Lahey Hospital & Medical Center’s Department of Ophthalmology serves the needs of patients by providing comprehensive medical care. We seek to foster an environment of high caliber professionalism in order to exceed our patients’ expectations.

A team of more than 70 medical professionals provides a full range of eye care. Nearly 20 ophthalmology and optometry specialists work in proximity to each other, allowing interchange of talent. Examination rooms are adjacent to the operating suite to facilitate care.

In addition to providing routine eye examinations, staff diagnose and treat all aspects of eye disease in adolescents, adults and seniors. These include cataracts, glaucoma, cornea and external disease, laser vision correction, trauma, low vision, retinal and vitreous disease, oculoplastics and neuro-ophthalmology.

Dynamic Eye Care

Lahey patient undergoing an eye exam.Patient undergoing an eye exam.The Department of Ophthalmology provides comprehensive eye care and complete medical and surgical treatment. The foundation of the department is an experienced, highly motivated staff whose mission has multiple goals:

  • To provide outstanding health care
  • To conduct clinical research
  • To share knowledge through teaching and international outreach

A Brief History of the Ophthalmology Department

Dr. Edward Connolly, who joined Lahey in 1969, and Dr. Joseph Bowlds, who joined in 1972, founded Ophthalmology Services at the then Lahey Clinic. 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 ophthalmologist, 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, then the chair of the department. After opening at Lahey Medical Center, Peabody 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.