Dr. Faisal Haq, M.D. specializes in cataract, vision correction surgery, corneal disease and glaucoma management at the Key-Whitman Eye Center. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston University. Dr. Haq served an internship at the Health Alliance Hospitals in Cincinnati and completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he was selected chief resident by the faculty and served as assistant professor of ophthalmology for two years. He completed a Fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at the prestigious New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in New York.
Dr. Haq is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, the Texas Medical Association and a board member of the Dallas Academy of Ophthalmology. He diligently stays current with the newest medications and techniques in order to provide his patients with the best possible care. Dr. Haq’s research studies have been published on numerous occasions and he has been a speaker at national ophthalmic conferences and symposiums.
In an effort to get to know more about Dr. Haq, we sat down with him to discuss a number of topics, including what inspired him to become a laser eye surgeon.
Who/what inspired you to become an ophthalmologist and laser eye surgeon?
I wanted to choose a specialty where I could make a difference in people’s lives, and where I could use the most advanced techniques possible to provide innovative patient care. A formative experience at a charity eye hospital during my medical school years exposed me to the possibilities of a career as an eye surgeon. I never looked back.
Why did you choose to specialize in cornea disease?
I have a special interest in laser eye surgery. This type of surgery reshapes a patient’s cornea to compensate for their refractive error. One motivation to do a corneal fellowship was to obtain a mastery of all of the nuances of refractive surgery. In addition, being a cornea specialist exposes me to a wide variety of pathology, which I have an opportunity to help take care of.
What is most rewarding about your work?
Without sight, a patient’s quality of life is reduced in ways that can cause pain, suffering and isolation. I can help others to see, or to see better. What could be more rewarding?
I also enjoy the variety of patients I see in a single day. As I am out and about in the Plano and Dallas communities with my family, I will often bump into a current or former patient. It’s given me a new lens on those living in my own city.
Are there any new technologies not currently available to patients that you look forward to? Or, any new technologies many patients don’t know about?
We have made tremendous strides in providing our patient’s with glasses-free vision. The intraocular lens technology that we currently have available has completely changed our approach to our patients—we now expect our patients to not only see better, but to see better without glasses. This technology is continually improving and with time we will be able to provide glasses-free vision at all distances for most of our patients.
Is there a time you can recall when you thought to yourself: “this is why I do what I do”?
It’s so hard to name just one, but I will say that when I find myself dealing with an elderly patient, someone who could be the same age as my parents, it’s incredibly gratifying to help them feel more at ease and less in pain. I get a lot of hugs from grateful patients and knowing that I have helped improved someone’s life is extremely gratifying.
What is one dream/goal you have for the future of your career?
That I can continue to do the innovative and challenging surgical work that is ground-breaking even at the national level, but enjoy the beautiful suburban community of Plano that I live and practice medicine in.
What are some hobbies you enjoy outside of work?
I am an avid golfer. I also enjoy tennis, swimming, and traveling with my wife and children.
If there was one thing people may not know about you?
During my seven year medical program at Boston University, I chose to major in English Literature in my undergraduate component of my degree. I don’t think I admitted that to anyone when I was chosen to be chief resident in my residency program at the University of Illinois at Chicago!
If we were to interview your patients, what is one thing you would hope your patients would say about their experience with you and Key Whitman?
I would hope they would say, I’ll see you again! That says it all. Jokes aside, I would hope they felt they were well taken care of, and that I helped them feel more comfortable about making decisions about their eye care.
Are there any common misconceptions many patients have that you would like to clear up about laser eye surgery?
I would like patients to know that common eye tools like contact lenses, can be much more dangerous than laser surgery! I worry about the abuse I see with contact lenses, and the number of serious complications. I’d advise patients that before developing an opinion, take the time to visit us, and get educated. If laser surgery is right for you, it can be life-changing, and give you freedom from glasses and contact lenses. But choose where you go wisely, because while price-comparison can seem attractive, eye surgery is something you should only undertake with full knowledge of the risks and rewards, and look for a practice with a focus not just on volume, but on proper patient care.
If you have questions about laser eye surgery, contact Key-Whitman for a free consultation.
