CRST: Why are you pursuing a fellowship and career in cataract and refractive surgery?

Camila Albo, MD: My interest in cataract and refractive surgery has grown under the guidance of mentors such as Robert F. Melendez, MD, MBA; Gregory D. Parkhurst, MD, FACS; William F. Wiley, MD; and Robert J. Weinstock, MD. Along the way, personal experiences have reinforced the value of empathy, hard work, and a purposeful life. I have learned that excellent patient care depends not only on surgical ability but also on being part of a team that values collaboration and compassion.

One piece of advice that has stayed with me is that a few intensely focused years of training early on can set you up to make a difference for the rest of your career. That mindset shapes the care I hope to provide my future patients. I think of it as the slingshot effect: early training can feel exhausting—and at times like being pulled backward—but it helps launch us forward to make a greater impact for patients and the team.

As I apply for fellowship training, I am excited to strengthen my clinical and surgical skills in an environment that emphasizes teamwork and outstanding patient care. I hope to pay forward the mentorship I have been fortunate to receive. Looking ahead, I see a career in cataract and refractive surgery as a meaningful and rewarding way to serve others.

Lukas Mees, MD: I am passionate about improving patients’ quality of life and providing an excellent experience from start to finish. I pursued a cataract/refractive fellowship because I owed it to my patients—and to my potential as a surgeon—to take this step and deliver the best care possible. The cataract/refractive space has evolved to the point that its technologies and techniques require dedicated study beyond residency. Optimization of the patient experience is also not emphasized as heavily in academic training. At ClearSight LASIK, I have seen firsthand the many details that create a high-touch practice. I am confident that the time I am investing now will accelerate my career and improve the quality of care I can deliver in the future.

Esteban Peralta, MD: There is no denying the opportunity cost of pursuing another year of training. By the time residency is complete, I will have been in school for more than 12 years (undergraduate, gap year, medical school, residency). For those with additional degrees, that number climbs even higher. My 20s have been spent studying and accruing six-figure student loan debt while friends built careers, bought homes, and maintained active social lives. Part of me is ready to become an attending, earn a real income, and start the next chapter.

The opportunity cost is significant, however, the opportunity of a cataract and refractive fellowship is greater. Residency provides a strong foundation, but fellowship can turn a competent surgeon into a true expert. One hyperfocused year provides advanced surgical training, confidence with complex cases, and nuanced decision-making acumen that would otherwise take years to develop. Equally important, it offers lifelong mentorship that endures long after training—something you cannot put a price on. For me, that strategic, intangible investment outweighs the trade-off.

The short-term math says I am giving up another year. But the long-term math says I am investing in decades of doing what I love at the highest level. That is a trade I will make every time.

Andrew Yazji, MD: I knew before ophthalmology residency that I wanted to be a cataract and refractive surgeon. I was attracted by the field’s impact on patients’ quality of life, surgical challenges, and opportunity for entrepreneurship/technological innovation. As I complete my residency, I feel well prepared for surgery; cases carrying a Current Procedural Terminology code 66982 are routine in the Bronx, New York, where I am training.

Cataract and refractive surgery are constantly evolving. Time and case volume alone cannot make someone an expert. I believe more specialized training is required.

As a third-year resident, I spent a few days observing a leading cataract and refractive surgeon. What I initially judged to be a routine cataract evaluation contrasted with the following observations by the surgeon: the patient had undergone LASIK in the 1990s, had 20/30 BCVA and 1.50 D of residual astigmatism, was an avid pickleball player, and had a Type B personality but also an adamant desire for spectacle independence. The surgeon asked for my plan. Manual cataract surgery with a refractive touch-up as needed? Laser cataract surgery? IOL choice? Refractive aim? Was the ocular surface healthy enough that repeat tomography was unnecessary? How would I counsel the patient regarding postoperative expectations? Did the patient even require surgery to be happy? The surgeon showed me another side of our field—how clues within a patient’s anatomy can bridge the gap to their wishes.

The clinical evaluation by a cataract and refractive surgeon is complicated and nuanced. We have many clinical and surgical tools at our disposal. Patients deserve excellence and a masterful surgeon to help them navigate the process. Like other ophthalmic fellowships, one in cataract and refractive surgery provides the mentorship and refinement necessary to become an expert specialized surgeon.