Drs. Edward Connolly and Joseph Bowlds founded Ophthalmology Services at Lahey Clinic in the 1960s. The department was initially located on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. Over the next 14 years, optometrists and ophthalmologists were hired.
By 1994, when the department was located in Burlington, it consisted of six full-time ophthalmologists, one part-time ophthalmologists, and five full-time optometrists. Today, the department’s unique multidisciplinary approach to patient care – involving the collaboration of ophthalmology and optometry specialists with different areas of expertise – allows for cross-fertilization of talent, producing the very best in comprehensive patient care.
The Eye Institute, a dynamic eye care center housed within the Department of Ophthalmology, was conceived in the summer of 1994 as part of the re-engineering of the Ophthalmology program led by F. Denton Wertz III, MD, the current chair of the department. After opening at Lahey Clinic Medical Center, North Shore, the Institute’s comprehensive approach to vision care and medical and surgical diseases of the eyes made it popular with patients. In addition to providing state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities in all areas of vision care, it is situated adjacent to the operating suite, facilitating the very best in care.
Ophthalmology services are also available through Lahey at its Arlington site, located at the former Symmes Hospital. In addition, a program providing subspecialized ophthalmology care for patients in Bermuda is currently under development.
