Our Physicians

Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Co-Founder & President

Clinical Associate Professor, Dept of Ophthalmology, UTHSCSA

Dr. Cleland is the co-founder and President of Retina Associates of South Texas, which he established in 1996. Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, he brings an unusually broad scientific background to vitreoretinal surgery — holding both a master's degree in biomedical engineering and an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. A recognized authority in retinopathy of prematurity, Dr. Cleland has devoted a significant portion of his career to caring for premature infants and children at risk of vision loss, and remains one of South Texas's most trusted voices in pediatric retinal disease.

Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Dr. Rubio is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and has been part of the Retina Associates of South Texas team since 2002. He completed his vitreoretinal fellowship at the Charles Retina Institute in Memphis, training under Dr. Steve Charles — a surgeon widely regarded as one of the most technically innovative retinal specialists in the world. A native of El Salvador who relocated to New Orleans in 1980, Dr. Rubio has developed deep expertise in retinopathy of prematurity and pediatric retinal disease, dedicating a significant portion of his career to the care of premature infants and children facing vision-threatening conditions. He is deeply committed to serving San Antonio's underserved population, volunteering his time at Haven for Hope and the iCare clinic. He previously served as a clinical assistant professor at the LSU Eye Center and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Languages: English, Spanish

Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept of Ophthalmology, UTHSCSA

Dr. Liu is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous. He completed his fellowship at The Retina Institute of St. Louis — one of the highest-volume vitreoretinal surgery programs in the country — where he trained on an exceptional breadth of complex surgical cases, building an operative foundation that is premier among retinal surgeons nationally. He participates actively in clinical research, with authored publications and surgical technique videos to his credit. Dr. Liu is fluent in Mandarin, allowing him to serve the Mandarin-speaking community throughout South Texas.

Languages: English, Mandarin

Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept of Ophthalmology, UTHSCSA

Dr. Ansari is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He completed his vitreoretinal fellowship at The Retina Institute of St. Louis — one of the premier and highest-volume surgical training programs in the nation — where he gained unparalleled operative experience across the full spectrum of complex retinal disease. Combined with his residency at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute, Dr. Ansari's training is among the most rigorous and high-volume pathways available in the country, equipping him with an advanced surgical skill set few programs can match. He has contributed to clinical trials, authored peer-reviewed journal publications, and presented at national ophthalmology conferences.

Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology, UTHSC at San Antonio

Dr. Nguyen is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and brings both clinical depth and academic rigor to his practice. A graduate of the dual MD/MBA program at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University, he actively contributes to the UTHSC at San Antonio residency and fellowship training program and has published clinical research on diabetic retinopathy, ophthalmic systems quality, and medical devices.

Languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese