Women ophthalmologists are essential to the advancement of eye care because of their ability to combine clinical compe­tence with compassionate patient man­agement. Beyond their surgical expertise, many of these are trailblazers in tackling urgent problems like access to care and health inequities in the eyes. After earning her post-graduation from PGIMS, Rohtak, Dr Shweta Goel, Founder & Lead Eye Surgeon at Vinod Eye Centre, refined her surgical abilities in prestigious fa­cilities such as PBMA'S H.V. Desai Eye Hospital (Pune), Navin Hospital (Dadri), NEH (Mathura), SRF Eye Hos­pital (New Delhi), Vardan Eye Hospital (Ghaziabad), Venu Eye Hospital (Bulandshahr), Venu Eye Hospital (Ramnagar), Venu Eye Institute and Research Centre (N. Delhi), ICARE Noida (PHACO & SICS Fellow), PGIMS (Rohtak), LLRM (Meerut), and many more.

Dr Shweta has performed over 50,000 successful eye surgeries, including complex cataract and glaucoma treatments. She has been acknowledged for providing pro bono cataract procedures to those in need. She started the blog ‘Siimplyy Eye by Dr Shweta Goel’, which aims to demystify eye health and offer useful resources to the public and professionals, in addition to her clinical work.

Embarking in an engaging interaction with Women Entrepreneur Review magazine, Dr Shweta shares the details of her journey as one of the leading ophthalmologists in the country. Let’s delve into it.

What are the primary services and specialties offered at Vinod Eye Centre, particularly in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and surgeries?

We provide a wide range of services and specialties at Vinod Eye Centre to meet different demands related to eye health, where we use cutting-edge methods to achieve the best results. Apart from Cataract surgeries, we offer efficient dry eye treatments and pediatric eye care. We concentrate on the treatment of glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, retinal health, and neuro-ophthalmology along with laser treatments for people who are having problems recovering from cataract surgery.

For a variety of eye diseases, our oculoplasty services guarantee both functional and aesthetic advantages. We provide individualized, superior eye care to assist our patients in achieving and preserving exceptional vision.

What are your main areas of expertise as an ophthalmologist, and what is your primary focus when treating patients?

My main areas of expertise are cataract surgery, glaucoma care, and medical retina treatment. I have over 12 years of experience in clinical and surgical ophthalmology. I am an expert in intricate cataract procedures using cutting-edge methods, including MICS, phaco-emulsification, SICS, ECCS, pterygium extraction with conjunctival autograft, and trabeculectomy (glaucoma surgery).

While providing the best care possible, my main goal when treating patients is to earn their trust and comfort. I support individualized treatment programs that take into account the particular requirements of each patient to assist them attain the greatest results for their general eye health and vision.

What are the most critical challenges you face as an ophthalmologist, and how do you address them in your practice?

One of the biggest challenges I face as an ophthalmologist is keeping up with the quick changes in treatment options and technology. Continuous learning by attending conferences and workshops, helps me stay abreast of cutting-edge techniques.

I also conduct pro bono operations and outreach initiatives to reach underprivileged populations and ensure everyone has access to high-quality eye care.

What significant professional milestones have you achieved?

I have performed more than 50,000 eye surgeries and treated more than 90,000 patients. I have also made academic contributions, including numerous national presentations and contributions to chapters in ophthalmology books. Another milestone was assisting in editing ‘Comprehensive Ophthalmology’ by A.K. Khurana, one of the most notable texts in the field.

I started ‘Siimplyy Eye’, which is an online venture aimed at teaching undergraduates, postgraduates, and optometrists to further education.

My work has been recognized over 25 times by esteemed organizations including honors from Lions and Inner Wheel Clubs for free cataract surgeries for underprivileged patients, the Times Excellence Honour (2021), and the ET Inspiring Women Leaders award for three consecutive years (2022- 2024). I received the Blackswan Award for Women Empowerment (2022) and have been featured in MINT, The Economic Times, and Fortune India's Top 50 Businesswomen list. In addition to this, I was named one of the three best-rated ophthalmologists in Noida (2021-2024) and received the Times Exemplary Leader Award (2023), the ET Leadership Excellence Award (2023), and recognition from the ET Health Conclave (2024).

What has been your key to success throughout your career?

Patient care, continuous learning, and building strong connections within the medical community have enabled me to uphold excellent standards in my profession and make a meaningful contribution to the area of ophthalmology.

Dr Shweta Goel, Founder & Lead Eye Surgeon, Vinod Eye Centre

Dr Shweta Goel earned her MBBS from Sarojini Naidu Medical College and an MS in Ophthalmology from PGIMS, Rohtak. Dr Shweta holds various prestigious fellowships, including FICO Basic (London), and advanced training in cataract surgery, glaucoma, and medical retina. Beyond her medical expertise, she is a fitness enthusiast who won a gold medal in female weightlifting at Anytime Fitness in 2018 and is an admirer of art and creativity.

Awards and Recognitions won so far: Incredible Achiever by Outlook Business in October 2024, The Economic Times (Women's leaders, Leadership Excellence) for three years in a row (2022-2024), Dainik Jagran Sehat Sarthi recipient, Times Exemplary Leader Award 2023, ET Leadership Excellence Award 2023, ET health Conclave recognition 2024, Recipient of Greatest Brands and Leaders - Asia - Americas - Africa, AsiaOne 18th Edition of Asia Africa Business and Social Forum 2021- 2022.