Surgeons, the Castroviejo Corneal Society, the American College of Surgeons, the International Society of Refractive Surgery, and the R. Townley Paton Society of the Eye Bank Association of America.

He and his wife, Diana, have two children and five grandchildren. Leisure time activities include shooting sporting clays, tennis, snow skiing, backpacking, and camping. He works with the Boy Scouts of America and has held numerous troop, district, and council positions. He currently serves as the Representative to the National Council for the Texas Trails Council.

Some of his honors include: Outstanding Pre-Med Student at SWOSU, Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges, Outstanding Young Men in America, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, and Who's Who in Science and Medicine. In Boy Scouting, he has received the District Award of Merit, the Silver Beaver Award, and the Scoutmaster Award of Merit from the National Association of Eagle Scouts.

Hayden G. Smiley, M.D.

Dr. Smiley earned degrees in biology, chemistry, and business where he graduated with high honors from Abilene Christian University. He spent 3 years playing collegiate football for the Wildcats and met his wife, Michelle Lytle Smiley, during that time. He earned his 4 year medical degree at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston where he was heavily involved with Christian Medical and Dental Associations and published multiple ophthalmology related articles. He then went on to complete his internal medicine internship and ophthalmology residency at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Temple, TX. During his time in residency he served as chief resident, participated in medical missions, and helped author multiple clinical research articles. He is a member of the Christian Ophthalmology Society, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

He and Michelle are proud parents to three children and love doing anything together as a family, especially being outdoors and attending ACU athletic events. His other hobbies include fishing, basketball, gardening, and woodworking. He has a special interest in medical missions and recently was part of a trip to Ghana, Africa where he and the team he was with performed over 300 complex cataract surgeries. Dr. Smiley is passionate about glorifying God with the talents he has been given and is dedicated to serving Abilene and the surrounding communities of West Texas.

Dr. Smiley is well equipped to take care of a comprehensive breadth of clinical ophthalmic pathology. He also offers an extensive slate of in office procedures and outpatient surgeries including cataract, glaucoma, basic oculoplastic, and pterygium surgeries.

Kyle Thaxton, O.D.

Dr. Thaxton was born and raised right here in Abilene, Texas and is a third generation Abilenian. He has many family members here in Abilene, including his parents Kirk and Kristi Thaxton, his grandmother Laura Thaxton, his brother and sister-in-law Matthew and Akane Thaxton, his sister and brother-in-law Kaitlin and Brad Turner, as well as his Aunt and Uncle Eric and Janlyn Thaxton. Dr. Thaxton attended Wylie High School where he was a member of the Wylie Pure Gold Band and played trombone after his grandfather, Warren Thaxton.

After graduating from Wylie High School in 2007, he attended Abilene Christian University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2011. While there, Dr. Thaxton was part of a medical mission trip to Nicaragua where he and others helped local clinics provide basic medical services to those in need.

After graduating from ACU, Dr. Thaxton traveled to San Antonio, Texas to attend optometry school at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry where he received his optometric training and Doctor of Optometry degree in 2017. He then decided to move back to his hometown of Abilene, Texas to work with Dr. Teague.

In his spare time, Dr. Thaxton enjoys spending time at the lake with his family, playing disc golf and other sports with his friends, cooking, and running with his dog, Reggie.