Arizona Ophthalmic Outpatient Surgery offers a comprehensive scope of services for vision and eye conditions. Dr. Thomas F. Minas and his team of highly-devoted physicians have been serving locals for 25 years and counting.

Among their top priorities is providing a patient-oriented environment, which manifests in a caring and accommodating group of doctors and welcoming facilities. It seems to be all about quality over quantity for them as far as we’ve observed.

Compared to others on this list, they’re quite a small team with only one location and are considered a relatively “younger” clinic. Still, they’re up to snuff on the latest advancements for total eye care.

Their preferred method for cataract surgery is phacoemulsification, which is the most common procedure to date. Moreover, the procedure is guided by the Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA) System.

This allows the ophthalmologist to make accurate measurements in real-time, which yields better, personalized results. We heard this is recommended for those who previously went through surgery like LASIK or those with astigmatism.

Our only gripe is that they didn’t specify what kind of lenses are available for implanting, considering how differently each set of eyes works. Some would require treatment for astigmatism, farsightedness, etc.

Keep in mind that they’re only open for booked appointments thrice a week, which could be limiting for those with busy schedules. 

On the other hand, this system seems to work in favor of both parties since appointments usually start on time and wait times are shorter.

Eye Doctors of Arizona is a private practice founded by Dr. Warren Heller in 1975, making it one of the state’s established clinics for eye and vision health. 

Ophthalmology seems to run in the family, as he later passed on the torch to his sons, both 2nd generation and board-certified doctors in the field. Likewise, Dr. Matthew and Dr. Benjamin Heller are currently the only ophthalmologists on staff.

Throughout the years, the practice has expanded to three locations: North Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Downtown Phoenix. Most clients we’ve interviewed preferred the last branch considering its convenient and accessible location.

Other than that, cataract surgery also seems to be their strong suit considering the many patients who have gone through their care. Some families have been seeing them for decades, which is a telltale sign of proven experience.

Moreover, the clinic claims to operate 1,000 cataract surgeries per year. With the use of the LENSAR Cataract Technology, they’re able to precisely and efficiently carry out the procedure compared to the traditional method done by hand.

We heard the surgery itself only takes less than 15 minutes, but patients spend at most two hours in the surgery center. Be warned though, the wait times could really test your patience.

It’s fairly common to have to wait at least an hour to meet the doctor. One even reported that they were never on time in the 12 appointments they’ve had with the clinic.

This seems to be a result of a lack of organization in their system since we’ve heard some reports on billing mishaps, too. The billing department often waits until payment before ensuring the eligibility of the patient’s insurance, which leads to added costs.

Established in 1983, Horizon Eye Specialists & Lasik Center has served thousands of locals across the valley. They provide a full scope of service for eye care and specialize in LASIK and cataract surgery.

The clinic prides itself on a team of fellowship-trained and board-certified doctors in ophthalmology and optometry. Currently, they have eight ophthalmologists who all have experience with treating cataracts.

The team is led by Dr. Robert R. McCulloch who claims to have performed 20,000 cataract procedures, which is remarkable. It’s also worth noting that he finished with a Magna Cum Laude honor at the Creighton University School of Medicine.

All procedures are done through phacoemulsification with flexible options in terms of lenses. Aside from multifocal, TORIC, and standard lenses, they are reportedly the first clinic to introduce Light Adjustable Lens (LAL).

After interviewing patients who went with this option, we found that many of them apparently restored 20/20 vision, which is impressive. 

Moreover, they also provide YAG laser capsulotomy, a common follow-up procedure after undergoing cataract surgery. For those experiencing a cloudy vision that builds up from the implanted lens, this is often recommended by doctors.

However, the clinic tends to see patients back to back, which results in delays and rushed appointments. Some who have waited hours have only spent a few minutes with the doctor, which is frustrating.

We hope they approach the patients with the same respect in terms of their time, especially the clerical staff. According to the patients we interviewed, they were cold and unhelpful in assisting them.

Despite these, we think they’re one of the best in terms of cataract removal and lens replacement if you’re willing to overlook those mentioned.

Arizona Eye Specialists has been around for nearly 70 years, which is the longest-running eye clinic we’ve come across so far. As you might’ve guessed, they’re one of the valley’s prevailing clinics to date.

They currently have eight branches in their network and are soon to open their ninth in Buckeye. We noticed that locals prefer their Phoenix and Scottsdale offices, which are coincidentally the original locations and are both located along E. Osborne.

These were both launched by Dr. John Aiello and Dr. Donald Longfellow. The chain of clinics eventually grew to a team of 18 ophthalmologists with their respective subspecialties.

Despite opening its doors in the 50s, the clinic commits itself to staying updated on the latest advancements in eye and vision health. 

Patients have an option between Phacoemulsification or Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) using LENSAR technology. Since they have both modern techniques, you’ll find what better suits you according to your needs.

After hearing from some patients, the doctors seem to take their time in helping them decide on the best course of action. We love that they genuinely care about your vision, and won’t pressure you into getting the surgery right away if it’s not necessary.

They’re also thorough during procedures other than cataract removal, leaving no room for error. 

We wished the same goes for their operations department, as some patients have complained about invoice errors and getting charged more than expected.

Others found that they weren’t as transparent with the breakdown of costs as they liked, which we’re iffy about.

Some doctors could also improve follow-up care after surgery, considering how some patients had trouble getting a response to concerns regarding the recovery.

Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center has grown to be a premier clinic for eye and vision health in Phoenix for the last 35 years. It has multiple locations state-wide as far as Desert Hills, which is extensive.

The company prides itself on a lineup of over 50 ophthalmologists and optometrists with diversified medical backgrounds. This means that you’ll likely encounter the right doctor for you, regardless of what your condition is relating to the eyes.

It’s worth noting that the late Dr. David Dulaney, one of the founding members, was a trailblazer in the industry and one of the first to perform LASIK surgery in the country.

As for cataract surgery, they use the phacoemulsification procedure to remove cataracts and replace them with the Intraocular Lenses (IOL) of your choice. They don’t employ the laser-assisted procedure as of date, limiting the options to one.

On the other hand, we like that they have a variety of options for IOLs. Among these are the TORIC lenses for astigmatism and the trifocal lenses, which are more advanced than the multifocal version since they address all three distances.

While it’s apparent that they’re highly deft with cataract surgeries, they lack significantly in making their services and spaces accessible for those with disabilities.

For one, their facilities aren’t exactly PWD-friendly considering how narrow the hallways are. It’s fairly difficult for a wheelchair to maneuver in and out of the building.

Similarly, they have instituted surcharges for medical transport and transfer assistance. This is in direct violation of the ADA, which they were ultimately charged for.

Ultimately, they agreed to pay $1 Million for the charge filed against them and have since made efforts in terms of ADA compliance. We seriously hope to see positive change in the near future.