Eye Consultants Of Texas - - Archived

Over his nearly 40-year career, Dr. Labor has gained a reputation as one of the most innovative eye surgeons in the U.S., having performed thousands of LASIK, PRK and cataract procedures. “It has always been very important that I stay abreast of new technologies to offer my patients the very best outcomes. At the same time, I’m very diligent about ensuring that something ‘new’ will truly benefit them in the long run,” he said.

Dr. Labor added, “Technology allows us to reassure patients, take the very best care of their eyes, and give them their personal best vision, but I can’t stress enough the importance of the one-on-one doctor relationship.”

That type of mindset is why Dr. Labor and his staff consistently earn high marks for the personal care his practice delivers, ensuring patients are kept fully informed and are comfortable with their prescribed treatment. “When I present surgical and treatment options, I must do this in a way each patient can easily understand. That includes their post-surgery care and available medications so they can clearly comprehend what we’re doing and how it will benefit them,” he said. “It’s our job to not only reassure patients, but deliver peace of mind before, during, and after treatment.”

Dr. Labor’s devotion to his patients is more than just a long held belief, it stems from a life-changing medical event he personally experienced many years ago. “Having your life in someone else’s hands changes your perspective, and it most definitely changed me as a physician and a person. I’m adamant about offering patients my full attention, and never rush someone through my office. I want to give each patient the opportunity to discuss their upcoming surgery whichever is most convenient for them, in person or by phone.”

Since starting Eye Consultants of Texas over two decades ago, Dr. Labor has expanded his practice to a fully state-of-the-art facility that includes LoneStar Ambulatory Surgery Center for outpatient surgery. The facility was carefully planned and built from the ground up, and allows exams, testing, and procedures to be conveniently performed at the same location.

Dr. Labor’s commitment to innovation has more than made a positive impact in DFW and beyond, as he has been the first, locally, regionally, or nationally to adopt new technologies and perform new procedures. This is especially true when it comes to the advanced intraocular lenses (IOLs) he uses to replace the cloudy, cataract lens during surgery.

One example is the RxSight^® Light Adjustable Lens (LAL). This is the only IOL that allows customization after cataract surgery has been performed, and Dr. Labor was the first DFW eye surgeon to implant it. “In effect, the patient can ‘test drive’ any adjustments I make until they’re satisfied, greatly improving visual accuracy like no other lens of its kind,” he said. Dr. Labor’s experience with this lens is unsurpassed, given the fact that he participated in LAL clinical trials to secure its FDA approval.

He was also the first in North Texas to implant the Apthera, the first and only FDA-approved “small aperture” IOL. “Apthera’s remarkable small aperture technology uniquely filters away unfocused light, allowing you to see text, people, and objects across a full range of focal distances like never before,” he said. Dr. Labor is one of the top Apthera surgeons in the U.S. today. Because of this, Eye Consultants of Texas is currently the only DFW practice where patients have access to this lens.

In addition, Dr. Labor was the first in North America to implant the RayOne EMV developed by Rayner, who produced the world’s first IOL in 1949. “This lens has revolutionized visual results for cataract patients who desire what’s referred to as ‘Blended Vision’,” he said. “The EMV extends a patient’s depth of focus in ways no other IOL is capable of doing.”

Dr. Labor achieved yet another milestone regarding the laser technology he uses to perform the cataract procedure: first in DFW and one the first five surgeons in the U.S. to acquire the ALLY™ Adaptive Cataract Treatment System. “The ALLY™ uses next-generation femtosecond laser technology allowing me to more precisely personalize a patient’s treatment like no other technology of its kind,” he said.

In 2013, he established one of the first specialty clinics in the U.S. focused on Dry Eye Disease: Dry Eye Institutes or America™ (DEIA), a clinic within his practice. “Dry Eye Disease is an often chronic, even debilitating, condition that affects millions, yet it’s easily treatable in most cases,” he said. “I started DEIA recognizing a critical need to do more for dry eye sufferers. At the time, new technology was coming out to greatly advance treatment from the standard over-the-counter eyedrops, and, today, we are able to diagnose and treat this condition in ways no one could have imagined just 10 years ago.”

Not only is Dr. Labor well-regarded in the U.S., he has also been internationally recognized by his peers. In March 2023, for instance, the esteemed World College of Refractive Surgery and Visual Sciences (WCRS) nominated him as a founding member and fellow in recognition of his refractive surgery achievements. This places him in an elite group of less than 1,000 refractive surgeons chosen from a field of more than 280,000 ophthalmologists worldwide.

Dr. Labor has served on various healthcare policy committees in Washington, DC. He is also past president of the prestigious Society for Excellence in Eye Care (SEE), and was recently chosen President-Elect of the American College of Eye Surgeons (ACES). In giving back, Dr. Labor is a volunteer ophthalmologist for EyeCare America, which provides eye care at little or no cost to qualified patients, and has made two medical missions to Iraq.

When not on the job, Dr. Labor enjoys time with his wife and their dogs, as well as playing guitar in his band “The Machine” at venues locally and across the U.S.