Our Founder & Our Next Chapter
Hope Clinic was built on a simple belief: addressing life-altering vision problems can change the course of a person’s life.
We’re proud of our roots, grateful for the legacy of our founder, and committed to carrying that mission forward.
Meet our Founder,
Dr. Theodore Kadet
Dr. Theodore Kadet, OD, OVDRA founded Hope Clinic with a deep commitment to helping patients and families find answers when vision challenges were getting in the way of school, work, sports, or everyday life.
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Over the years, Dr. Kadet became known for his thoughtful approach, his dedication to clinical excellence, and his heart for people. He built Hope Clinic into a trusted resource for families seeking vision therapy and visual rehabilitation—supporting patients through personalized care and long-term relationships.
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Dr. Kadet’s Legacy
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A practice rooted in compassion, integrity, and clinical excellence
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A strong focus on function—helping patients apply visual skills in real life
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A team culture built around encouragement, training, and serving families well
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In Loving Memory
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Dr. Kadet passed away, and he is greatly missed. We honor his legacy with gratitude and continue the work he devoted his life to—helping people strengthen visual skills and experience greater confidence in everyday life.
He began his Optometry practice in Issaquah, WA . He became the charter Optometric Physician in the founding of Hope Clinic in 1983 and continues practice as the Director of Optometry and Neuro-Optometry.
Professionally, Dr. Kadet is a charter Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (FCOVD), the certification body for Developmental Optometry and Neuro-Optometry. He is a member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) and a Clinical Associate of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF). He holds membership in the Washington Association of Optometric Physicians and the American Optometric Association. Dr. Kadet is also an Adjunct Professor, College of Optometry at Pacific Grove University, Forest Grove, OR.
Dr. Kadet has been involved in nine publications concerning all aspects of Vision Therapy and Development
On a personal note, Dr. Kadet has enjoyed being the Scoutmaster for a Special Needs Boy Scout Troop since 1996.
The subjects published are Vision Rehabilitation in Brain Trauma Injury, Vision and Learning, Optometry and Vision Development and a publication on Vision Development Optometric Vision Therapy, which was presented to the International Conference Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities. Dr. Kadet has focused a large amount of his time toward the special needs community.
Dr. Kadet was nominated in 2002, for the Washington State Jefferson Awards for community service.
Dr. Kadet is married, has raised three children, and resides in Seattle Washington.
One of his favorite scouting times is the one week of summer camp he spends with his ‘special scouts’ and his ukulele. Dr. Kadet is a volunteer coach for the Special Olympics ski racing team and supports the Special Olympic Winter Games. He serves as a volunteer Doctor for the Special Olympics and the Healthy Eyes Program sponsored by the Lions Club. He provides vision exams and eyeglasses to Special Olympics athletes.
Classroom Vision Red Flags
Help us help your students
Classroom Vision
School screenings , pediatric exams and optometric exams often do not detect some of the most debilitating binocular vision issues that students struggle with. Learn how Hope Clinic addresses vision issues underlying learning challenges, ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia and other academic issues, and how teachers are ‘tuning in’ to their students vision needs
Struggling Students
Take the Vision Quiz and Find Out if Your Child Needs a Functional Vision Exam
This score-based quiz developed by a team of optometrists, helps us determine if a Functional Vision Exam is needed
Expertise looked at 53 Optometrists in Tacoma and Picked the Top 11!
Expertise's goal is to connect people with the best local experts. They scored optometrists on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analysed the data resulting in a hand-picked list of the best optometrists in Tacoma, WA.
Dyslexia and reading problems make it more difficult to learn to read
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With developmentally appropriate training and consistent practice, these students can still become excellent readers. Some even have the potential of becoming a better reader than a gifted student with poor educational experiences and lack of practice.
A Developmental Optometry evaluation at Hope Clinic will reveal whether visual factors are contributing to a student’s reading difficulties.